Is the man who invented the plastic radiator still alive?

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig) 10/06/2016 at 11:18 • Filed to: None

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Because he and I need to have words. Outside.

Seriously. We have this car part that’s superheated and then cooled at least twice a day, every day that the car is run. And it’s not important or anything. It just keeps the engine from destroying itself.

Let’s build it out of PLASTIC.

I understand that it keeps costs down, but this isn’t like plastic headlights. Those are just annoying. This is an actual lifespan issue.

STOP IT, AUTOMAKERS.

This is the second plastic radiator I’ve lost, and I haven’t even owned very many cars.

ALUMINUM RADIATORS 2016

/rant

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:21

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THIS

TheRealBicycleBuck > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:23

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Counterpoint: The plastic-capped radiator in my old truck lasted about 20 years. I did, however, replace it with an all-aluminum radiator.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:25

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One of the few major assemblies to have actually outright failed (300,000 miles in) on my Benz was the radiator. Started to leak at maybe 200-250,000 when it belonged to my great uncle, got the offending cap retainers crimped and leak additive-d, and then somewhere in the mid 300,000s needed a full replacement. 

PS9 > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:30

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Oh, him. He’s known as ‘the bean counter’. He’s responsible for a lot of ‘innovations’ in automotive technology. The plastic radiator, the nylon timing gear, the plastic coolant elbow (he loves putting cheap plastic near/around superhot things for some reason) the timing belt, the whole interference engine design thing, etc., etc.

LongbowMkII > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:34

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This is ridiculous.

Brass radiators are the coolest.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LongbowMkII 10/06/2016 at 11:36

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Aluminum Radiators are cooler than brass radiators.

bhtooefr > PS9 10/06/2016 at 11:37

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Eh, timing belts are also easier to service, and lower NVH. Chains are more compact, and tend to need less service, but when they do need service, it’s ugly, and... companies like Volkswagen are terrible at them.

Interference engine design is a side effect of high compression ratios. You can cut valve reliefs in the pistons, but that disturbs the airflow in the cylinder, and reduces compression itself.

jimz > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:41

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There’s nothing wrong with plastic, you just have to use the right type. Meaning “not what BMW made water pump impellers from.”

And of course you can’t design in stress raisers which will promote cracking.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 11:47

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I feel you man. My radiator is built so that the plastic side panels are CRIMPED to the aluminum core vs literally any other fastening method. Without a doubt these crimps ALWAYS fail and the rad can’t simply be rebuilt. You have to replace it.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > PS9 10/06/2016 at 11:47

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Next innovation: the plastic exhaust manifold.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/06/2016 at 11:50

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I enjoy the cast iron variety myself.

PS9 > bhtooefr 10/06/2016 at 11:52

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It’s an engine. It’s not gonna be quiet. Putting the entire engine at risk just to make it a tiny bit quieter is bad design at best.

Interference engine design is a side effect of high compression ratios. You can cut valve reliefs in the pistons, but that disturbs the airflow in the cylinder, and reduces compression itself.

This sounds like a great reason to never, ever, ever leave something as important as timing up a flimsy belt.

LongbowMkII > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/06/2016 at 11:52

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If that were true they wouldn’t be hidden behind bodywork like a shameful secret.

RallyWrench > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/06/2016 at 11:55

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That’s how top-level racing teams rapid prototype theirs. They last long enough for a dyno run.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RallyWrench 10/06/2016 at 11:57

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.

PS9 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/06/2016 at 11:58

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After that: Plastic turbocharger

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > PS9 10/06/2016 at 12:00

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Nylon camshafts

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/06/2016 at 12:03

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Exactly what happened to mine last night. Exactly the same construction.

Brian, The Life of > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 12:04

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Pretty sure the guy had early onset dementia when he invented it so he’s prolly dead by now.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > TheRealBicycleBuck 10/06/2016 at 12:05

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The plastic radiator in my Honda also lasted 20 years. But then it broke. If it had been aluminum, it would still be fine.

Urambo Tauro > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/06/2016 at 12:10

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Sometimes you can just re-crimp them.

RallyWrench > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/06/2016 at 12:21

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Dodge did plastic timing gears on the 360s years ago. Didn’t work well.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LongbowMkII 10/06/2016 at 12:22

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Pretty!

Die-Trying > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 12:30

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still running the factory original 45 year old BRASS radiator in the truck.............

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 10/06/2016 at 16:00

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Sounds like a bmw problem.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/06/2016 at 16:06

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Which makes it sad that it’s a Honda. The last one was a Subaru. Eh tu, Japan?