Aftermarket radiator for TJ

[97JadeTJ]

I primarily use my TJ for off-roading/rock crawling. Wondering how this radiator does with the demands off-road. Do you take yours off-road?

My TJ is a daily driver and my off roading consists of fire service roads but I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere… the radiator keeps the temps where their supposed to be… I think the key to any radiator replacement is to make sure that the cooling system as a whole is throughly flushed of all rust and debris… I put a bottle of Preston system flush in mine and drove with it for a few days And then flushed With a water hose, forward and backwards, until the water was running clear then I flushed with distilled water before I made the swap… YMMV

 

[Jerry Bransford]

My debate this morning is whether to get the radiator from O'Reilleys that was linked above and get a new radiator installed this weekend, or to wait a week and get this all aluminum and get it installed next weekend.

[URL]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082XXQPZV/?tag=wranglerorg-20[/URL]

Few all aluminum radiators are as good as we'd expect or hope them to be. Really. Most at that Amazon price point are so shoddily constructed that they would leak if the manufacturer didn't also line them inside with epoxy. Epoxy may not make anyone think it was a bad thing until you realize epoxy doesn't conduct heat and it's covering the aluminum inside the coolant channels. I wouldn't trust that Amazon all aluminum radiator to be anything more than frustrating within a short period of time. Especially if you live where it can get hot.

 

[JasterMereel42]

I installed the Murray from Oreilly's when I was in Moab, Story here —> https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/moab-2020-day-one-didnt-go-as-planned.37982/

It's still running fine, I've been to Moab 3 more times and ran the Rubicon with it. Maybe I got a good one. But as in that thread I do carry the stuff needed for a temporary repair incase it happens again.

Ok, looks like that Murray from OReilleys is good enough to use.

 

[CreepinDeth]

I installed the Murray from Oreilly's when I was in Moab, Story here —> https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/moab-2020-day-one-didnt-go-as-planned.37982/

It's still running fine, I've been to Moab 3 more times and ran the Rubicon with it. Maybe I got a good one. But as in that thread I do carry the stuff needed for a temporary repair incase it happens again.

Thats some pretty damn solid feedback

 

[Jeepin'Ed]

My experience with the Murray brand is they will start leaking from the tank seams after 16k to 22k miles. I put a Murray in my '02 Sport at:
161k Feb '20
177k Apr '21
199k Apr '22
215k Mar '23 replaced with Mopar

O'Reilly's replaced them under warranty without question and they cooled just as well as the Mopar brand. Once they started leaking, I knew it was time to plan some downtime. I just got tired of doing this every year.

 

[JasterMereel42]

My experience with the Murray brand is they will start leaking from the tank seams after 16k to 22k miles. I put a Murray in my '02 Sport at:
161k Feb '20
177k Apr '21
199k Apr '22
215k Mar '23 replaced with Mopar

O'Reilly's replaced them under warranty without question and they cooled just as well as the Mopar brand. Once they started leaking, I knew it was time to plan some downtime. I just got tired of doing this every year.

Luckily, I plan on driving my Wrangler about 3-5k each year so my radiator replacements will be about every 3 years, but outside the warranty period.

 

[Apparition]

Luckily, I plan on driving my Wrangler about 3-5k each year so my radiator replacements will be about every 3 years, but outside the warranty period.

I don't put that many miles on and I park mine all winter. I also don't live where it's that hot.

I did keep the Mopar radiator out of my second LJ as a backup if this Murray were to fail, although I don't haul it with me so that likely won't help much.

 

[Link]

I have the Denso listed and it’s been great. I’ve also used other brands in other vehicles and haven’t had the problems the internet tells me I’m supposed to have. I doubt the OEM is any better than the Denso but if you just gotta have the OEM, go for it.

 

[tworley]

I had one delivered yesterday. 55037653AB
WeRMopar.com
815-935-7915 ask for Keith |

Double check it. I bought both my radiator and waterpump from WeRMopar and neither showed the mopar stamps and both lasted 5 years

 

[red02tj]

Double check it. I bought both my radiator and waterpump from WeRMopar and neither showed the mopar stamps and both lasted 5 years

Damm…where should the logo be? And now I’m gonna sweat it while I’m gone all weekend.

 

[tworley]

Damm…where should the logo be? And now I’m gonna sweat it while I’m gone all weekend.

Sorry--double check the waterpump. I forgot my radiator was confirmed mopar. The waterpump wasnt though. The logo should be near the large discharge tube on the waterpump. The logo on the radiator should be just above the drain petcock

 

[red02tj]

Sorry--double check the waterpump. I forgot my radiator was confirmed mopar. The waterpump wasnt though. The logo should be near the large discharge tube on the waterpump. The logo on the radiator should be just above the drain petcock

Gotcha, water pump I got elsewhere.

 

[97JadeTJ]

Luckily, I plan on driving my Wrangler about 3-5k each year so my radiator replacements will be about every 3 years, but outside the warranty period.

The Murray has a lifetime warranty at Oreillys

 

[sonnyram]

Thank you everyone for your help and input. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to respond to my question. Have a great weekend.

 

[sonnyram]

My TJ is a daily driver and my off roading consists of fire service roads but I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere… the radiator keeps the temps where their supposed to be… I think the key to any radiator replacement is to make sure that the cooling system as a whole is throughly flushed of all rust and debris… I put a bottle of Preston system flush in mine and drove with it for a few days And then flushed With a water hose, forward and backwards, until the water was running clear then I flushed with distilled water before I made the swap… YMMV

O'Reilly's website says the Murray doesn't come with the cap. Did you just reuse the OEM cap?

 

[txbemis69]

O'Reilly's website says the Murray doesn't come with the cap. Did you just reuse the OEM cap?

get a new cap as it’s probably the weak link in your cooling system.

 

[97JadeTJ]

O'Reilly's website says the Murray doesn't come with the cap. Did you just reuse the OEM cap?

Get a new one..

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Get a new one..

X2 with the correct 18 psi pressure rating.

 

[JasterMereel42]

That Murray radiator from OReilly's needs new mounting hardware for the fan shroud. Unless you tap out the holes in the radiator, you need new hardware. I had to get a few nuts and bolts for it.

EDIT: If you have the OEM fan shroud screws, they are self tapping. I recommend tapping the holes before you put the radiator in the engine bay. Probably the smartest thing I've done with today's project.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

That Murray radiator from OReilly's needs new mounting hardware for the fan shroud. Unless you tap out the holes in the radiator, you need new hardware. I had to get a few nuts and bolts for it.

Self tapping sheet metal screws wouldn't work?