I guess that is in how you define "inferior"? Aluminum is cheaper per pound than copper, so I guess, perceived as "inferior"? It's not uncommon to see original aluminum radiators, still doing the job, so good life, especially in our local, demanding climate, desert. Due to almost all of the install base being aluminum, the coolant mix is now biased to protecting them over copper. Due to the characteristics of aluminum, the design can change, different tube size/depth and fin spacing, theoretically making them more efficient, less restrictive in both water and air flow. This is evident in our observations, when heavily loaded, slogging through sand, big climbs, etc, the temp call comes on the radio, it easy to pick out the copper equipped rigs, always significantly, repeatedly, hotter.
Not so much anymore, locally most of the copper radiators have been switched to aluminum. The ones still running copper also rely on the stock temp gauge, so can't tell the difference.
You guys are an anomaly in AZ.
That said, I've never experienced the problems with heat you are reporting. And I've wheeled most of the same placed you guys have (a few times together IIRC)... well except the AZ part.
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