Double pass rad vs. standard rad

[AlteredRacer]

Was starting to look into radiators for my s10. Anybody run a double pass????? I'm worried that a standard aluminum race rad won't keep my motor cool on the street. Just like to see what others are running

[85ss]

I have a dual row aluminum rad on both of my truck...
My race truck rad is 19"w X 19.5"t X 3" thick...
I have one 15" electric fan on it, the block is filled to water ports and I have made 3 back to back passes in 80 degree weather...

My street truck has a 383...
The radiator on is 32"w X 19.5t X 3" thick...
It has 2 10" electric fans on it, and I drive it everyday...
Red lights in town, sitting idling in a parking lot whatever, never peaked 200...
It got in the low 100's this past summer here too...

[jameskirk1]

I ran the dual row Be-cool direct fit radiator on my blown S10. Worked great - fans would keep the temp right where you wanted it. Actually, the fans really never came on unless you were stopped for a LONG LONG time. This system worked awesome.

[Disturbing V6]

I run the dual core Be-Cool direct fit with flex-a-lites s-10 fan setup. Keeps the 88 cool all day long. Weather at the track or the occasion cruise down the street.

[sbctols1]

I run a stock HD version of an early '90's s10 blazer radiator. I have early 2000's dodge intrepid fans that fit this radiator perfectly. I have it on an automated temp switch and it keeps my 6.0 cool in traffic. It works great actually.

[bigfoot385]

I have a dual core aluminum Griffin in the red and white truck and a stock radiator in the gray truck.

[imdominant]

I have a double pass aluminum radiator and i havent ran it yet but from what i hear there is a noticable difference in temps versus the same size single pass

[jameskirk1]

This is from Stewart Warner's website -

Double pass radiators require 16x more pressure to flow the same volume of coolant through them, as compared to a single pass radiator. Automotive water pumps are a centrifugal design, not positive displacement, so with a double pass radiator, the pressure is doubled and flow is reduced by approximately 33%. Modern radiator designs, using wide/thin cross sections tubes, seldom benefit from multiple pass configurations. The decrease in flow caused by multiple passes offsets any benefits of a high-flow water pump.

Don't know what the real world results are though...

[Tweeder]

yeah less flow = more heat in the block, but more time for the water to cool in the radiator so im not sure.

I was looking at the 300$ aluminum radiator from jegs :( Wish it was about 199

[sbctols1]

Most of my engines have had cooling problems while using thicker radiators. Mostly because the thicker the core is the more airflow is needed. Even with a multiple core radiator, by the time the air gets to the last row of tubes, it's hot again.

[imdominant]

This is from Stewart Warner's website -

Double pass radiators require 16x more pressure to flow the same volume of coolant through them, as compared to a single pass radiator. Automotive water pumps are a centrifugal design, not positive displacement, so with a double pass radiator, the pressure is doubled and flow is reduced by approximately 33%. Modern radiator designs, using wide/thin cross sections tubes, seldom benefit from multiple pass configurations. The decrease in flow caused by multiple passes offsets any benefits of a high-flow water pump.

Don't know what the real world results are though...

where is the source for this?

I know where double pass radiators can be bought much cheaper

[jameskirk1]

Whoops - Stewart Components, not Stewart Warner - my bad :D

Here you go - click on the "tech tips" awesome info!!!

http://www.stewartcomponents.com/Tech_Tips.htm

[imdominant]

If you read the article as a whole starting with the talk about thicker than stock (dual core) radiators you will see that doubling the number of cores gives the water DOUBLE the paths to go which decreases the turbulance.

This being said , imagine doubling the core but then cutting the radiator in half in height. you end up passing thru the same amount and length of tubes as stock single core..... only TWICE before the water leaves the radiator.

so the turbulance is that of a stock radiator only it gets passed thru the radiator twice so in essence its like having 2 single core radiators in series (flow thru one, then the other) without the loss of turbulance that a dual core would give.

this is in regards to turbulance and im still thinking about the aspect of pressure