1990 Nissan 240sx. Need to replace radiator. Any suggestions?

[RamonetB]

Well, it's that time of year when we all figure out just how much work our cars need to stay cool.

Turns out, I need a new radiator.

Thus, I pose two questions to this wonderful forum:Is the standard radiator that shipped with this car 1-row or 2-row?What recommendations do you suggest for make and model for replacement? My Nissan dealership quoted me $411 for a new one.

Thanks!

-kirk

[IvoryJ30t]

dont like aftermarket OEM replacement parts.

my radiator just went a week ago. 95 maxima.

list was 499+tax, with my shop discount i paid $420, with no tax

[LiteraryCannon]

Get a Koyo radiator, you will be happy, I know people who run high boost all day long on them for years, no problems so far.

300 or so shipped on ebay and I think you get a warranty as well. The stock has plastic ends and they usually leak after a while of abuse.

:-)

[RamonetB]

I had been pondering a Koyo.

Perhaps another angle, though? Seems the radiator is getting clogged up and, thusly, causing my car to overheat. I don't think the previous owner took very good care of the car.... and that's an understatement.

Anyway, has anyone tried cleaning a radiator out? I've heard flushing it really doesn't work. I guess I'm looking for a "home remedy" that people have tried.

BTW, is the stock radiator a 2-row or 1-row core?

THanks again, guys!

[navysnail]

you can get flushes for the cooling system. there are some chemical flushes, or you can just use water. they have a thing were you cut the heater hose and put in an adapter so you can hook up your garden hose and force a constant supply of fresh water through the system.

[RamonetB]

Obviously Koyo offers some great products. I've been calling the radiator service centers (for lack of a better word) in my area and the Visteon brand keeps popping up and I'm being told that they are a good brand. I've heard that before.

But has anyone hear heard of them or the quality of their parts? I'm not looking for a killer performance part, understand. This car will never be a drifter... well, not anytime soon anyway. Mostly daily driving.

I'm also getting the impression the standard radiator is 1 row. Would a 2 row fit without issue? Awefully tight in there.

[574-240sx]

Stock is 1 row. You can get anything to work just depends on how it mounts. I have a koyo in mine and if I was spending that much on a stock radiator I would go with and upgraded one. You can always find stock radiator in the nico classified section for dirt, just start a want to buy ad.

[rogoman]

Anyway, has anyone tried cleaning a radiator out? I've heard flushing it really doesn't work. I guess I'm looking for a "home remedy" that people have tried.

You can do a reverse flush of the radiator. You need to buy a special cone shaped flushing tool that has a garden hose and air supply connector on one end. You need a good supply of compressed air.

Drain then disconnect both top and bottom hoses from engine. Push the special tool into the bottom hose and turn the garden hose water on. Once water starts coming out of the top hose, give the tool several short bursts of air; this helps to dislodge dirt inside the radiator.

[240marcuSX]

Stock is 1 row.

I fit my Koyo in my '90 hatch with the stock shroud, everything is a bit tighter, but no real fitment issues.

there is no way in hell I would pay that much for a stock radiator, that price is garbage, you could get a fluidyne radiator for that much!!

Tips -

Take off your fan and fan clutch before you slip the radiator in.

Slide the radiator in place, then put the shroud in, then the connect the hoses, then attach the fan to the fan clutch and slide in as one pice through the bottom (between the crank pully and the shroud) and bolt it up, make sure everyything it tight, re-fill, start her up.