How my Fluidyne Radiator died.

[IwantMKIII]

One, its been through a fire so it was slightly warped but after i hit a deer at 60MPH it did it in. Just thought the way if failed was interesting....and surprising....

Keep in mind, when i hit the deer the pass. headlight was up which pushed the crossmember support attached to the radiator and bent it causing the radiator to bend even more in the direction it already happened to warp

 

[grimreaper]

so it separated the tubes from the end tanks?

 

[Poodles]

Looks like the lip on the radiator support sliced it right there. I had to bend mine back a bit so it didn't rest on the radiator (Koyo)

 

[grimreaper]

full pic please? id like to see more of what poodles is talking about

 

[Orion ZyGarian]

So the welds on the end tank held up and it was actually the fins and internal tubes that failed?

 

[IwantMKIII]

full pic please? id like to see more of what poodles is talking about

Ill try to get my GF's camera, as my phone camera doesn't do much justice.

so it separated the tubes from the end tanks?

So the welds on the end tank held up and it was actually the fins and internal tubes that failed?

Yes, and this is why im soo surprised. I find it very odd and ill-logical IMO. Anyone shed some light?

 

[IwantMKIII]

Looks like the lip on the radiator support sliced it right there. I had to bend mine back a bit so it didn't rest on the radiator (Koyo)

actually, if you notice, this is on the FAN CLUTCH side.....just adds to my confusion

 

[jetjock]

Why odd? A properly done weld is stronger than the parent metal. Do you know how weld coupons are tested?

 

[IwantMKIII]

^very true, but no i don't know what a weld coupon is or how its tested.

Its surprising because the force of impact would lead me to believe this area would be 'pulled' apart causing stretching and such. But what appears is a small area like a foreign object hit it in a shearing direction starting from the outside in (notice the direction of the tips going towards one single water passage)

^if that doesn't really make it clear i can draw a quick pic in paint or something for a visual

 

[sneakypete]

Its surprising because the force of impact would lead me to believe this area would be 'pulled' apart causing stretching and such.

yes. the force of the impact bent the radiator around the radiator support, compression on the supports side, tension on the engine side, which caused the endtank to separate.
with your next radiator, bend down the radiator support a bit. i did that with my radiator as well as putting some weather stripping between the support and the top of the radiator to give it a little cushion.

 

[IwantMKIII]

yes. the force of the impact bent the radiator around the radiator support, compression on the supports side, tension on the engine side, which caused the endtank to separate.
with your next radiator, bend down the radiator support a bit. i did that with my radiator as well as putting some weather stripping between the support and the top of the radiator to give it a little cushion.

as you can see there already was an area of cushion due to warping. However with the way the metal is bent, from both side inwards, it doesn't make sense to me. I can understand stretching/strain but the ends are curled as though broken under shear stress in the X-direction (assuming looking at the rad front view X left, Y up, Z depth).

 

[sneakypete]

i see what your saying now. i couldnt really tell from the picture in post #1. so the radiator was bent towards the engine? what condition are the brackets in?

 

[IwantMKIII]

^good condition, held it firmly.

 

[IJ.]

The tubes are 20 thou thick material so no surprise it failed like that!

 

[sneakypete]

very true.... lol. it is very easy to break a radiator. im on my 4th... but not for reasons like that

 

[IwantMKIII]

The tubes are 20 thou thick material so no surprise it failed like that!

I understand that aspect....but again...its how they are bent/curved that i dont really get.

 

[IJ.]

Take a pic straight on of the whole rad I'm guessing it's no longer square.

 

[IwantMKIII]

Take a pic straight on of the whole rad I'm guessing it's no longer square.

if you look at the drawing above it never was since the fire. The force of impact was in the same direction of the displacement from he fire.