Thanks! Will do.

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 11:06 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>