FAQs

If space permits it is always better to have your fan operate as a "puller" by mounting it on the water pump side of the radiator. A "puller" electric fan is approximately 15% more efficient than a "pusher" electric fan.

Using Be Cool's brackets and cushions is the best way. Tie-strap mounted electric fans are particularly hard on a radiator core and void Be Cool's radiator warranty. Please see the warranty information packed with the radiator for full details and be sure to register the warranty with Be Cool.

Use a fan wiring kit and a brass sensor for your water coolant temperature. You can wire a relay to turn the fan on at 195 degrees and off at 175 degrees or use an adjustable fan wiring kit. Be Cool offers both fixed and adjustable fan wiring kits.

Be Cool's modern technology combined with proper core sizing is sufficient to cool any vehicle as long as the Be Cool application guide has been followed. However, sufficient airflow, water flow speed and correct ignition timing are a must.

No! Avoid using under-drive engine pulleys which slow water speed.

First and foremost, epoxy acts as an insulator and reduces the cooling efficiency of the core. Be Cool's radiator cores are CAB (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) brazed and 100% leak tested to guarantee an excellent tube to header bond. This eliminates the need for any epoxy.

It doesn't cost more if you compare apples to apples. The fabrication time and expense required to adapt other "universal" performance radiators will usually exceed the cost of a Be Cool direct-fit radiator. A Be Cool direct-fit radiator is designed to minimize installation hassles and maximize cooling efficiency.

As in the answer above, a universal-fit radiator plus fabrication expense will usually cost more than a direct-fit radiator. Only purchase a universal-fit radiator when there is no direct-fit application available for your vehicle. Be Cool universal radiators are recommended for up to 300 dyno-rated horsepower.

Tanks made of .080 wall, 5052 alloy aluminum create a nice billet-look in their natural state and lend themselves well to polishing if the customer desires. Tanks walls made of .080 wall, 5052 alloy aluminum are thicker than stamped tanks. Stamped tanks are prone to leaks if polished because the stamping process naturally creates some areas (such as corners) where the material has been "thinned". Thicker, sturdier tanks also help prevent ballooning.

Copper is a more efficient heat dissipater than aluminum but the other components in a copper/brass/lead radiator minimize its overall effectiveness and actually make an aluminum radiator more efficient. As much as 25% more efficient.

Single core Be Cool radiators are 1" inch thick and all dual core Be Cool radiators are 2" inches thick.

Because the thicker the radiator, the more difficult it is to pass air all the way through the radiator. No performance gains were seen at low speeds (where it is needed most) and some vehicles actually ran warmer when Be Cool tested thicker radiators in their R&D department.

Crossflow radiators are more efficient than downflow radiators because the pressure cap is positioned on the low pressure side in a crossflow configuration. This allows sustained high RPM operation without forcing fluid past the cap. Also, under-hood space considerations often allow crossflow radiators to use a larger core that has more surface area. This is more efficient and results in more effective cooling. The larger cross flow area allows the radiator's capacity to be increased. Always update to a crossflow conversion if it is offered for an original downflow application. This is very similar to exchanging a vehicle's original drum brakes for more modern, and thus efficient, disc brakes.

A new cap is always recommended because it seats properly and helps to guarantee a trouble-free installation. An old cap has "taken a seat" from the filler neck of the previous radiator. Use a new, 12-15 psi GM-style or Be Cool billet cap. Use Be Cool part number 70001 or 70002 for natural-finish installations and part number 71001 or 71002 for polished-finish installations.

CNC precision machined billet filler necks are installed on all Be Cool radiators. These filler necks will always seal better and look nicer than cast or stamped ones. Tolerances are held closer and fabrication is improved, virtually eliminating any neck to tank leaks. The billet filler neck also has a larger overflow tube for increased coolant flow to the recovery tank.

Yes, Be Cool recommends a coolant recovery tank in every installation. Recovery tanks will eliminate all air in the system and in many cases improve the performance of the cooling system. As with radiator caps, Be Cool offers high-style recovery tanks in natural finish(#70003 & 70058) or polished finish (#71003 & 71058) for those who desire to complete their installation in the ultimate fashion.

Yes. Use a high quality, high performance thermostat like Be Cool's 78000 series thermostats. These units increase water flow and guarantee proper function.

A Be Cool Module Assembly is the combination of a dual row aluminum radiator (except for a few single core applications), an electric fan(s) and related components. The Be Cool radiator core has specially designed louvered fins and tubes. The fins are designed for maximum heat dissipation and the tubes have 31% more surface area for cooling than older four row copper/brass/lead cores. Additionally, Be Cool radiators generally have more coolant capacity than the equivalent copper/brass/lead radiators. Unlike copper/brass/lead radiators, fabricated aluminum radiators act ent irely as a cooling unit with the tanks doing some of the heat dissipation.

Be Cool has taken the guesswork out of achieving cooling satisfaction by including in one box everything that is needed to cool a vehicle when the specific dyno-rated horsepower output of that vehicle is known.

Consulting the Be Cool Radiator Application Guide will answer this question quickly and correctly. The guide has been put together with great care and thoroughness. Additionally, any information contained in the fitment section at this time will help define any potential complications right up front. Knowing about different hose requirements, shroud modifications, etc. can go along way towards preventing "Weekend Installation" problems.