Stupid plastic cooling system parts

[CptFloridaMan]

The bean counters at FCA have done a phenomenal job at ensuring parts withstand years of service. First was my heater core line giving up and going pop, cheap fix but 54k miles and 3 years shouldn’t warrant a hose giving up. Freak accident I’m sure. And then today was a fun one, replacing my pressure switch in my ARB and then I look at the coolant reservoir wrong while the jeeps running to see where a leaks coming from, and then it sprays me with coolant when I poked it.

So do we have any viable option on the aftermarket to replace plastic with aluminum or something? Kinda makes me wanna sell the JL and go find a nice TJ sometimes.

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[Heimkehr]

You've my empathy here, Gabriel. I have to date self-funded the replacement of two plastic radiators, and a few ancillary parts, in two Hondas. The cause? Fatigue from recurrent heat cycling. As costly as it was frustrating. And avoidable.

The obsession with trimming ounces and occasionally pounds has its practical limits.

 

[JLeco2022]

The bean counters at FCA have done a phenomenal job at ensuring parts withstand years of service. First was my heater core line giving up and going pop, cheap fix but 54k miles and 3 years shouldn’t warrant a hose giving up. Freak accident I’m sure. And then today was a fun one, replacing my pressure switch in my ARB and then I look at the coolant reservoir wrong while the jeeps running to see where a leaks coming from, and then it sprays me with coolant when I poked it.

So do we have any viable option on the aftermarket to replace plastic with aluminum or something? Kinda makes me wanna sell the JL and go find a nice TJ sometimes.

i pulled out the floor vents under the front seats for my 4 door, i fucking laughed my ass off when i seen the design for them

 

[CptFloridaMan]

You've my empathy here, Gabriel. I have to date self-funded the replacement of two plastic radiators, and a few ancillary parts, in two Hondas. The cause? Fatigue from recurrent heat cycling. As costly as it was frustrating. And avoidable.

The obsession with trimming ounces and occasionally pounds has its practical limits.

After we swapped the reservoir, we started chasing potential broken plastic t-junctions. Found it best to no even breathe on the remaining non cracked one. So it’ll be fun in the next 2 years to see what breaks again.

 

[JLeco2022]

btw im in the process of pulling out most of the plastic shit in my jl and replacing with 6061 and 5052 aluminum, because i also dislike this plastic shit

 

[JLeco2022]

You've my empathy here, Gabriel. I have to date self-funded the replacement of two plastic radiators, and a few ancillary parts, in two Hondas. The cause? Fatigue from recurrent heat cycling. As costly as it was frustrating. And avoidable.

The obsession with trimming ounces and occasionally pounds has its practical limits.

yeah im no fan of the plastic valves, sure they are cheap but, for like what 10 bucks max an aluminum valve

 

[CptFloridaMan]

btw im in the process of pulling out most of the plastic shit in my jl and replacing with 6061 and 5052 aluminum, because i also dislike this plastic shit

I’m intrigued, what exactly are you swapping?

I’ve heard about aluminum radiators cracking on the jk forums from the chassis flex.

 

[Beachcomber72]

Polymers and thermoplastics have been used in cooling systems for the last at least 45 years. Valves, pass tubes, elbows, tanks… etc. but I get what you’re saying.

 

[CptFloridaMan]

Polymers and thermoplastics have been used in cooling systems for the last at least 45 years. Valves, pass tubes, elbows, tanks… etc. but I get what you’re saying.

No yeah I understand that but it just seems that on these newer cars, at least the JL they’re exceptionally cheap.

 

[JLeco2022]

I’m intrigued, what exactly are you swapping?

I’ve heard about aluminum radiators cracking on the jk forums from the chassis flex.

right now all of the plastic in the rear, i removed the two under seat vents because F people in the back seats and also they eat up alot of room under the seats. but end game is everything minus the dash thats plastic will be removed and replaced, i have tools and time and im not afraid for it to look like shit at first, i will start a thread sooner or later im sure. im doing a bit of it before EJS i have 2 weeks to get that finished because im going to detroit for 2 months then EJS then back home and fix my sammi thats im mostly going to have way too much fun in out at moab. also gotta take the diesel on a few trails again this year. so lots of work in 2 weeks

 

[Upnarms]

The bean counters at FCA have done a phenomenal job at ensuring parts withstand years of service. First was my heater core line giving up and going pop, cheap fix but 54k miles and 3 years shouldn’t warrant a hose giving up. Freak accident I’m sure. And then today was a fun one, replacing my pressure switch in my ARB and then I look at the coolant reservoir wrong while the jeeps running to see where a leaks coming from, and then it sprays me with coolant when I poked it.

So do we have any viable option on the aftermarket to replace plastic with aluminum or something? Kinda makes me wanna sell the JL and go find a nice TJ sometimes.

My 03 TJ has a plastic radiator and reservoir. Only my reservoir is original and so hasn't cracked. I have replaced the radiator a couple times with mopar, only to learn the leak was from a hose and a cap

I will say the main difference is the tj radiator is basically 6 bolts to change. The JL is probably a 6 hour job.

Here's a gripe I've mentioned on another thread. My TJ has the original alternator w 170k miles. My 19 rubicon needed a new one after 37k miles cause they put these plastic decoupler pulleys on them the solve a problem that didnt exist. At least now you can find replacement decoupler pulleys but not when mine broke. I feel your pain

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