Copper or Aluminum Core Radiators

[Patryn]

Anyone have opinions on differences of copper core and aluminum core radiators when it comes to our cars? Most of the larger aftermarket radiators are aluminum, but in my case of overheating a stock style Denso copper core radiator keeps temps under control where as an expensive Koyo 2in aluminum radiator could not. Not other change other than swapping radiators. This is on a TD05 VR4, so turbos sit a little closer to radiator, so maybe it is the aluminum heat soaks less from engine bay heat.

[PaulL]

Its starting to make me wonder if the large single core radiators drop the pressure throughout the entire cooling system since there is more volume to move, but I couldn't say for sure.

[CoreyB]

The heat transfer of copper is nearly twice that of aluminum. So a copper core is far better than an aluminum core. However due to the cost, most aftermarket cores are aluminum.

[i3igpete]

aluminum is easier to form and tool. And is much stronger. This means you can fabricate fins with "higher resolution" and much thinner fins with aluminum than you can with copper. This MUCH greater surface area that aluminum affords negates any advantage copper provides though it has a superior heat transfer property.

in general, the limiting factor in a heat exchanger is the air convection, rather than the thermal resistance from the material itself.

[CoreyB]

The design is a huge factor. This is kind of a neat write up Aluminum vs Copper

[PaulL]

So from what all I've read, it seems more or less to do with how well the aluminum one is designed.

It almost seems like the aluminum radiator gets heat-soaked. When I'm idling for 30 minutes from a cold start, temps stay around 180 degrees. As soon as I drive around for a couple of minutes, then idle the car for minutes with the fans on, it will never go back down to 180.

[i3igpete]

it's not that the radiator is heat soaked, it's that the engine block is a huge thermal mass. you have ~300 lbs of steel that will continue to give off heat long after you put it in park.

[BigTyla]

This is exactly why I'm keeping my stock radiator on my DSM. People switch to these dinky aftermarket aluminum radiators with slim fans, put a huge FMIC in front with no ducting, and wonder why their car is overheating. Why do people feel the need to replace their stock radiators anyway? Smaller size is the only reason I can think of, and that would be for very specific applications.

[PaulL]

This is exactly why I'm keeping my stock radiator on my DSM. People switch to these dinky aftermarket aluminum radiators with slim fans, put a huge FMIC in front with no ducting, and wonder why their car is overheating. Why do people feel the need to replace their stock radiators anyway? Smaller size is the only reason I can think of, and that would be for very specific applications.

The N/A radiator wasn't really worth a crap anyways.

[BigTyla]

The N/A radiator wasn't really worth a crap anyways.

The n/a ATX radiator is exactly the same as the TT radiator except for the trans oil provisions.