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Old 05-25-2018, 11:11 AM   #1
256noobe
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Default Mishimoto radiator defect

https://imgur.com/gallery/4htzynn

Just curious. Anyone ever seen this happen? I know mishimoto radiators have a lifetime warranty but I bought the car used with this radiator installed. Just had a koyo radiator installed after this find. The fins feel like paper and fall out by running my fingers across them
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Old 05-25-2018, 11:39 AM   #2
Bansheeboy11
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Mishimoto isnt known for superb quality products, but that looks like a really old rad that started corroding from being blasted by debris. Call them they might get you a new one anyway.
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Old 05-25-2018, 11:44 AM   #3
katsimbris
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I had problems with mine. Leak at the top neck weld. And a leak somewhere else down towards the bottom of the radiator. The response, "I'm surprised to see this since this is one of our popular products." I went with a Koyo after, as well, and just gave the warranty replacement to someone for pennies on the dollar. That person must have been so happy to get a brand-new-never-opened radiator for such a discount.

It surprises me the amount of high power builds that use their radiators. Maybe we're just the unlucky ones?

Mike K

Last edited by katsimbris; 05-29-2018 at 10:48 AM. Reason: I typed "intercooler" when I meant "radiator"
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Old 05-26-2018, 01:54 PM   #4
spdracerut
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by katsimbris View Post

It surprises me the amount of high power builds that use their radiators. Maybe we're just the unlucky ones?

Mike K
Nope.... many of them have issues. I told my bro-in-law to get a Koyo for his old bugeye wagon after the stock radiator finally failed. He was just looking to put in something cheap so he could sell the car. First Mishimoto didn't even fit. The second one, a weld on the bottom interfered with something, so again didn't fit. Took until the third one to finally fit well enough to be functional.
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Old 05-29-2018, 09:56 AM   #5
Samurai Jack
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Maybe you got a cheap knock-off?
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Old 05-29-2018, 12:06 PM   #6
256noobe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Samurai Jack View Post
Maybe you got a cheap knock-off?


I doubt that lol I knew the guy who had it before me and he was a pretty solid dude. Now he’s in turkey so I have no way of contacting him fml lol
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Old 05-29-2018, 02:22 PM   #7
Samurai Jack
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Has nothing to do with someone being a "solid dude".
Cheap knock-offs are out there everywhere. Could have bought one without realizing it.

Suppliers get sucked in too.

Had my Mishimoto for several years now without issue.
When I researched Mishimoto vs. Koyo, Koyo had a substantially higher number complaints than Mishimoto.
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Old 05-29-2018, 03:08 PM   #8
blurred
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Samurai Jack View Post
Maybe you got a cheap knock-off?
Not to hate on your personal rad, but Mishimoto is the epitome of "cheap knock-off". Koyo is a company that engineers their product, while mishimoto just tries to make more sku's and get them to fit ok and be low cost to them.

Think of them as an shiny stock replacement, not a performance item.... and change the rad cap asap.
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Old 05-29-2018, 03:16 PM   #9
Samurai Jack
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Yeah, I know a lot of people pile on the hate when it comes to Mishimoto but like I said, I saw an exponentially higher number of Koyo hate complaints, as compared to Mishimoto when I went shopping for a new radiator several years ago.

Never had an issue
Only installed OEM radiator caps from the beginning

Less expensive than an OEM replacement
30% higher cooling capacity, which proved to be true. Motor runs cooler than w/OEM
Drop-in fit
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Old 05-29-2018, 04:14 PM   #10
GDR
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That thing sure looks like it was blasted with something. Look at how the tubes are all swelled up in the one bald area.
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Old 05-29-2018, 09:51 PM   #11
JarHarms
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Looks like typical alloy fin degradation from road use and damage from debris impact. I expect there was no a.c. on this car. You can see were the bumper core and cover shielded the center region. It's an uncoated alloy radiator so depending on where it lived, I would expect this.
Just replace it with whatever brand you like, new coolant, distilled, and new EPDM hoses.
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Old 05-30-2018, 06:57 AM   #12
256noobe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JarHarms View Post
Looks like typical alloy fin degradation from road use and damage from debris impact. I expect there was no a.c. on this car. You can see were the bumper core and cover shielded the center region. It's an uncoated alloy radiator so depending on where it lived, I would expect this.
Just replace it with whatever brand you like, new coolant, distilled, and new EPDM hoses.


I have a koyo installed now, just super disappointed with mishimoto. Just considering how I’ve seen stockers go for 5X longer than this one. The car has been in Alaska and Delaware
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Old 05-30-2018, 09:23 PM   #13
Charlie-III
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JarHarms View Post
Looks like typical alloy fin degradation from road use and damage from debris impact. I expect there was no a.c. on this car. You can see were the bumper core and cover shielded the center region. It's an uncoated alloy radiator so depending on where it lived, I would expect this.
Just replace it with whatever brand you like, new coolant, distilled, and new EPDM hoses.
Agreed. Looks like salt belt and the radiator doesn't get flushed when spring arrives.
I have worked on some so bad that when you do flush them out you blast all the fins out.
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