radiator question

[bugsas99]

if i buy a radiator and it has an oil cooler on it will it still fit my car??? meaning i am not sure if it has an oil cooler. was this a big option or did most cars come with oil cooler. have 1998 aurora. and is it difficult to replace radiator. how many gallons of antifreeze does the girl hold.

[androsvalentino]

look for good aftermarket radiator. silla is ok. got mine for bout $150. check manual for amount of coolant. do not use dexcool. regular with a bit of water wetter.

[tjm]

I believe 1997 is when the oil coolers became built into the radiator; I know my 97 has the oil cooler built into the radiator.

Easy way to check - open the hood and look at the passenger side of the radiator from the back. 2 oil lines go directly into the radiator, one at the top and one at the bottom. Both lines come from the oil filter area.

I would insist on using Dexcool as it is specifiacally designed for aluminum blocks like the northstar. The green stuff is not and can cause corosion.

This is and increddible write-up with pics for a 97 radiator replacement and the Aurora Club of North America forum:
http://aurorah.proboards47.com/index...ead=1124750440

And you can dnld your owners manual here as well for the capacities: http://aurorah.proboards47.com/index...ead=1096259236

[aurorabrain]

The 97 model year has possibilities of both style radiators. 98 would have the engine oil cooler in front of the condenser and still have the trans oil cooler in the radiator.
Dexcool was redesigned in 2000 i believe and does not get sludgy like it used to (it went from a red color to orange). This would be the best choice for aluminum like Tim said. Also, the radiator in my opinion is easy to change as long as you have a metric wrench set, socket set, and a couple different types of pliers.

[androsvalentino]

DEXCOOL. NOT SO COOL. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html

[aurorabrain]

Someone did not read my response about dexcool, but i read theirs. The dexcool that you are talking about which is BAD was discontinued mid-year 2000. The new ORANGE dexcool, not the OLD RED dexcool does not get sludgy and nasty, and the sludge you may be seeing in your coolant is gm coolant system sealing pellets which are spices and ground nut shells that are brown in color (once dissolved they float, not sink into your radiator and plug the lower cooling vanes like aluminum sealers do). If you had read the link you posted you can see that those vehicles with problems are 2000 and older. GM 3.1 and 3.4 engines, as well as the 3.8 all have lower intake gasket problems. This is caused by a plastic gasket that cracks, and bolts that are not torqued properly that loosen. Once replaced with new style gaskets, torqued to spec, and applied with threadlocker there is virtually no problem with these engines.

[androsvalentino]

what about this? http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread...&postid=276153

[androsvalentino]

Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do."
--Isacc Asimov, American writer

sometimes.

[androsvalentino]

another important note. http://www.gates.com/downloads/downl...older=brochure

[aurorabrain]

im not claiming that i know anything. I'm not saying green coolant is crap, but you need to change it about every year if you want the corrosion protection from it that dexcool gives.
I will tell you that i have a few years of expierence in this matter. I work at a Chevy Buick dealer, (we used to have Toyota also, but sold it) I see this stuff everyday, i have access to all the GM bulletins and keep up to date on all this stuff. I also own a '95 and a '97 Aurora. The 95 had green coolant in it, i had to replace the heater core and some of the heater pipes because they rotted out at 125k. I have no idea how well it was maintained before me. The '97 had dexcool when i bought it with 129k on it and the coolant had never been changed. It was nasty, but nothing was corroded or rotted out and leaking.
Also, the link you sent me stated: "I dont have the manual handy but with the Vibe being a GM badged car does GM insist on owners using Dexcool? I bet Toyota doesnt insist on Dex...who knows maybe Toyo actually states to *not* use Dexcool."
GM Service Information says this:
A 50/50 mixture of clean water, preferably distilled, and GM Goodwrench Antifreeze - Coolant, GM P/N 12378560 (Canadian P/N 10953464), or equivalent, which conforms to GM Specification 1825M, or an approved recycled coolant which conforms to GM Specification 1825M
...This is green coolant.
Toyota has their own extended life coolant, its RED, and the new stuff is Pink. The new 2004+ pink coolant is pre-mixed, obviously with distilled water, which eliminates any problems with contamination.
FROM GM SERVICE INFORMATION:
The integrity of the coolant is dependent upon the quality of DEX-COOL® and water. DEX-COOL® is a product that has enhanced protection capability as well as an extended service interval. These enhanced properties may be jeopardized by combining DEX-COOL® with poor quality water. If you suspect the water in your area of being poor quality, it is recommended you use distilled or de-ionized water with DEX-COOL®.

Also that intake job on a grand am that supposedly cost $1800 is only a $500 job at my dealership. It costs around $100 in parts.

-Im not trying to be a know-it-all, just trying to be helpful to people that might need it.