I have a Spectra Premium radiator in my 1996 F-150 5.0. It leaks from the side, where the plastic side piece is crimped onto the aluminum core portion. I constantly get to top off my radiator.

 

to be fair,no ones making decent radiators anymore.this isn't just the rads sold at autozone problems.

 

very true... my Made in MEXICO Motorcraft radiator has been annoyingly leaking lately.. barely a year old and all it wants to do is drip from the drain spout at the bottom..

 

"I'm wondering if I made the right decision to go with a Duralast waterpump and Spectra Premium radiator both from Autozone."

I don't have much to offer the forum, but I did buy a Spectra Premium radiator from Auto Zone. I was offering how it worked out for me, my personal experience.

 

I don't buy anything from AZ that isn't a name brand I can't also buy elsewhere.

So basically, I just don't shop there. Their brakes are junk, their rebuilt starters/alts/ps pumps are junk.. (I could go on) Most importantly, their employees are junk.


O'Rielly's has been treating me well lately, along with RockAuto. I also like Advanced but they don't have stores near me anymore. I do still shop their deals and ship stuff in on the cheap sometimes. Last time I got 2 rotors, 50% off and free shipping, which beat out RockAuto by a large amount after their shipping charge was nearly the same as the cost of the rotors.

I used to work for Napa, and I would shop there more often but I get stuck in the Ace hardware hours syndrome. They're never open when I need stuff.