[Sexterrababe]

Hey y’all,

I’ve got a 2007 xterra and I’m looking for a radiator to prevent the transmission fluid and coolant mixing issue. Looking for advice on which brands or specific radiators anyone would recommend. I’m balling on a budget here so something under $400 but still good quality is ideal. Thanks

 

[Bioburner]

Lot of fans of Koyo here and not bad $$ at Amazon

 

[Mr. Bills]

Koyo P/N A2807.

However, be sure that you source it from an authorized vendor. There are companies out there that advertise cheap Chinese radiators as Koyo and slap on fake labels.

Ebay is the worst, but just because it is from Amazon doesn't make it legit. Pay attention to the identity of the actual seller. If you want to know if a source is legitimate you should contact Koyorad directly and ask.

koyorad.com

I purchased mine from FR Sport in Huntington Beach CA for $117.12 on November 25, 2016. As I recall it was a Black Friday sale.

FRsport.com

Current prices seem to be in the $140-160 range as of 7/20/2020.

 

[CAchief]

Pay attention to the identity of the actual seller. If you want to know if a source is legitimate you should contact Koyorad directly and ask.

Great advice. When I purchased mine a couple years ago I called Koyorad with three different vendors and only one was legitimate (FRSport).

 

[Sexterrababe]

Thanks guys appreciate the help!

 

[GreyDuck]

Another Koyo recommendation here. I bought mine for $130 and if you're slightly handy, the install ain't so bad.

 

[jskizzle7]

I recommend Koyo like most others here as well as CSF. I put a CSF 3196 (model #) in my wife’s ‘06 2 years ago at 175k miles along with all new hoses, caps and thermostat. Oem quality and in fact they provide OE parts often times. Fit and functions like a glove. Solid build. And less than $100 even with shipping from rock auto. Winner.

 

[Mr. Bills]

I'm glad you had good results with your CSF radiator.

Unfortunately many others have had poor results with CSF radiators, including some good friends, and for that reason I will not install one in my Xterra or my Jeep even if it is just $1 - not even a CSF "all-aluminum heavy-duty" racing radiator.

YMMV

 

[jskizzle7]

Wow that’s super unfortunate @MrBills. Sorry that was your experience. I’ll def knock on wood then that the one I used continues to hold up. Trying to take this thing as far as possible and this makes me think once my ‘11 P4X, 106k mi, is ready for a new rad I’ll just stick with the koyo recommendations. Thanks dude.

I'm glad you had good results with your CSF radiator.

Unfortunately many others have had poor results with CSF radiators, including some good friends, and for that reason I will not install one in my Xterra or my Jeep even if it is just $1 - not even a CSF "all-aluminum heavy-duty" racing radiator.

YMMV

 

[crg01]

Just ordered a Koyo A2807 from THMotorsports. Lowest price I found recently ($136) and free shipping. It arrived to my house in two days. I did a little research and it appears that the Koyo is a little oversized compared to the competition. Every other radiator I've found has been a 1.25" single-row core, the Koyo is a 1.4" two-row core. That fact coupled with the price as compared to a fabricated all-aluminum CSF at $350 sealed the deal for me.

 

[Texas X-terra]

Could always go the free route of just bypassing the radiator with the trans line.

 

[Bioburner]

Ten years is pretty much the expected lifespan of most rads. I grit my teeth every time I hook my 5th wheel up to the 99 f350. But it has extra gauges to monitor everything and if the tranny is getting warm the auxiliary fanned cooler will help. Maybe this winters project when or if I can get to south TX

 

[Mr. Bills]

Could always go the free route of just bypassing the radiator with the trans line.

The bypass is a band aid.

It has been determined over the years that while the bypass eliminates the possibility of SMOD, it also reduces important ATF cooling capacity and substantially increases the risk of overheating the transmission into limp mode on long grades whetyher in OD or out, while trailer towing, and offroad at slow speeds with no wind speed.

The fix is to replace the radiator.

 

[Texas X-terra]

I disagree with all of what you've said. Provide empirical evidence for all that.

 

[Mr. Bills]

Disagree all you like. You can search this board and others for the evidence you demand just as well as I.

 

[Texas X-terra]

Thought so.

 

[outback97]

I disagree with all of what you've said. Provide empirical evidence for all that.

ATF Temperatures and Cooling System Performance

Since there were few new developments after making on road mesurements I decided to start a new thread on this topic. Last summer I noticed that during certain trail conditions that the engine would stall against the converter. This has to raise the ATF temperature. I was interested in...

www.thenewx.org

 

[Mr. Bills]

Thanks for the link to the empirical evidence.

 

[outback97]

Thanks for the link to the empirical evidence.

No problem.

I also have my personal experience which confirms AT overheating in slow speed 4WD when I was bypassed. Immediately after that I installed a new radiator and undid the bypass. No overheating since then.

As you said, the bypass is a bandaid.

The OP has the right idea in replacing the radiator.

 

[Texas X-terra]

Interesting, I've had none of that. Wheeling, pulling the boat to WA state and back, heavy traffic jams. Runs fine, fluid drops out nice and red every time.