Radiators | Automotive Parts Suppliers

How to Choose the Best Radiator in Town

May 10, 2012 By

Cruisin’ like a boss in your car does not seem too shabby at all! You’re there in your vehicle – your faithful steed, the reliable machine, transporting yourself to your destination in one the coolest ways possible – your own automobile. I’m sure you care so much about your automobile that you’d go far measures to ensure its maintenance and its constant quality. You’d never want your beloved car to be rendered utterly useless because of poor maintenance, right?

Allow me to inject a little logic. Do you take care of your car’s tires, checking their pressures regularly or at least relatively often? How about the oil, changing them when it’s due time? Hopefully, the answer is yes, and if it is, may I ask why? The obvious answer is because you do it to take care of your automobile, right? Well just as important to the over-all workings of your vehicle like the tires and the oil, is your car’s radiator. If, for some reason, you need to pick and choose a good radiator for your car, what should you look for?

But why should I bother?

You may be thinking, why should I bother with my radiator? As long as I actually HAVE a radiator, I’m good, right? Well, unfortunately if you have that thinking, your mentality cares very little for your vehicle. It’s not just only about having a radiator, but it’s also about the kind of radiator you ought to have. Is it a good one? Is it a beat-up one you picked up out of the junk shop for the equivalent price of a milkshake? It’s about quality. Remember, just like your body, your car has several “organs” which makes it function over-all. The radiator is a component that’s as important as any other, like the gas tank, the tires, or the engine itself. It has the major responsibility of cooling the engine. You don’t want to find yourself stuck on the road because your car overheated, right? That ought to be extremely frustrating. Therefore, the radiator’s condition and quality must never be overlooked. So what determines a good radiator? Let’s find out.

Starting from the basic and utterly obvious, a radiator cannot be called “good” for your car if it isn’t the right kind. Know the brand of your car and make sure either (one), it comes from the same manufacturer or, (two) it is made by a company for cars like yours. You can get the best radiator for a truck, but if you have a car, that would make no sense at all. So remember that it’s the best one that’s made FOR your vehicle.

What is it made of?

There’s quite a debate going on about whether the best radiators are made of brass or aluminum. They DO, of course, perform the same task, don’t get me wrong, but it’s about HOW they perform that task. It terms of how it cools, brass is better than aluminum because it conducts heat better than aluminum. However, if you go for brass radiators, that’s much more weight than you would have if you have an aluminum radiator. For efficiency of your car’s engine, we all know that lighter is better. Another thing: brass is more susceptible to cracks and leaks compared to aluminum. So if I were you, I’d go for aluminum which is more efficient over-all.

Other factors.

Remember these. The wider the tubes, the better it is in making contact with the fins, causing it to dissipate heat better. If it dissipates heat well, then that means it’s doing its job. Again, the thinner the fins and the wider it is means that more cool air will contact them, which will in turn, make contact with the tubes which will cool the engine. In a nutshell, this means that thin and wide fins are good.

Brand name matters.

It’s not enough knowing what makes a good radiator. The brand matters as much as a summation of all these characteristics. A good radiator brand that’s trusted, proven reliable, and consistently amazing is one that you should seek, just like Roberts’ ever-reliable Evercool Radiators, only to name one off-the-top-of-the-list. With EverCool radiators, there’s no overheating, therefore there are not headaches and frustrating moments for you! That’s what you should look for.

So as you can see. It’s false to think, meh, a radiator’s a radiator. What’s the difference? Obviously, the whole engine cooling task hinges entirely on your radiator. It’s not to be taken lightly. You must give careful thought in choosing your radiator. It’s an investment for the far future.

How Do I Maintain My Flat Fin Radiator?

June 4, 2011 By

Taking care of your Flat Fin Radiator is not a lot of work, but it will definitely make a huge difference and will prevent you from experiencing troublesome surprises on the road. Here are some tips for you to keep your Flat Fin radiator running in peak condition:

Regularly Perform a Radiator Flush

For your radiator to do its work effectively, it needs to be free from any dirt or blockage. You can make sure your radiator is clean by doing a radiator flush.

So here’s how you can do a Radiator Flush:

Step 1: Prepare all needed materials (radiator flush solution, coolant, funnel,
cloth, screwdriver/wrench, container for draining), and make sure your engine is cold before anything else.

Step 2: Place your used coolant container beneath your radiator’s drain, and
then open the radiator’s drain plug using a screwdriver or wrench and let the coolant pour out into the receptacle until it is empty. Close the drain plug.

Step 3: Remove the radiator fill cap and pour the radiator flush solution, then fill the remainder with water. Replace the radiator cap.

Step 4: Turn on your engine and warm it up for about 10-20 minutes.

Step 5: Turn off the engine and let it cool.

Do a Radiator Coolant Check

Your car’s coolant helps maintain optimal temperature. Thus, it prevents overheating and protects your radiator. It is a mixture of 50% water and 50% glycol, depending on your vehicle. Glycol is an antifreeze that has special properties; it guards the radiator from corrosion and rust.

To check your coolant level, you simply need to look at the white plastic overflow tank beside your radiator. These containers usually have high-low level labels on them which will help you determine if it’s time for you to replenish you coolant. If your coolant level is already low, just remove the cap on your coolant tank and add your mixture until it reaches its recommended level again. And then, place back the cap to close the receptacle.

It is also good to know that there are three types of anti-freeze.

Ethylene Glycol or Polyethylene Glycol – a standard coolant for most radiators
Non-Toxic Radiator Coolant – a coolant that doesn’t have ethylene or polyethylene glycol which are both toxic (if one is exposed to great quantities for long periods of time)
Extended-Life Anti-Freeze Ethylene Glycol Coolants – this is the one lasts longer than the others

Moreover, here are other additives you can use:

Nitrates – corrosion inhibitors, buffers
Silicates – corrosion inhibitors, especially for aluminum radiators
Carboxylates – buffers, corrosion inhibitors
Borates – buffers which help reduce corrosion and cavitation, extends the life of a coolant, raises the boiling point of a coolant, and protects from the acidity of an anti-freeze.

Do not mix different types of anti-freeze. This can decrease the effectiveness of your radiator. Always perform a radiator flush before changing types.

Additional Tips

-Always make sure your engine is cold before removing the radiator cap. Touching a hot engine can cause minor or serious burns if you’re not careful.

-Keep the coolant waste away from the reach of children and animals because it is toxic.

-Properly dispose waste coolants according to local hazardous waste regulations.

When Do I Change My Flat Fin Radiator

May 10, 2011 By

Unlike a milk carton which has a shelf life stamped on its label, a Flat Fin radiator does not have an expiration date indicated on its body. If that is so, how would you know when you have to change your Flat Fin radiator? This is significant especially if you are the type of person who wants to make sure his car is in perfect condition so as to prevent any mishaps, such as overheating, which can definitely damage other engine parts, cause delays, and decrease productivity. More so, if you are working with heavy machineries and large generators, you would want to avoid encountering such engine problems.

Unfortunately, it is hard to say the exact duration of your radiator because it depends on different factors such as the weather or the type of car you are using. However, most automotive mechanics suggest that a well maintained radiator can last for at least 8 to 10 years, or even throughout the lifetime of your car.

To be able to maximize the life of your radiator, make sure you observe maintenance routines such as keeping an adequate amount of coolant and regularly flushing out your coolant system.

It is also important that you get a high-quality, economical, and durable Flat Fin radiator. As you may know, radiators primarily work to maintain the optimal temperature of your engine by absorbing heat through its fins and diffusing it into the air. This is essential because without proper heat regulation, you can expect frequent overheating, and later on your engine may break down. Quality radiators definitely work better and last longer than ordinary ones.

Additionally, your radiator and the other parts of your car should be periodically checked to see if there are problems. Watch out for signs which may indicate that your Flat Fin radiator already needs to be replaced. Such signs include cracks or leakages. Leaks can be manifested by an unexpected drop in coolant levels. You can also inspect if your thermostat is working fine. Note any unexpected change in your vehicle’s temperature because this is a hint that your thermostat may be broken. Lastly, look for corrosions and rust build up. These are signs of deterioration.

Before you decide to change your radiator, you should assess if it really is damaged. Otherwise, there may be some other components that need to be examined. You may do some troubleshooting by checking other parts of your car such as the intake manifold gasket and the water pump. Take note that a broken water pump may have the same indications as with a worn out radiator. If you are not sure what to do, you can ask a mechanic to take a look at your car.

Your Flat Fin radiator can last a really long time if you take an excellent care of it. With proper maintenance, you may not even have to replace your radiator since it can last throughout the lifetime of your car. Preventive maintenance, which is changing your radiator before it completely fails, is also highly recommendable.

10 Things I Discovered about Flat Fin Radiators

April 17, 2011 By

When it comes to cooling down your engine, the radiator is of great importance. This is especially true during these hot summer months. Here are some of the interesting tidbits I’ve discovered about flat fin radiators:

Flat fin radiator cores have 3 types of materials – Brass, Copper, and Steel fin. These can also come in a non-louvered or louvered fin construction by which these are specifically designed in ensuring a maximum airflow. These types can also be structured with both high-flow and low-flow tubing.
Having been produced in copper or brass, flat fin radiators are well-resistant to salty and acid conditions.
Different types of flat fin radiators come in different sizes - the Copper is usually 2 rows up to 8 tube rows with a core thickness of 37 to 150 mm and its fin pitch is also 2.2 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3 mm. As for the Steel, it is normally 3 rows up to 8 rows with a core thickness of 57 to 150 mm and its fin pitch are also 2.2 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3mm (just the same as the Copper’s).
The core of a flat fin radiator looks like the picture below:

Flat fin radiators are designed for heavy equipments and large generators. Heavy equipments are large fuel-run and driver-operated machineries that are utilized in performing “heavy” tasks namely, earth moving, heavy lifting, demolition, digging, and light equipment or material transport.
The flatness of a fin in a flat fin radiator can also be measured by its thickness, and the unit of measurement used is millimeters.
Flat fin radiators offer OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)- quality, durability, and high-cooling efficiency to its users.
A fin in a radiator works by cooling a fluid and it is made from a thin sheet of heat-conductive metal.
Flat fin radiators are very useful especially in our polluted environment because its straight-through fin makes the cooling system insensitive to contamination. Aside from that, it is also easy to clean.
Flat fin radiators are available at Roberts Automotive and Industrial Parts Manufacturing Corporation!

Detecting Problems with Your Flat Fin Radiator

April 15, 2011 By

If you drive a lot, one of the problems you’re likely to encounter is an overheated engine. Just like how the human body needs sweat to cool down, the automobile engine also needs a cooling mechanism – more so when the engine is operating in a hot environment. This is where radiators come in. The flat fin radiator is a type of radiator where “pins” are spread across the engine to cool it down. Since these radiators fight off heat every day, they are easily subjected to wear and tear. Here are some tips for you to detect if your radiator is already having problems:

Don't wait for your car to overheat while you're on the road, be aware of signs that your radiator is not performing its job.

If your car overheats a lot recently, then it’s obvious that your radiator is no longer doing its job. It’s most likely already broken and it’s high time for you to replace your broken radiator. As a driver, you should be able to notice that there’s a problem with the cooling system of your engine when the area around your legs feels warmer than usual.
You can always check your radiator if you think there’s a problem with it. Unfasten the radiator cap and take a look at the radiator if there’s anything unusual. If you don’t know what to look for, you can always go to a mechanic to check your radiator.
Consider the last time you placed coolant or water in your radiator. If the last time you did this was years ago, then your radiator may have already been running dry for a very long time.
Check if there is any leakage happening around your radiator. If you feel that you are placing coolants very often, then the problem may already be a leaking radiator.

If you are not familiar with what to do then it’s advisable to consult a mechanic instead. Remember, a problem with one part of a car may not necessarily mean that is the only problem with your car – it may just be a symptom of a bigger problem.

Radiators: How hot is too hot?

March 27, 2011 By

We often have that notion that the hotter the engine is, the better its performance will be; that’s why many of us warm-up our engine first before going for the drive. Well, it’s true that for engines to perform at its optimum best, it has to be hot. But there’s also a maximum temperature for that efficiency; anything more than that, heat will start to deteriorate the engine and you’ll end up with an overheated engine.

Can’t take the heat? So can’t your engine. Keep your engine at the right temperature with the help of an Evercool radiator.

How then, will you maintain that ideal engine temperature? You don’t! That’s the job of the radiator. Radiators such as flat fin radiators try to spread as much area as it can to cool as many sections of the engine as possible. Your job is to keep the radiator cool enough for it to control the temperature of the engine. Here are some facts for you to know about engine temperature:

The normal temperature of an engine should be around 90 to 105 degree Celsius. With the help of radiators, the engines can go up as high as 135 degree Celsius. The radiators will be there to back up as the cooler all the time. That’s where flat fin radiators become useful as they can cover a lot of area to control the above-average temperature of the engine.
Coolants play a big part of how high your engine’s temperature can go without overheating. Pure water is not as effective as those mixed with coolants. Coolants are more expensive than water. A mix between the two would be good to keep cost at a minimum while attaining better cooling efficiency.
The primary cause of overheating of radiators is a leaked radiator. The coolant goes out which leaves the radiator nothing to help absorb the heat of the engine.

Know Your Auto Parts: Flat Fin Radiators

March 20, 2011 By

When you look at a picture of a flat fin radiator, you might mistake it for the radiator part of a refrigerator. True enough, a flat fin radiator does look like one. And in fact, the flat fan radiator of an automobile serves a similar purpose as that of a fridge. However, don’t mistake this car part as unnecessary; because once you understand what the flat fin radiator does, you’ll realize how important it can be in ensuring you a smooth ride while prolonging the life span of your engine.

Invest in a good-quality flat fin radiator to ensure efficient engine performance.

The purpose of radiators

Radiators are there to absorb or give off heat depending on the temperature of the engine. It’s important to stabilize heat because over heating could cause major problems with your car. One overlooked importance of radiators is that it provides the ideal environment for the engine so the engine can operate at an optimum efficiency. Considering the size of engines, there are different kinds of radiators that serve different purposes.

What’s the need for a flat fin?

Flat fin radiators are designed to evenly spread the radiator’s effect throughout the radiator area. The more fin count (or number of fins per inch), the more area it covers and the more even the effect will be. The drawback for that one, however, is that as there are more fins, the longer it takes to travel from point A to point B. Along the way, the cooling effect could have already heated up. In general, the ideal number of fins should be between 12 to 16. Anything more than 16 would mean you’re most likely not getting the best efficiency out of your radiators. One important thing to note is that since this is a radiator, you shouldn’t expect this auto part to last for so long because heat wears car parts out fast. It’s important to find an efficient and high-quality brand so your flat fin radiator will have the optimum effect on your engine.

All You Need to Know about Replacement Car Parts

February 17, 2011 By

When replacing car parts, you should know that not all car replacement parts are the same. In fact, there are three types of replacement car parts that you should know. Depending on the situation, the type of replacement part may matter. Let’s go ahead and explain the three different types of replacement car parts.

No car part lasts forever - shop around for replacement car parts that suit your needs and your budget.

New Parts

New parts, as the name implies, are those coming fresh from the manufacturers. You’ll go for new parts when you’re sure you’re going to use that car part for a very long time. These are the preferred type if you want to invest in those parts. Car parts such as leafsprings, mufflers, brake pads and wheel cylinders should be bought new since these parts affect the safety of your car. Safety should never be compromised when driving. Moreover, it is worth investing on parts such as the radiator because frequent repairs for parts such as these are expensive, and not to mention a big hassle.

Rebuilt Parts

In the case of the computer, you can replace the parts of the CPU and still keep the CPU case to save money. Same goes for some car parts that can be rebuilt. There are some car parts when some of its components would wear out but the casing could still be recycled. An example would be starters, carburetors, and alternators. Some of the parts would wear out but manufacturers can still use the casing. And just like the computer example mentioned earlier, it would be cheaper if you buy these parts and just recycle the casing.

Used Parts

And then there are used car parts. You can usually find these parts in junk shops or in salvage yards. These parts probably came from someone who just sold his car to salvage any monetary value left from the old car. These parts are probably the cheapest among the three types but also the most dangerous as there is no guarantee that they are in good working condition. If you have a car that’s about to be thrown away in about a year, buying these parts may suit you well.

Always consider the part that you need and don’t rush in buying these parts. Shop around for high-quality parts made only by trusted automotive parts suppliers.

The Best Automotive Parts Supplier for Your Car

February 13, 2011 By

When you need to leave our valuables behind, you ask our friends to watch over them and not a stranger. When you get sick, you go to your family doctor and not just any other doctor. Why? Because you trust them to care of your valuable possessions and of your health. The same goes for your car – you won’t entrust your automobile to just any auto parts supplier.

When you need someone to fix or enhance the performance of your car, you want a supplier that would best provide your needs and even your wants. So, what do you usually look for in an automotive parts supplier?

Quality products and services,
Best rates,
Perks, like discounts and special deliveries, and
Safety for your car

Almost any supplier out there would advertise themselves as having these characteristics. But you don’t have to go through all of them just to find the one that truly offers what you’re looking for. Here at Automotive Parts Suppliers, we understand that you want your car to receive world-class automotive parts, and at the same time, be safe from having its parts stolen and damaged.

Roberts AIPMC offers high-quality products and services that's truly the best for your car.

This is why it would be better to look for a well-known and trusted automotive parts supplier to ensure the safety and efficiency of your car. Just like with other products, you should opt for the branded ones because the quality of their products and services are ensured through legitimate licenses, rigorous quality tests, and numerous customer testimonials. Bring out the best in your car – go for mufflers, radiators, leafsprings, and metal stamping products and services at Roberts Automotive and Industrial Parts Manufacturing Corporation.

Prevent Your Car from Overheating

December 29, 2010 By

You’re driving your shiny, expensive car, on your way to something you have been looking forward to. A date, perhaps? You glance at the passenger’s seat and see a bouquet of flowers, waiting to make that special someone happy. You roll your windows down, and don’t mind the heat of the bright, sunny day. But just when you’ve assured yourself that today will be a great day, your engine overheats, and you’re stuck in the middle of the road. Tough break.

Stuck in the middle of the road because your car overheated?

We at Automotive Part Suppliers are against those kind of days, and would very much like not to see anyone in the middle of the road sitting beside their steaming car. So today, we’ll give out a few tips that could help you keep on driving.

Hot weather and scorching sun

Our poor fella above got the worst of this. Overheating is most common during long and sunny trips. Let’s place emphasis on the “long.” Drivers who plan to make a trip that require at least four hours of continuous driving should be careful with their engine, unless of course their car is designed for those lengthy travels. For safety precautions, it’s wise to let your engine cool down during occasional pit stops.

Now, let’s turn our attention to “sunny.” If possible, take long trips during the evening or early morning to avoid both the scorching sun and heavy traffic.

Moments for maintenance

The car manual is one of the most underrated and underused items of importance. More often than not, it has been pushed aside, neglected, and forgotten. Kinda like Lamar Odom when Pau Gasol joined the Lakers, but anyway – under your car’s hood lays many parts, and all of them contribute to the overall function of your automobile.

The manual is very helpful in giving you specific information and instructions regarding those parts. How can you detect errors in the motor oil levels, the radiator, and so on if you don’t even know what they’re supposed to be and do in the first place?

Know thy engine

This part of the post is just me reminding you that it is the driver’s personal duty to know thy engine, to know how to take care of it, and know what to do when things break, leak, or overheat. If you’ve made it all the way here, and realize that you’re unfamiliar with your engine – I suggest that you grab your keys, pop open your hood, open your car manual, and when everything seems to be in place, go for a ride, just you and your car, preferably not during a day when it’s scorching hot.