Replacement OE Radiator
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 231
Likes: 4
From: Texas
Replacement OE Radiator
My OE radiator has sprung a leak in the top plastic tank. I looked at Rock Auto and searched for RAD-16 but RAD-306 pops up.
Went to White Bear Lake Ford, and searched for radiator for my 2006 F350. They show RAD-306 as a replacement for the RAD-16.
Has anyone installed the RAD-306? If so, same form, fit, function (performance)?
Anything out there better performance / ease of install as the OE?
Thanks,
Went to White Bear Lake Ford, and searched for radiator for my 2006 F350. They show RAD-306 as a replacement for the RAD-16.
Has anyone installed the RAD-306? If so, same form, fit, function (performance)?
Anything out there better performance / ease of install as the OE?
Thanks,
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 295
From: Fresno, CA
Shoot looks like they've discontinued the "original" RAD16 part number (like a bunch of other parts like oil coolers). Probably switched to a different supplier. I had purchased a RAD16 from RockAuto last year (April 22) and it was identical to my stocker.
The consensus I've gathered is there are not aftermarket options that will provide the cooling capacity of the stocker. Most have less fins/inch (giving less heat transfer area) and potentially less tubes, or different sizes tubes. I push my cooling system pretty hard during the summer so I stuck with stock. Also my original lasted over 15-years...
Plenty of guys out there running the Performance brand radiator (same one BPD sells) that don't seem to have issues, but I'm not sure how well they perform vs the OEM.
My only personal experience was purchasing a NAPA branded radiator first and upon inspection found the fins/inch count way less than the OEM so I returned it before installing/testing and went to the OEM.
Most dealers won't ship the OEM as they are very poorly packaged from Ford. Rock Auto adds some foam to the box and my arrived with minimal damage.
The consensus I've gathered is there are not aftermarket options that will provide the cooling capacity of the stocker. Most have less fins/inch (giving less heat transfer area) and potentially less tubes, or different sizes tubes. I push my cooling system pretty hard during the summer so I stuck with stock. Also my original lasted over 15-years...
Plenty of guys out there running the Performance brand radiator (same one BPD sells) that don't seem to have issues, but I'm not sure how well they perform vs the OEM.
My only personal experience was purchasing a NAPA branded radiator first and upon inspection found the fins/inch count way less than the OEM so I returned it before installing/testing and went to the OEM.
Most dealers won't ship the OEM as they are very poorly packaged from Ford. Rock Auto adds some foam to the box and my arrived with minimal damage.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 880
To add to Jester's advice, I went through a hassle years ago with my OEM leaking. I can attest that the OEM radiator has 92 cooling passages and the Performance Radiator all aluminum has 87 cooling passages. IMO the all aluminum cools just as good if not better than OEM in my opinion. The plastic tanks are the first to go on the OEM, and I can guarantee you'll never find an OEM like they were made 15+ years ago. I went OEM and had a leak right out of the box....obvious defect. Got pissed and bought an aftermarket OEM compatible and that hunk of junk leaked within 500 miles from the tank seal. Got sick and tired of the run around and went with Performance Radiator model 2944.....never one issue and I push my truck hard sometimes.
If I had to do it over again I would go with the all aluminum in a heartbeat.
Good luck
If I had to do it over again I would go with the all aluminum in a heartbeat.
Good luck
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 295
From: Fresno, CA
To add to Jester's advice, I went through a hassle years ago with my OEM leaking. I can attest that the OEM radiator has 92 cooling passages and the Performance Radiator all aluminum has 87 cooling passages. IMO the all aluminum cools just as good if not better than OEM in my opinion. The plastic tanks are the first to go on the OEM, and I can guarantee you'll never find an OEM like they were made 15+ years ago. I went OEM and had a leak right out of the box....obvious defect. Got pissed and bought an aftermarket OEM compatible and that hunk of junk leaked within 500 miles from the tank seal. Got sick and tired of the run around and went with Performance Radiator model 2944.....never one issue and I push my truck hard sometimes.
If I had to do it over again I would go with the all aluminum in a heartbeat.
Good luck
If I had to do it over again I would go with the all aluminum in a heartbeat.
Good luck
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 880
Towing- too much 
I think my 37' weekend warrior fully loaded is 22-25k (maybe more).
Grades- 3-6% with the latter being occasional (Mammoth pull is one of them)
ECT will plateau @ 220-225* but I regulate the throttle to keep it below. That is when my anxiety is at its highest but she never falters.
I think my 37' weekend warrior fully loaded is 22-25k (maybe more).Grades- 3-6% with the latter being occasional (Mammoth pull is one of them)
ECT will plateau @ 220-225* but I regulate the throttle to keep it below. That is when my anxiety is at its highest but she never falters.
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Fleet Mechanic
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I've ran all aluminum (no plastic end tanks) units from Radiator Express (link below) in a couple of trucks (including the 6.0 Excursion) with great results.
They have a few options, but the one I'm using in the Excursion is the $299 , all aluminum , heavy duty version.
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/part...on/base/60l-v8
...
They have a few options, but the one I'm using in the Excursion is the $299 , all aluminum , heavy duty version.
https://www.radiatorexpress.com/part...on/base/60l-v8
...
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