Well this makes it 4 Phoenix Arizona hot as hell years with ZERO issues.
Any aluminum radiators that don't crack annually?
- Thread starter ls1frc
- Start date
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That’s awesome. Since this thread started I know of 2 others on this forum that have had leaks with their Cold Case radiators. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones. Once again, I also have had zero issues with any of my OEM radiators, one of which has 180k on it so far.
Mine was from Alloyworks bought on Amazon for $215. If there is any hot weather test, Phoenix or Vegas is the place to test it.
Sparksalot
Elite Member
My Coldcase radiator is now 4 years old. I guess the caveat is the truck has only been driven about 6,000 miles in that time.
kbuskill
***CAUTION*** I do my own stunts!
I guess I may as well throw my 2 bits in.
I am on my 3rd Cold Case Radiator.
1st one installed 1/1/21 @ 262,225 miles. The brackets on this one had to be trimmed to fit the truck. Started leaking from one of the welds on an end tank. Lasted approximately 2 yrs.
2nd one installed under warranty on 11/10/22 @ 294,442 miles. This one fit without any modifications needed, I assumed it was because I contacted Ken Faust @ Cold Case and informed him of the issue the first time around.
Started leaking where the fins/tubes meet the end tank. Lasted approximately 3 yrs.
3rd one installed under warranty on 11/15/25 @ 345,822. This one also fit without any issues.
On the 1st radiator I installed, the core was the same thickness as the end tanks, absolutely massive. The 2nd one, which was the design that did not require modifying the brackets to clear the core support, had a thinner core that wasn't as thick as the end tanks like the first one.
All of them have had the same issue of not having a restrictor in the small hose that attaches to the passenger side end tank at the top. Without this restrictor it can cause the truck to run too cool and through a code and go into reduced power mode because of the way GM has them programmed. Adding a restrictor eliminates that issue. I also informed Ken of that issue but it doesn't appear that he listened to me on that point. As a side note, I live in Florida so it isn't like I am in the frozen tundra.
Cold Case is good about replacing them under warranty. The last one cost me $95 for shipping, I don't recall what the first replacement shipping cost.
At this point I'm not sure if it is smarter to just keep replacing them under warranty and know that I have a monstrous radiator that is only ever a couple years old OR if I should just cut my losses and resign myself to a stock radiator that I probably wouldn't have to touch for a long time.
1st design compared to stock radiator to show core thickness.
2nd design comparing 1st design (thicker core) to 2nd design.
And here is the restrictor I made from an old metal TPMS sensor installed in the radiator to fix the over cooling issue.
GM programming dictates that if the engine temperature doesn't come up to a certain point within a certain time period it will kick the fans on High and give reduced power until corrected. It is done as a safety because low coolant could also cause the temperature sensor to read low. If you look at a stock radiator it has a restrictor hole up inside that nipple.
I am on my 3rd Cold Case Radiator.
1st one installed 1/1/21 @ 262,225 miles. The brackets on this one had to be trimmed to fit the truck. Started leaking from one of the welds on an end tank. Lasted approximately 2 yrs.
2nd one installed under warranty on 11/10/22 @ 294,442 miles. This one fit without any modifications needed, I assumed it was because I contacted Ken Faust @ Cold Case and informed him of the issue the first time around.
Started leaking where the fins/tubes meet the end tank. Lasted approximately 3 yrs.
3rd one installed under warranty on 11/15/25 @ 345,822. This one also fit without any issues.
On the 1st radiator I installed, the core was the same thickness as the end tanks, absolutely massive. The 2nd one, which was the design that did not require modifying the brackets to clear the core support, had a thinner core that wasn't as thick as the end tanks like the first one.
All of them have had the same issue of not having a restrictor in the small hose that attaches to the passenger side end tank at the top. Without this restrictor it can cause the truck to run too cool and through a code and go into reduced power mode because of the way GM has them programmed. Adding a restrictor eliminates that issue. I also informed Ken of that issue but it doesn't appear that he listened to me on that point. As a side note, I live in Florida so it isn't like I am in the frozen tundra.
Cold Case is good about replacing them under warranty. The last one cost me $95 for shipping, I don't recall what the first replacement shipping cost.
At this point I'm not sure if it is smarter to just keep replacing them under warranty and know that I have a monstrous radiator that is only ever a couple years old OR if I should just cut my losses and resign myself to a stock radiator that I probably wouldn't have to touch for a long time.
1st design compared to stock radiator to show core thickness.
2nd design comparing 1st design (thicker core) to 2nd design.
And here is the restrictor I made from an old metal TPMS sensor installed in the radiator to fix the over cooling issue.
GM programming dictates that if the engine temperature doesn't come up to a certain point within a certain time period it will kick the fans on High and give reduced power until corrected. It is done as a safety because low coolant could also cause the temperature sensor to read low. If you look at a stock radiator it has a restrictor hole up inside that nipple.
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And I've been using Champion radiators in everything, without an issue. The one in my old Ford F-250 is going on 8 years old. The one in the Hummer H2 is about 4 years old, the one in the Escalade is two and a half years old. Paid less than $200 for each one... I'm assuming they probably came out of China, but the welds look really good. I put a restrictor in the hose to the coolant reservoir to prevent the overcooling issue.
I guess I would say whatever you order, inspect the welds. If not satisfied, return it and look elsewhere.
I guess I would say whatever you order, inspect the welds. If not satisfied, return it and look elsewhere.
kbuskill
***CAUTION*** I do my own stunts!
The last one started leaking where the tubes go into the end tank. I'm not 100% sure if those connections are crimped, welded, brazed, epoxied or what???
I did talk to a radiator repair shop about getting the old ones fixed as Cold Case doesn't require them to be returned. He said IF repairable it would probably be around $185 to fix. If he couldn't repair then no charge. I have 2 of these old Cold Case Radiators now just sitting around until I figure out what to do with them. He also said that aluminum radiators just eventually leak. He said he could make a copy out of brass but the price would be ridiculously high, like $1500-$2000. I can buy a lot of radiators for that kind of money.
