Worst radiator company

That sucks to have all those problems. I kind of got the impression as well when talking to them they would ignore most complaints/warranty issues unless you were standing on their door step.

 

Tough to find a good radiator manufacturer in the US anymore. I saw someone mention Modine but then realized the thread is 5 years old because they are long gone now.

 

3 months after I bougth a radiator from DRC start leaking! Was leaking from those bolts, I found 2 bolts leaking, I tide them, leaking stop for 3 days, then start leaking again from different bolts, I tide them all, 2-3 days and leaking again! But the warranty is 5 YEARS! I think this radiator gasket is made from wrong material. It cannot resist exremly high temperature, and then cold at night. BAD!

 

Purchase two radiators, only got a year out of them before they started to leak.

No more Detroit Radiator !

 

I am sorry to read all these complaints. I was the VP of DRC from 2004-2008. I am the person responsible for all the advertisements in the truck paper and all other forms of advertising that built that company. I worked tirelessly to make that company what it is. As a 23 year veteran in the radiator business, i can tell you all this. No one in the states (in the aftermarket) manufactures copper and brass Truck radiators any more. However, there is 2 companies in North America that make all aluminum radiators ( aluminum tanks and aluminum core). Spectra Premium in Canada, and CG&J in Alabama, where i currently work. There is about 4 companies that manufacture Charge Air Coolers in the states, however most larger rad shops buy from China. All the complete copper and brass radiators come from Mexico (Phar Radiator) most of the plastic tank radiators come from China. Now every one and brother in China has gotten into the market.


As i progressed in my career, i went on to be a product manager for LKQ/Keystone. I was incharge of truck cooling parts for all of North America. Since i was incharge of purchasing products (Radiators, Charge Air Coolers, & Condensers) for my 91 locations, i tracked defect rates vigorously. So the breakdown goes like this.. The plastic and aluminum stuff the best in the market today is made by a company called Lei Te (lay-ty). Their defect rate is around 2%, and everyone in the industry knows they are the best. So if you have a newer truck be sure to ask for this product by name. The Volvo & International dealers sell OEM stuff from a company called TitanX out of Jonesboro New York. These are the guys that invented the "low-Temp" radiator to cool the EGR for the 2010 EPA fuel emissions standard. They do have an aftermarket division, but it is very complicated to participate in (10-16 week lead times). Titan's defect rate is around 2.5 - 3%, where as the copper and brass from Phar (excluding bolt-on units) is around 5-6%. Their bolt on stuff is very good with a defect rate of about 1% of units sold in a 6 month period. The all aluminum products have evolved to like the 6th generation. Meaning when they were first trying this in a truck application, they were junk (Period). The reason is the tube is brazed to the header (the flat piece that the tank is welded to). When the tube is welded to header it does not allow any give (like solder), and as you all know the roads in America today are not exactly smooth. With all the bumps, vibration, and brazed tube, all this would cause a failure in the radiator.Now since SPI & CG&J, have made modifications to accommodate this (soft mounts to the frame work), and the improvements in ride control systems, the defect rate for all aluminum units is around 2%.

I hope some of this helps all of you, or even just one person. See after working the truck shows for the last 25 years, being a Corp. sponsor of OIDIA, and only doing truck cooling my entire career, i truly believe that America runs on the back of the American Truckers. With all the laws, and regulations, i find it a #### shame a radiator would be one of a drivers concerns. As i always say "you don't go to a dentist with a back ache", let professionals do what professionals do. So fortunately, we have forms such as this to express our grievances, educate each other, and weed out the bad companies. In the case of DRC as i have seen through out my career, their problems can be summed up in one word GREED.. The reason i left the company (and was sued for doing so), was due to the quality of the products we were producing. I firmly believe in business it is ok to make a good profit with a good product, meaning repeat business, work of mouth, and just being a professional. If you have any questions or comments you can find me on Linked In, or www.CGJ.com

Respectfully,

Victor McCliment

 

As an owner operator and one that does all my own maintenance and repairs, I for one would just like to personally thank you @Radmanx5 for taking the time to give us a little information to use to our advantage.

I appreciate the insight here.

 

It is awesome that there are still good people with good behind the scenes info willing to help truckers. Thank you @Radmanx5

 

I stopped using DRC a while ago, I know of Walt (the old man who started the company) and knew his son Ron who was great to work with. I also knew Randy but when it became a "big business" and I tried to get an older radiator re-cored, I was turned off by the attitude.

Glad to see someone coming here and speaking for the company.

 

So glad I found this thread, DRC recently quoted me $1200.00 for a radiator, I kept searching online for a better price and found one for 300.00 less on Ebay, after a little research I found the company have been in business since 1956 and has a lot good online reviews!
Anyone ever used Brice Thomas Radiators out of Gadsden, AL
Thanks

 

I bought my radiator from Rocky Mount Radiator in NC Rocky Mount Radiator

Smallish family owned company that works with you. They are closed weekends but the owner showed up on a Saturday to help me out @ $700 less than what the local Volvo dealership was going to mark up the same product.

They definitely make the radiators in house.

Rocky Mount Radiator