Title says it. Thread is for reports of success stories with radiators for the PowerStroke OBS whether the IDI or degas version. Will also help to include ones to avoid. Goal is to build a current list as nothing stood-out when I tried to search on this topic.

Toward myself, I just bought a IDI Mishimoto as it was the only aluminum radiator that I could find that was in stock (although, a bunch of merchants list it, but are out of stock) and I need the truck back on the road quickly. Did not have a chance to really dig into alternatives as the Brand X aluminum radiator in the OBS had to come out as it started to leak along one of the endcaps.

Granted I could have looked into a degas conversion, but the time factor backed me into a direct swap. Besides, even if I did do a degas conversion, it still does not change that there are pretty much no reports of success stories.

 

A USA version is going to be better quality, but cost 2x-4x more than an imported version.

 

Lots of people here buy mishimotos and seem to like them plenty

 

Was the previous brand you had a Champion radiator for the IDI? I thought those were decent. I was looking into getting one before I did the Degas swap with a Mishimoto...

 

Do not know who made the OBS's previous radiator as it was installed at least two PO's ago. The last owner was impressed by it and called it the "big honkin aluminum radiator". But then again, the last PO thought that the dash temperature gauge stayed pegged 'Cold' because of the radiator and not the fact that the sending unit failed

Toward Mishimoto, I have mixed feelings as they had QC issues a while ago and it turned out that I bought a radiator during that period. Did not learn about the QC issues until about 3 years after purchase and the radiator started to leak. Did not try to mess with getting any support on repairs as I was ready to move on to the next vehicle and the radiator leak helped seal that vehicle's fate.

So, even with the fairly recent less than positive experience with Mishimoto, I bought another one as it looks like they are the only fully aluminum radiator that I can get my hands on *today*.

At the moment, the new radiator experience is not playing-out well as apparently FedEx does not think that my paying for Next-Day service means that they actually have to deliver the goods the next day and can take their time. Letting the package float around in one of their hubs for ~17 hours just does not impress. But this is a different topic... Yeah, am seeing a refund for that service

 

Got old radiator's details from the shop: Duralast C1165 which looks like an exclusive AutoZone product.

Without knowing when the Duralast was installed, cannot really state anything about durability or effectiveness. The OBS came with regular glycol coolant and do not know the history of its SCA levels or change intervals. So, it is possible that the Duralast suffered from neglect. Actually, the shop reported that the core tubes looked fairly gunked-up, so abuse is a good possibility.

After I bought the OBS, its coolant was immediately converted to waterless and now have zero concern with SCA or risk of electrolysis.

 

Pretty old thread, but I came across this.

Anybody ever use one of these snazzy looking Ebay radiators? They don’t look terrible. Maybe these are unlabeled Mishimoto radiators?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13393822840...3ABFBMrPSTkatf

 

Anybody ever use one of the all aluminum EBay radiators??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13393822840...3ABFBMrPSTkatf

 

I know at least 2 mishimotos that have leaked I would not suggest them.

 

Are you suggesting that I should roll the dice on the Ebay rad instead of a Mishimoto?? Which... might be the same??? Or not??

 

(Edit) never mind seller name looked similar I used a seller by the name asi_autopart_zone
rad for an 05 f250 5.4 trucks at work a couple of years ago still going with no leaks, it's a weld made unit.

 

How long ago was this?? I heard Mishimotos from a few years ago were low quality, but now they’re good.

What I don’t understand about this entire thread is that there is no conclusively good quality radiator for an OBS 7.3 with an auto.


Also, Mishimoto is out of stock right now because their products are made offshore and stuck in transit. They don’t list country of manufacture, so I’m going to assume China. Possible that the Ebay radiator is just a Mishimoto clone without the extra branding stuff on it?

 

Wizard makes em here in the US, figure about $1000 for it. They make great ones for us odd Euro car drivers.

You will get what you pay for...

 

Noooowwww you tell me . . .

I do not like paying more than I need to, but dislike paying to replace defective new parts even more.


This was the exact reason why I started this thread. Can find discussions on just about every other part on the Internet, but not the radiator.

FWIW, Mishimotos were in thin stock when I needed one a few months ago and IIRC I found just one vendor with availability. And, the only version I am seeing is for automatics (at least for the IDI style). If anything, this will prove useful should I need to replace the ZF5 and go with a ZF6

 

I was away from a PC most of the summer, so posting was not too easy. But, if too late please forgive me sire.

Mishimoto sprung a leak in my 6.4, before the cab mounts took out an OE unit later. MM finally updated that design a few times and they were working when my 6.4 was totaled in '14 or '15 as I understand. I have low confidence in their product. This is especially true once you see how massive the rad is from that era truck and the amount of coolant I lost plus time to R&R. I had it replaced under warranty and then got rid of the damned thing.

Autozone has a plastic tank guy for $220 plus tax after rebate w ATF cooler. Lifetime warranty and there are AZs around to easily get to for me. My '88 has their rad, the '92, and both '01s. Pretty much all rads are built for autos now as almost all vehicles have them...so just go that route and leave the lines plugged or use it for power steering.