Cheap Radiator until Champion is fixed

Like the title says, I have developed a decent crack on my Champion radiator. I plan on getting it cleaned out and repaired.

$70 AutoShack Radiator for 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma 2.4L 2.7L 3.4L V6 4WD RWD High-Performance Replacement RK686

https://www.amazon.com/AutoShack-RK...679&sprefix=2003+toyota,aps,1994&sr=1-1&ufe=a

Has anyone slapped one of these cheap one in and had any luck?

I may have to get another quality radiator after reading that the Champion radiators don’t like the Toyota Red. I haven’t had any issues that I know of besides the cracking of the welds.

 

Get the denso then call it a day

 

I hate being out that money but it has lasted almost 10 years.

 

Denso.

It's only a few bucks more than the one you posted and you won't need to throw the champion back in for many years to come.

Not sure why you want to cheap out on an important part in your vehicle.

 

That Champion has been fantastic until now.
I was gonna get it fixed for around $80 and it’s paid for. I didn’t say I wanted to be cheap. I’m about to build a turbo engine and want to keep the Champion. I’ll just go ahead and grab a Denso.

I seem to can only find the automatic version. Does it make a difference?

 

Automatic variant will have provisions for running your ATF through the bottom portion of the radiator.

Seeing as how you have a manual, you'll just plug the two nipples on the radiator.

Overall height will be taller.

 

Any more it seems all the radiators come with the added coolers instead of 2 different versions.

The truck can not sit till the radiator is fixed?

$80.00 seems a very low price . Considering how hard it might be to get clean enough.

Good luck!

 

Unfortunately, no. My 2020 had the entire fuel system implode. I sold it to the dealer cause they couldn’t get the parts. Now I am in purgatory, over pay for a used diesel or get trounced at the stealership.

You think this will affect the fan shroud?

 

It really should not maybe the over all length of the radiator.

The top to bottom length should be able to be found.

In most cases it is just 2 female fittings that would not impact the shroud .

My shroud was tossed long ago. i installed a all metal Copper/ Brass radiator.

To bad your so far away with time being a factor I would send you a radiator for the shipping.

Good Luck!

 

I appreciate that. Denso from partsgeek still about the cheapest around?

 

If your gonna run a champion.....its highly suggested not to run the Asian red coolant...

it seems to attack the welding flux in some applications...and other dissembler metals.

and probably playing hell on some of the metal gaskets.........its a crap shoot.






heck of a lot easier to find them leaks THO....

 

The new Prestone Max is rated for 15yrs /350K miles...

I figure springing for a $15 gal of that every three years wont hurt too much.....
way cheaper than an etched gasket....

and it doesn't count on protecting by coating the aluminum(pink slime).....crazy ass toyota engineers....


As far as champion radiators....I have years on mine and tens of thousands of miles.....

just have to follow the rules........nothings written in concrete....
they have evolved here, wallet driven data........


The champion has 1.5 times the volume of the denso one.
Slides right in....even with the shroud.....
Only negative I can say is they are not for off road tacos....they can crack under the extreme.......

therefore would use extra thick bushings on the four mounts regardless of the truck.......
and made it so two of those can slide......

 

And I have a brandnew denso in the box........Almost a guarantee the champion one will never fail....
what a bitch.......


If I were you I'd just order the cheapest/quickest option.......
you'll just end up with a security blanket like me......


If you go the denso route....expect to replace it again in about 5 ~ 7 yrs....
just a fact about crimp top radiators.......

The champion one you have may be compromised......many of the other welds could be affected....

 

Denso is a good name, one that I have tried to stick with for my Japanese brands, but the Denso replacement parts, in my experience, are not the same as the OEM parts.

The last Denso radiator I used was not in my Tacoma, I went Koyorad at the time, but I did go with Denso in an 04 Honda recently. The original Honda radiator, a Denso, was made in Japan, the new aftermarket Denso one is not. The new one looked and felt of a lower quality than the original. Maybe they are manufactured to a higher quality than other aftermarket radiators, but it didn't look or feel any different to me.

 

You'll find over next few years.....all large/heavy toyota components will be sourced over to mexico...
all the auto manufacturers are doing this....

And it shows, the newer Toyotas have had issues with componets, and exterior.
Like camry mirrors that melt in the sun.

Just like most all automotive wiring harnesses WERE made in cheapest tech ability region in the free world.....Ukraine........

 

The automatic trans radiator hangs a couple inches lower than the manual so you will likely need to replace your lower radiator hose with a longer one. Your current hose was trimmed to fit the manual radiator.

People don’t usually mention that in this discussion and I found out the hard way.

 

Throw that champion away and get an OEM one. I have been running a 4cyl denso radiator on my 3.4 for almost 10yrs now, issue free, and keeps the truck cool even when crawling at less than a mile an hour in the humid SE.

 

Did you go with the

$167 Denso 221-3138 Radiator

Denso 221-3138? My radiator sprung a leak at 280K, 02 3.4L 5 speed. Caught them on sale online at a Toyota dealer only to wait a week and find out it's backordered. Probably not coming back as they have a different replacement for $400+. Good to know I might need to get a lower hose instead of having to take the bus to Autozone.

 

I have the same one ordered. I’ll get an Autozone hose coming as well just in case!

 

Quote:

therefore would use extra thick bushings on the four mounts regardless of the truck.......
and made it so two of those can slide......[/QUOTE]

Well I suppose it depends on which generation champion you get. I ran one for several years, even tried preemptive 1/4” thick bushings, and it leaked from about year 3 on. I thought it might have been the radiator cap( that’s where I saw the most evidence of leakage. It never over heated, and I kept an eye on the coolant levels- the leak wasn’t too bad at first, after about 4 years(since installation) it progressively got worse, I noticed when I got underneath to look for the source of the strange noises this last AlCan trip, I saw evidence of a leak coming from the tube sheet, and that was the clincher. So I went with the Koyorad VH010513. Fit was good and it has good clearance above and below.
I just got my replacement axle, this week. More fun looms…. Good luck