Hello to all, today I noticed a small puddle of coolant under the truck and when I opened the hood I found a pinhole in the core of the radiator. I am in the middle of a 6 day job and don't have much time between sleep and work for research. Does anyone know of any good quality & fitment radiator manufacturers ? Unfortunately i can not afford oem at the moment so I am looking for the best alternate option, thank you.

I will give a try over the summer and see how it feels, even with the 190* t stat I had before I would rarely see 210*+ unless I was at idle for a while. Its pretty easy to swap out and they are about $20-30. Also I have always noticed that when I am runing the AC no matter what the scenario coolant temp drops to 188* and doesnt pass 196* and that was with the old 190* t stat. does the Cummins t-stat have a higher temp setting or is it 190* as well ?

If you are hitting 210° at idle you have other problems, that is above full open on the thermostat and there is no way you need that much cooling at idle. I would guess the thermostat was bad or your fan clutch is failing, probably the thermostat thou as the fan doesn't run much even with the a/c on at idle. 

 

The 190° thermostat cracks at 190°±3°, goes full open at 207°, and has a max allowed temp of 225°. 

 

The 180° thermostat cracks at 180°±3°, goes full open at 198°, and has a max allowed temp of 212°.

 

Watch those non-OEM thermostats closely, they get pretty awful reviews.  

 

Your temperature is very stable because you have a 7+ gallon cooling system. Even pulling 7% grades on a 95° day at 20K GCW at 65mph I don't get too hot and run 215° on the grades. It's a good temp because the fan modulates around 50% for most of the grade. 

In addition to what you mentioned above I did a little more reading and 190* OEM is the way to go. What sold me was that the warmer temps are better for proper lubrication and oem t-stat fails open as where some aftermarket fail closed.

Would anyone happen to know who is the manufacturer for cummins oem t stat?

  On 6/9/2015 at 6:01 PM, AH64ID said:

If you are hitting 210° at idle you have other problems, that is above full open on the thermostat and there is no way you need that much cooling at idle. I would guess the thermostat was bad or your fan clutch is failing, probably the thermostat thou as the fan doesn't run much even with the a/c on at idle.

The 190° thermostat cracks at 190°±3°, goes full open at 207°, and has a max allowed temp of 225°.

The 180° thermostat cracks at 180°±3°, goes full open at 198°, and has a max allowed temp of 212°.

Watch those non-OEM thermostats closely, they get pretty awful reviews.

Your temperature is very stable because you have a 7+ gallon cooling system. Even pulling 7% grades on a 95° day at 20K GCW at 65mph I don't get too hot and run 215° on the grades. It's a good temp because the fan modulates around 50% for most of the grade.

Also oem responds more acurately to the temp fluctuations you stated above.

Hey guys, just chiming in on this topic. I went back to the Cummins T-stat and temps are a lot more stable. I contacted cummins gave them my engine code and they got me the exact t stat that the engine needed. The results are noticably different in temp levels, even compared to a premium 190* t stat the cummins t-stat holds temps more consistantly.

I have a t stat in my truck that I bought from Orielly's.  The engine temperature is up and down, especially when pulling.  I ought to replace it.

Check link for radiator comparison between my previouse aftermarket rad vs Napa premium rad i think it is a spectra.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sqadjpv0g3zb6ug/IMG_20150608_141022.jpg?dl=0