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I finally had to choose between a cheap aftermarket radiator or a pricey OEM one for a 2012 Civic last week.
I went with the aftermarket part to save the customer $200, but it leaked at the upper hose neck after just 3 days, so what's your go-to brand for reliable cooling system parts that won't fail immediately?
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phoenix_clark36mo ago
My buddy's shop in Tempe got a whole pallet of those leaky aftermarket radiators once. They ended up doing the same job twice on half the cars, which just kills your schedule. It taught me to check the material specs now, not just the price.
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the_harper6mo ago
Used to grab the cheapest radiator that fit the box. Then I put one in my neighbor's Civic and it split at the seam after eight months. Watching him pour coolant on the ground every morning made me order the proper one. Now I look up the plastic type and core thickness first, even if it takes an extra ten minutes. Ever have a part fail so fast it changed how you shop?
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adam7516mo ago
That's the exact kind of headache that makes you second guess saving a few bucks. Read a forum thread a while back where a bunch of mechanics swore by Denso radiators for Hondas, said they're basically the OEM maker without the dealer price. Ever try one of those? Seems like some aftermarket brands just use plastic that can't handle the heat cycles.
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