They are a wear item.  I would plan on it sooner rather than later.

Ken

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023, 12:01 PM John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>>
>