1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Custom Radiator Project

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by AzusaPrius, Aug 8, 2024 at 10:43 PM.

  1. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2020
    1,943
    835
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Here is a one of a kind custom radiator project made from full T-6061 aluminum contruction.

    Stronger with higher coolant capacity.

    Two row light weight design at 12 pounds.

    Improves cooling by 35-45%.

    Differences from OEM are that it is all aluminum compared to a standard plastic radiator that can crack and leak and this has two rows instead of just one row like OEM, it can also hold more coolant because of the design.

    So for those hot summer days and any incline, the ICE will run cooler.

    Will update this thread with side by side pictures compared to original style radiator soon, stay tuned for installation pictures.
    20240808_183449.jpeg
     
    #1 AzusaPrius, Aug 8, 2024 at 10:43 PM
  2. V Sport Wagon

    V Sport Wagon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2023
    233
    87
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Send it to Mudder to "Review" lol :ROFLMAO:
     
    #2 V Sport Wagon, Aug 8, 2024 at 10:48 PM
    bisco likes this.
  3. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2020
    1,943
    835
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    He would probably say the ICE could never benefit from a radiator like this and there is no room for extra coolant and the plastic is stronger than the aluminum.
     
    #3 AzusaPrius, Aug 8, 2024 at 11:03 PM
    black_jmyntrn likes this.
  4. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    897
    335
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    How much cooler do you think the ICE will run?

    Do you plan on collecting data for the stock OEM radiator versus the custom aluminum radiator and share the data in this thread?
     
    #4 Brian1954, Aug 9, 2024 at 9:23 AM
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2024 at 1:02 PM
  5. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2014
    1,247
    698
    0
    Location:
    Cedar Crest, NM, USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It will not run cooler if you keep the stock thermostat /
     
    #5 StarCaller, Aug 9, 2024 at 10:40 AM
    ASRDogman likes this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,255
    15,798
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Unless, with the stock radiator, you were running it hard enough that the temperature exceeded the stock thermostat's fully-open temperature. That is a thing that can happen.

    Not saying I have any idea how much cooler, if at all, it would run with this radiator. That would be a matter for controlled testing and instruments and reproducible data.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Aug 9, 2024 at 10:55 AM
  7. V Sport Wagon

    V Sport Wagon Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2023
    233
    87
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    There you go Azusa, the only thing more predictable than cooler temps from an aluminum radiator are the answers from armchair engineers on Prius Chat. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #7 V Sport Wagon, Aug 9, 2024 at 12:50 PM
  8. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,287
    5,974
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    ..
    Here's some reworded thoughts......

    Cooling systems have indicated temperatures, actual temperatures. and large temperature gradients. They have an inlet water temperature and an outlet water temperature.

    It DOESN"T MATTER, to outlet temperature, what radiator is installed in a car that is controlled by a thermostat. The outlet temperature will always be what the thermostat is designed for.

    If the temperature sensor is mounted at the thermostat, you will never see a difference in coolant temperature even if you have a 500 gallon radiator attached to the engine.

    Depending on the design of a replacement radiator, you may or may not have a lower temperature on the coolant being returned to the engine. IF you have a lower temperature coolant entering the engine, and the same temperature coolant exiting, the average temperature of the coolant must be lower than it was originally.

    Think of it as two straight line graphs.
     
    #8 TMR-JWAP, Aug 9, 2024 at 2:02 PM
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2024 at 4:08 PM
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,130
    49,606
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Nobody’s gonna explain anything to anyone’s satisfaction
     
    #9 bisco, Aug 9, 2024 at 2:29 PM
  10. amarino

    amarino Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    108
    81
    88
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    True that it cannot cool the engine any lower than the thermostat set point (180F I think?).

    But would it help with lower coolant temps after the thermostat is open?
    Made up numbers and scenario: With the stock radiator on a big hill in the hottest desert and the coolant is at 220F, but with this "better" radiator it brings the temps down to 190F, thats still an improvement?
    Or maybe in more mild climates it keeps the coolant temp below where the electric aux fan turns on?

    I guess this is where doing some test drives before and after with OBD2 to capture coolant temps will show what kind of improvement it can provide..
     
    #10 amarino, Aug 9, 2024 at 3:22 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)