Aluminum heater core?

[camp9k]

Rebuilding a heater box and was wondering if an aluminum heater core was needed if im running a aluminum radiator? or does it matter?

Thanks
John

 

[Apogee]

Doesn't matter. You could probably make a galvanic argument one way or the other, but so long as you take decent care of your rig and flush your coolant system at regularly scheduled intervals like you should, then no worries. The reality is that you already have dissimilar materials between your radiator and block...unless you're running aluminum block and heads?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Doesn't matter.

Quality coolant matter more than anything.

 

[SHX669]

I put one in mine - why not? - if have aluminum radiator and have to buy a heater core anyway. I wouldnt pull a good core just to do it though.

 

[sykanr0ng]

If the metals were in contact with each other it would be a bigger problem, but isolated by several feet of rubber hose not so much.

The reason the OEM's switched to aluminum is that it costs them about half as much as copper/brass.

It is not a more efficient radiator material, about the same as copper/brass.
But more fragile and not repairable.

If copper/brass leaks it can be soldered.

 

[charlie6976]

Your Hide-a-Key will not stick to either!