P80 Aluminum Radiator and DO88 Radiator feedback

Post by **shaker_chi** » 01 Jun 2018, 10:25

Has anyone every picked up one of these aluminum radiators on Ebay? I purchased an aluminum intercooler last year for my 98 S70 T5 manual. The aluminum version is a bit wider than the O/E, but I managed to squeeze it in. Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated. The $220 price tag seems very reasonable, which usually means buyer beware.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Radiator-FOR-1 ... SwXeJYFYF0

Thanks

Post by **tryingbe** » 01 Jun 2018, 12:13

Yes, my 850 had one.

Radiator itself and material is ok.... BUT trans cooler is junk, engine oil cooler is junk, gaskets between the cooler and radiator wall are junk, the weld is not so great.

I had the radiator cut open and took out both the coolers since I swapped to a manual trans and external engine oil cooler. If I knew the quality of the coolers and the gaskets, I would have never bought it.

Spend the money and get a DO88.

http://www.vivaperformance.com/brands/Do88.html

Post by **shaker_chi** » 01 Jun 2018, 12:47

Thanks for the feedback. As suspected, too good to be true.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 01 Jun 2018, 13:50

Anyone ever chopped open a do88 radiator?

Post by **j-dawg** » 01 Jun 2018, 16:49

Never heard of an aluminum Volvo radiator that didn't crack at the tanks. At least the plastic tanks do it in ten years rather than five.

Post by **jimmy57** » 01 Jun 2018, 18:01

And many of the car models that have all aluminum rads with no plastic end tank rubber seals to leak instead develop fatigue cracks from pressure cycling. I was so disappointed when I started seeing BMW Al rads crack and leak at milages and age less than when I see plastic/Al rads leak. But, Al rads don't rot or plug up like old brass/copper rads. A recore job on a brass/Cu rad was about double the price of a new plastic/Al rad when I needed one for an older Chevy PU 10-12 years back. The plastic/Al rads have more capacity and will lower temps when they replace the brass/Cu ones.

BTW, not all 100% Al rads will crack. I know there are some much more expensive ones that may have thicker gauge tanks and some shaping for more strength.

Post by **j-dawg** » 03 Jun 2018, 01:24

jimmy57 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2018, 18:01
BTW, not all 100% Al rads will crack. I know there are some much more expensive ones that may have thicker gauge tanks and some shaping for more strength.

Possible. I've heard good things about the Do88, I guess, though I don't know how long it's been available.

But I think the factory radiator is fine. It's huge; cooling capacity is never a problem on these cars. If you own an 850, a radiator every 150,000 miles will be the least of your expenses. Best to just buy an OEM or Nissens and accept the radiator as a consumable, rather than trying to find one that will never crack.

redc70 · Post by **redc70** » 03 Jun 2018, 06:29

I just replaced the radiator on my C70 LPT convertible. Small leak after running over a deer carcass outside Sonoma Tx early in the AM. Bought it from FCP, arrived in less than a week and lifetime warranty. It gets awfully hot and humid on the Texas Gulf coast and all seems well so far.

Post by **shaker_chi** » 04 Jun 2018, 09:04

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I'll stick with O/E.

jalwlb · Post by **jalwlb** » 09 Jan 2019, 13:55

Not only is sticking with OEM a great idea but so is staying away from DO 88 radiators. Two years and 12,000 miles later my DO 88 leaks at both ends between the core and the end tanks. I know of two others who have had leaks, one of whom had a leak lead to a catastrophic leak and blown head gasket.

DO 88's RIP kit and intercooler however I've been thrilled with.