Helpful Tips
This page offers some helpful tips for the do-it-yourselfer to get the best results out of your repairs. Please note that these tips are provided with no warranty expressed or implied, and Bushey Automotive is not responsible for any damage or loss arising from improper installation.
How do I measure my radiator?
The first step in measuring is to determine whether you have a downflow or crossflow radiator. A downflow radiator has tanks on the top and bottom (fig.1), and the coolant flows from the top tank to the bottom tank.
In a crossflow radiator, the tanks are on the sides (fig.2), and the coolant flows from one side to the other. Once you know what you have, you can start measuring. Standard measurements on a radiator are typically just those of the core itself (measurements A&B).
- First measurement is always the height of the core between the tanks (measurement A).
- Second measurement is always the width of the core (measurement B). Do not measure the top & bottom rails or the side channels because they will vary depending on manufacturer.
- Third measurement is the depth of the core (measurement C). The easiest way is to insert a wire through the core until it becomes flush with the other side and mark the the depth with your thumb or finger, then pull the wire out and measure.
- Fourth measurement is the header sizes (measurement D & E). This isn’t always needed, but it’s good to know what they are when inquiring about a radiator.
From here you should have all the necessary measurements to determine what radiator you have.
Can you provide me with installation instructions?
We have an extensive library of installation instructions for most of the products we sell, so this usually isn't a problem. Once in a while we'll run across something we don't have instructions for; in these cases, the Internet or a repair manual such as those available from Haynes are generally your best options. Ask us at the time of purchase, and if we have them in our database, we'll be more than happy to enclose some them when we ship your unit.
Do I need to flush my cooling system before installing new parts?
Although it's generally a good idea to you flush your cooling system any time new parts are installed, it is not absolutely mandatory. We recommend every 2 years or 30k miles regardless of needed service even with or without long-life coolants. Proper and timely maintenance is key to a long-lasting cooling system.
