Not sure how the foam liner can "rot" out the radiator. The fan shroud on my 80 is made of plastic not metal. My original OEM radiator lasted for 16 years and 180,000 miles. I'd call that pretty well built.
Pete
Radiator Foam Liner
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Not sure how the foam liner can "rot" out the radiator. The fan shroud on my 80 is made of plastic not metal. My original OEM radiator lasted for 16 years and 180,000 miles. I'd call that pretty well built.
Pete
So I was at the hardware store picking up some rat traps today and there was an end cap with a wide assortment of weatherstripping. When I replaced my radiator a few months ago I pulled out all of the rotted foam and never replaced it. My water temps since redoing my cooling system - according to the Scangauge II - have been good: 186º at idle, 196º at 70mph, 202º on hill climbs. Optimal operating temps are 176º-206º.
I picked up this today:
I put a strip along the top tank sealing off the 1/2" gap between the rad and the grille support - about 99¢ worth of foam strip:
My temps dropped significantly & I'm pretty surprised. 176º idle, 188º at 70º, and 195º on the same hill climb.
Pretty wild what a buck worth of rubber will do for you!
I picked up this today:
I put a strip along the top tank sealing off the 1/2" gap between the rad and the grille support - about 99¢ worth of foam strip:
My temps dropped significantly & I'm pretty surprised. 176º idle, 188º at 70º, and 195º on the same hill climb.
Pretty wild what a buck worth of rubber will do for you!
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I noticed similar results...Keep an eye on that foam. I used basically the same stuff and it stayed in place for 6 months or so and then most of it disappeared...
When that happens check out the backing rod I mention in post #14. That stuff is in there tight and hasn't moved at all
That's NOT an OEM radiator.....
Never said it was, and that's not the point.
The boys at Man-a-Fre hooked me up with it & I trust them. Put it in myself. If it goes, it goes & I don't consider r & r the rad such a huge deal.
Never said it was, and that's not the point.
I was joking.
Rightio - figured as much. These forums need a sarcasm font. 
Here's a question - in a proper OEM installation, is there meant to be a foam strip between the radiator and the shroud, or are people using foam here due to the shroud not conforming to aftermarket radiators? Mine lines up pretty well, but there is still a small air gap between the two on the PS vertical side.
Here's a question - in a proper OEM installation, is there meant to be a foam strip between the radiator and the shroud, or are people using foam here due to the shroud not conforming to aftermarket radiators? Mine lines up pretty well, but there is still a small air gap between the two on the PS vertical side.
Dude, I would run that Radiator in a heartbeat, I prefer the all metal ones anyway. I just took a look at man-a-fre's msrp
its 1.5 times the oem one, and 4 x more than they Koyo :-/
Noticed my foam gone too. Should I just get the closed cell foam and wedge it in there,any adhesive? Can't really believe it makes such a big difference,but you guys know best. Let me know and thanks. Not sure my oem radiator has that space. Looks like the original foam was glued to it?
Thanks, will get and do it.
FWIW - No adhesive is used when installing the foam I link in post #30
The air gap makes little to no difference if your fan clutch works and the condenser is clean. Actually, it works better with out foam in most cases. It's another fresh air pull point behind a dirty condenser.
Without the foam you are recycling 200 degree plus air from under hood. The foam helps in all cases.
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Eggactly.
If the condenser is dirty, it needs it be cleaned, airflow is important.
The foam makes a huge difference. After installing it on the wife's, my shirt was being pulled through the grill. Dramatic difference in air flow through the condenser. Not as much through the rad, but cooler air for sure.
At idle? Otherwise it doesn't matter. Please explain how your air flow draw is higher with foam. Especially when you have a nasty condenser, which most out there have. Why not seal up the gap between the radiator and condenser too? Why didn't Toyota do it?
Air flow requires passage and discharge.
Air flow requires passage and discharge.
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Correct, if you remove the shroud, will have greatly increased airflow, but little of it will be doing any usable work. If you are going to waste the power to blow air around, it is best for the moving air to do work? Proper seals direct the airflow so it is doing the needed work.
Any gap between the radiator and core support, not only leaks airflow, robbing the condenser and trans cooler of airflow, but also recirculates preheated under hood air. This greatly reduces cooling efficiency.
If you have a "nasty condenser" it needs to be cleaned or replaced. Unless you don't care about A/C performance and cooling capacity.
The hole under the condenser draws fresh/outside air, not hotter, preheated under hood air. Some have experimented with sealing it up, but it adds big restriction to the fan. It increases flow through the condenser at the expense of reduced airflow of warmer air through the radiator.
Confused on location of the foam
I have a truck that had the radiator replaced with an OEM unit by the dealer before I purchased it. There is no foam around the radiator at all. I am confused by the comments and pictures.
Does the foam go on the top front of the radiator or in between the shroud and the radiator.
My shroud fits tight to the radiator and I don't see how much air is going to leak around the shroud.
There is a small gap on the top front of the radiator, is that were you guys think the hot engine compartment air is being recycled back through the radiator?
Thanks
Hawker
I have a truck that had the radiator replaced with an OEM unit by the dealer before I purchased it. There is no foam around the radiator at all. I am confused by the comments and pictures.
Does the foam go on the top front of the radiator or in between the shroud and the radiator.
My shroud fits tight to the radiator and I don't see how much air is going to leak around the shroud.
There is a small gap on the top front of the radiator, is that were you guys think the hot engine compartment air is being recycled back through the radiator?
Thanks
Hawker
