Parts question

[08H3I5]

So I was wondering the other day at work when looking up cooling system parts, will a radiator out of a Colorado or canyon fit our H3's??? I work at Oreilly auto parts and was looking in the system and for the H3 can't get a replacement radiator without sending mine in for a custom build or quote for a radiator to be built.

So I looked up on for the Colorado and sure enough I could get it ordered and delivered that day...... I was just curious if they interchange? I figure with 63xxx on it it's time to replace it before it fails. I plan to do the radiator, water pump, thermostat, and hoses along with a system flush while I'm at it.

And the last question, anybody know about Murray radiators? Good or bad?

 

[alrock]

You can get the OEM radiators for pretty reasonable now, like $230 from rockauto.com. Or check with Zach. For aftermarket the most popular here seems to be Silla. Look on eBay.

 

[Best4x4]

Colorado uses the same radiator, but it's mounted differently. If you save your OEM H3 mounts u should be fine. Is the price cheaper for the Colorado vs H3? I got my Silla radiator for 130.00 with free shipping off of Amazon a few months back and I am extremely happy with it! Transcooler setup is better vs OEM.

 

[08H3I5]

Its more through work I can't get an H3 radiator but the Colorado is about $150 and I get it the same day.

Ultimately I'd like to not have to work about the trans cooler problem with the factory radiator. Currently I am running a Hayden 403 trans cooler as a stand alone cooler in front of the condenser.

 

[Best4x4]

Yeah the OEM transcooler setup is poorly designed. My Silla has a very beefy setup, and I don't see it failing like the OEM unit.

 

[08H3I5]

Good deal, I might look into that when its time. I wouldn't mind being able to run from the trans into the external then to the radiator's cooler to insure the temps are correct.

But then again my old 79 for ran for years and 1000's of miles with a external cooler only with 0 problems.

 

[08H3I5]

Ok so after some overheating yesterday, about 3/4 when I stay normally at half way on the temp gauge, I replaced the fan clutch in hopes that was it. I could easily spin the fan when I parked at work after the rig got hot so I thought that was at least part of the problem.

Well after a 5 mile drive with it only being 78* its still running a little hot. Not 3/4 but over half. I should note that I had firestone do a coolant flush last year and the either put in green or universal not dexcool..... Could that be the problem?

 

[06 H3]

Id dump the coolant and out dex cool in it

 

[08H3I5]

Id dump the coolant and out dex cool in it

Thats what I was considering, I'm hoping it will survive till next payday. I'd like to do the hoses and thermostat while I'm at it.

 

[Best4x4]

My 07 runs above half 206-215F (215F being the absolute highest). When I replaced the stock OEM thermostat my temps went up, and after doing some research the newer thermostats are actually 190F vs 180F so your temps will of coarse go up with a new thermostat (GM changed the temp due to emission issues with the 180).

 

[Zach]

The coolant won't make a difference. A lot of people when dex cool first came out were skeptical of it. Saw people switching back to green. Only problem I've ever seen with it was 05 Chevy Equinox, they had a problem with the hoses getting eaten internally from dex cool. It was bad hoses. My Equinox got bought back with 1800 miles on it, due to no fix at the time.
The radiator is the same if you have a 5.3. Other than that, there is something different. 06 H3 is running a manual trans radiator and has not had any issues, but he has the external cooler which you would have to do to make it work

 

[08H3I5]

The coolant won't make a difference. A lot of people when dex cool first came out were skeptical of it. Saw people switching back to green. Only problem I've ever seen with it was 05 Chevy Equinox, they had a problem with the hoses getting eaten internally from dex cool. It was bad hoses. My Equinox got bought back with 1800 miles on it, due to no fix at the time.
The radiator is the same if you have a 5.3. Other than that, there is something different. 06 H3 is running a manual trans radiator and has not had any issues, but he has the external cooler which you would have to do to make it work

thanks Zach, what I am worried about is that they didn't get all the dex out and now something is plugged up with the dex-green gel. I still have a factory thermostat and maybe radiator. The water pumps still factory to and the truck only has 63xxx miles on it. Can't figure out why its still running as hot as it is?

 

[Zach]

If they put a universal coolant in that's really not an issue. If they switched to green and flush it right and get it all out. That could be. I would call them and see what they used

 

[08H3I5]

I know they used green conventional, one of the guys from tires plus was in today and said they should have put in dex cool at the other location and didn't. I'm going to stop by tomorrow on the way to work and get a appointment for Wednesday to have them do it again and put dex cool in on their dime.

 

[08H3I5]

I'm done with Hibdon tires for any services, it took them twice to get a damn coolant flush right and they didn't even rinse off the coolant when they were done. Oh well......

 

[08H3I5]

Just my luck, the radiator tank on the top cracked 6"...... Silla here I come lol