FAQ

In aluminum, 2 rows of 1" or 1.25" tubes should be plenty for most street and mixed-use drag vehicles. Our 2 row models will outperform a copper/brass 4 row by about 10-15%! Also, you don't want a 3 or 4 row alumnum radiator. You want bigger tubes with an aluminum core because of the way it transfers the heat.

Not necessarily. Flow is not as important as pressure. You want pressure in your system to reduce cavitation(steam pockets that get trapped on the walls of the system. One commonly overlooked aspect of increasing pressure is the Water pump pulley to Crank pulley ratio. You always want your crank pulley to be bigger than your water pump pulley. (overdrive your water pump)

Most vehicles are set up with puller Fans from the factory. Pulling fans pull air through the radiator at least 20% more efficient than pushers. One reason is that you can only create a suction affect by pulling air. A pusher fan would perform worse if a shroud was mounted on the pushing side. That would block forced air from hitting the radiator when at cruising speeds. Pusher fans also restrict air flow into the radiator at cruising speeds.

Cold Case does NOT use any epoxy throughout it's manufacturing process. Literally all plastic tank radiators use epoxy to connect the tank to the aluminum core. Many aluminum radiator companies used epoxy to connect their aluminum tanks to the aluminum core as well. Even some of the best radiator companies used this method until fairly recently. The problem with epoxy is that it dries and eventually cracks from constant expansion and contraction of the heat of the radiator. Once a crack is formed, the radiator begins to 'weep'. This weeping reduces the pressure of a radiator and therefore lowers the boiling point. Basically, it reduces the efficiency of the radiator. Not to mention eventually the crack(s) are going to grow resulting in a complete failure. Therefore, the preferred method of connecting the tanks to the core is by an aluminum braising operation for longer radiator life.

The most common cause is grounding issues causing electrolysis. Electrolysis occurs when electricity flows through your cooling system, leading to an electrochemical charge across the aluminum components. This results in rapid corrosion and severe damage, including discoloration, pitting, flaking, and pinholes in your cooling system. Electrolysis is most common in late model vehicles, hot rods, and street rods, typically caused by a defective or missing ground on one of the electrical sources. HOW CAN I TEST FOR ELECTROLYSIS? Testing for electrolysis involves measuring the voltage in your cooling system. Here's how you can do it: 1. Connect the negative lead of a volt/ohm meter to the battery ground. 2. Carefully insert the positive lead of the volt/ohm meter into the coolant inside the radiator, avoiding contact with the filler neck. 3. If the result is more than 0.10 V, it indicates electrical current flow in the system. 4. Test the voltage between the coolant and: a) the engine b) the frame by touching the negative lead to each respectively. 5. Repeat the test with the positive lead touching the radiator instead of the coolant. 6. To determine the faulty electrical source, conduct the test with the engine running and all vehicle accessories on. Have a friend or coworker systematically switch on and off components of the car while you monitor the meter. If voltage drops when disconnecting an electrical circuit, that circuit represents a likely electrical source. WAYS TO PREVENT ELECTROLYSIS: Preventing electrolysis requires careful monitoring and proper maintenance of your cooling and electrical system. Follow these tips to prevent electrolysis damage: 1. Ensure the radiator is not used as a ground, and that all components are functioning properly. 2. Periodically test your system and check for any discoloration or pinholes, especially around the tube-to-header joints and tubes near the center of the core by the electric fan mounts. By being proactive and taking these preventive measures, you can protect your cooling system from the harmful effects of electrolysis.