Good to know.

My van is a 91 Carat with 250 k on the radiator. Any time now it could go
but I have had no trouble yet.

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 8:41 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> The Behr units are gone and aren't coming back.  I have people call me or
> email all the time asking for them.  Please stop asking, they are gone.
>
> However, there is an aftermarket option that we sell which is a copy of the
> Behr unit that is made in Taiwan.  That is the one I sell and recommend at
> this point.
> I haven't had any issues or failures with them so far.  I have been selling
> them for about three years now.  Here is a link to it:
> https://www.vanagain.com/product/vanagon-radiator
>
> Let me know if you have any other questions.
>
> Ken
>
> On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 9:18 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > A failure of the tank to core seal is a very common problem with this
> > radiator design. Same for the heater cores. I often wonder how much money
> > and weight is really saved by this design and no way is it a unique
> failure
> > for the vanagon. What is rare is the passenger side tank assembly has
> both
> > the feed and return and a common failure is for a crack to develop inside
> > and also coolant to flow from one to the other and not actually travel
> > through the core. Some radiators also have transmission and engine oil
> > coolers as part of these tanks. These side tanks and seals can also be
> > damaged by excessive temperature and pressure or steam flashing. This
> > failure can be a symptom of something else being wrong.
> >
> > As for radiator brands for year the Behr unit that was probably supplied
> > for Vanagons still being built in South Africa was the unit of choice.
> The
> > Behr "Service" units were actually made in China and al the ones I have
> > seen had a different core design, round tubes instead of the oval tubes.
> > Similar to what was used in many early water cooled VWs.  This round tube
> > core radiator has noticeably less cooling capacity especially when using
> > air conditioning. I have one in Fun Bus and it just doesn’t work well in
> > hot weather with AC.
> >
> > Lately I have been using units branded Spectra. This is what you have in
> > your 85. I have had a few fail on install, usually pin hole core leaks.
> > They perform as well as the OEM and are usually readily available.  As
> for
> > longevity have not seen any failures except for those immediately on
> > install. As for warranty that will be up to the supplier.
> >
> > While we like to think that once a radiator is a long life item it often
> > is not. There are many variables that can cause failure. Radiators used
> to
> > be very expensive and there was an industry built up to repair them. This
> > is till common for trucks and industrial equipment. My motorhome needed a
> > radiator at around 60K and that was an $1,800 plus 25 hours install and
> 20
> > gallons of coolant event. Our 2012 Jetta had a radiator replaced while
> the
> > car was still under warranty. My 91 now needs another heater core. These
> > things failing is just part of the vehicle ownership experience!
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric
> > Caron
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:28 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Radiator disappointment
> >
> > Well folks,  I’d love your recommendations for a new radiator.
> >
> > My 84 seemed60 to have a leaky hose but it wasn’t.  It is the radiator
> > itself leaking along the seam where plastic and metal come together.  A
> > drip every 3 seconds or so under pressure.
> >
> > Radiator is just 3 years old with 16,000 miles on it.
> >
> > I’d love to hear your thoughts on where I might get one that has a better
> > chance of lasting.  I don’t know the brand of this one.
> >
> > Tips greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Eric Caron
> >
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>