Good experience with Koyo radiator

[toyteg08]

So times are tough, and I don’t really have an extra penny. My wife has been out of work, we have two kids, and the LC was broken down. “What?! The LC broken down?!” you say? I know, I know. (Seriously though, I do feel this is a super-reliable vehicle.)

Last week, my rad cracked on the top end tank. I tried some JB-weld as a temporary fix, but it sprung a leak again the second time I drove it.

Anyway, I asked Dan about a new rad, and it was like $450 with my Mud member discount. I want OEM parts as much as the next dude, but ouch!

I read somewhere on this site some speculation that Koyo made Toyota’s radiators, and I found the aluminum Koyo rad on Ebay for $200. They also had the brass early style for $286. As much as I wanted to get it, I’m extremely poor right now, as I mentioned earlier. So, I bought the aluminum one.

I wasn’t really worried about Koyo’s quality, as I used to have a 300zx Twin Turbo, and it worked well in that car. So, I was pretty confident about this rad from the get go.

Dude, if Koyo doesn’t make Toy’s rads, they sure are an exacting copy of ‘em!


http://www.photodump.org/stored29/Koyo.jpg

The fit was perfect, and everything bolted up without issue. I also added a bottle of “Water Wetter” to the coolant, and put in a new thermostat.

Amazingly, and something I totally didn’t expect, I keep having to check that my aux fan is hooked up, because the truck apparently runs significantly cooler. It still comes on, but much, much, much less, and it’s still been triple digits out every day here.

Overall, my experience with installing the Koyo rad for this truck was awesome, and so far, everything runs great! All this at half the OEM price.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Good post,money saved in these times is important. What year is your cruiser? Koyo part no you put in? Thanks, Mike

 

[toyteg08]

My LC is a '96. I used a Koyo A1918 rad. The brass (or copper, whatever) one is part number C1917.

 

[Michael Hanson]

I have a small leak in my 1991,Ill see if the A1918 will work in mine,prob. not. Im also going to check ebays site for other Koyos available .Thanks, MIke

 

[ToothDr]

From what I've read here on Mud, Koyo is an OEM supplier for toyota. Many people have had good success with the Koyo Rads.
The only difference I've been able to tell is that the Koyo Rads are made in Indonesia/China and and TRad (the one Dan quoted you) are made in Japan.

Pete

 

[Ebag333]

Can you please resize your picture or just link to it so you don't break the forum?

 

[NKP Garage]

For anyone else that runs into cracks and needs a temporary solution, don't use JB Weld. There's a 2 part putty you can buy at most local auto parts stores that is meant specifically for radiator repair. You basically squish the two putty pieces together, massage them till they blend and then patch any crack/hole you may have. I've used it 3 times so far with great luck when I've been stranded on long road trips and everytime it has held up for a couple thousand miles until I got home, and probably would have held up for a few months or more if I didn't replace the radiator. Once in a 500sl, once in an MR2 and another time in a K5 Blazer.

 

[toyteg08]

From what I've read here on Mud, Koyo is an OEM supplier for toyota. Many people have had good success with the Koyo Rads.
The only difference I've been able to tell is that the Koyo Rads are made in Indonesia/China and and TRad (the one Dan quoted you) are made in Japan.

Pete

Yes, the Koyo I received had "Made in Indonesia" printed in large letters on the side of the box.

Can you please resize your picture or just link to it so you don't break the forum?

There 'ya go.

For anyone else that runs into cracks and needs a temporary solution, don't use JB Weld. There's a 2 part putty you can buy at most local auto parts stores that is meant specifically for radiator repair. You basically squish the two putty pieces together, massage them till they blend and then patch any crack/hole you may have. I've used it 3 times so far with great luck when I've been stranded on long road trips and everytime it has held up for a couple thousand miles until I got home, and probably would have held up for a few months or more if I didn't replace the radiator. Once in a 500sl, once in an MR2 and another time in a K5 Blazer.

I'm gonna look for some of that stuff to put in the tool kit in the truck. Thanks for the tip!

 

[NKP Garage]

Here are a couple that are similar. The one I used was a different brand, but same concept.

Petrol Tank & Radiator Repair Epoxy - Motor Essentials

Amazon.com: Permatex 80884 Gas Tank / Radiator Repair: Automotive

 

[Tapage]

did you have the eBay vendor / link for your rad .. they have a non auto tranny cooler version ?

 

[super90]

Does the Koyo even have the new foam rubber around the front edge like the TRAD ? Just a detail.

I have always been curious about the Koyo units. Probably not a bad bet considering the situation.

 

[zombified]

i ended up going with a csf 3 row brass/copper rad. i've had a bunch of pm and repairs to make in preparation for a longer trip and money started to get tight. The csf fits well and has metal tanks ( which i'm a fan of). I'll post some results after i get the chance to drive the truck more. the csf part was almost 200 less than an oem replacement.

 

[lacruiser]

Not so good experience with a Koyo radiator

I had this posted on another forum, but it applies here:

I took my 1991 plastic top but brass core radiator to a good quality radiator shop. they replaced the top tank (this used to be a serviceable item from toyota, but now they only sell the entire radiator). This part is available from other suppliers. It didn't rupture, but the seal around the top tank was seeping, and it's only a matter of time before the tank fails. The bottom tanks pretty much never fail, only the top ones.

My core was 40% plugged, and now it flows exactly like a new one, with the same quality of OEM. Cost was $120.

Before I decided to have my OEM radiator re-topped and rodded out, I was going to buy an all-brass CSF radiator. I've heard good things from cruiserheads that have used them, so that's another option.


KOYO: I bought one for my 93 Camry recently, it started leaking within 1000 miles while I was 600 miles from home on vacation, basically in the middle of nowhere. I was pretty pissed. I dumped in a bottle of stopleak to complete my vacation. It worked. Koyo said to take it back to the parts dealer I bought it from, they wouldn't deal with me. the dealer said to bring it in and they would send it to Koyo for testing. If it tested faulty, they'd give me another radiator. This process would take 2-3 weeks!! Meanwhile my car is down, that's not acceptable. The stop leak worked so well that it permanently (apparently) sealed up the leak, so I'm still driving it that way. It's been over 6 months.

I'm not going to be buying any more Koyo products again, even if they are a toyota OEM supplier. Their customer support is non-existent. And their junk is no longer made in Japan, they make their radiators in China, India, Indonesia, and eastern Europe.

And the parts house I bought the radiator from?


Fuggedaboutit!

First and last time I use them.

 

[ToothDr]

I'm not going to be buying any more Koyo products again, even if they are a toyota OEM supplier. Their customer support is non-existent. And their junk is no longer made in Japan, they make their radiators in China, India, Indonesia, and eastern Europe.

First and last time I use them.

This is my only reservation is about Koyo rads. They've outsourced production to China/Indonesia. Only time will tell if quality suffers or not. I personally would rather have a rad that's made in Japan. But that's just me.

Pete

 

[toyteg08]

did you have the eBay vendor / link for your rad .. they have a non auto tranny cooler version ?

95 96 97 Toyota Landcruiser KOYO Radiator A1918 4.5 L6:eBay Motors (item 220468939141 end time Sep-18-09 14:36:03 PDT)

Does the Koyo even have the new foam rubber around the front edge like the TRAD ? Just a detail.

I have always been curious about the Koyo units. Probably not a bad bet considering the situation.

No, actually. It didn't.

This is my only reservation is about Koyo rads. They've outsourced production to China/Indonesia. Only time will tell if quality suffers or not. I personally would rather have a rad that's made in Japan. But that's just me.

Pete

Well, hopefully, this one lasts for a good 13 years like the old one. If it breaks, you guys'll be the first ones to hear about it.

 

[scoop]

I am glad I went with the koyo A1918 radiator. Installed it yesterday in 4hrs. I got it on ebay and it is just like OEM.