Old big radiator trucks

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Bean Jr., Feb 21, 2016.

  1. Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    When "big" power came out in the late 60s, early 70s, everybody was trying to put a bigger radiator, like Peterbilt 359 and Freightliner Powerliner, that had the grill almost to the headlights. In the late 90s and into the 2000s, we have real big power, and yet our radiators seem smaller. My 379 had a 470 Detroit, which is a lot more hp than a 335, and the grill is smaller than a 359. Yet it never ran warm. And forget about the Aero trucks, with the tiny radiators.

    How are we cooling them better with less?
     
    NightWind Thanks this.
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  3. Tug Toy

    Tug Toy Road Train Member

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    Efficiency in the motors is my guess
     
    Dominick253 Thanks this.
  4. stayinback

    stayinback Road Train Member

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    Great question..Good points too...

    I'm guessing its within the newer valvetrains and ports....Manifolds and turbos are scientifically enhanced these days.. 195 degrees TODAY is standard isn't it? Years ago i got nervous anythng over 180-185 degrees
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  5. Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    I was wondering if cooling is more efficient too? Maybe the core is 4 row instead of 3?
     
  6. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    I can tell you my little 3 row T600 radiator did a very poor job of keeping temps under control as a 525 hp MBN and no better as 550 hp 6NZ. Maybe it was just that motor, which does run hot like that, but my feeling was 500+ hp in a T600 with typical cooling system was just too much. The radiator must be upgraded in a T600 with that much hp.
     
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  7. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

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    I don't know but was the fan on the front of the radiator in the old days like cars? Was the fan on the back but blowing on the radiator? Now days the fan helps pull the air through the radiator
     
  8. Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    That's what I would think. 379 has a much bigger radiator. I ran almost a year without the hub working. The 379 default is off, not on. The hub never locked up, and only when pulling a hill did I have problems, and only in summer. I just dropped a gear and turned off ac.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Maybe today's rads are thicker? I know copper is a good conductor but maybe these new aluminum tube and fin radiators are more efficient overall.
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  10. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    In the summer time with my 3 row radiator I could turn the a/c off and it didn't make any difference. If ambient temp was over 90* then I would have the fan on almost continously and struggle to keep water temp around 200-203*. Anymore most of the time the water temp rides around 188-192*. I still have to use the fan on grades and in the summer but not near as much.
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  11. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If I were ever in the market for a truck with a big rad, this would be it.

    usr_280307055107_T800widehood2lrcrop250.jpg
     
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