Aluminum Radiator - Repair Precautions
85ford04
Article No. 85-4-15
RADIATOR - ALUMINUM CORE NYLON TANK - INCORRECT REPAIR PROCEDURE
FORD 1982-85 ESCORT, EXP, TEMPO
LINCOLN-MERCURY 1982-85 LYNX, LN7, TOPAZ, CONTINENTAL, MARK VII
LIGHT TRUCK 1985 F SERIES, BRONCO, RANGER, BRONCO II
All 1985 nylon tank radiators use either a mechanically assembled aluminum core or a vacuum-brazed aluminum core. Due to the similarity in appearance with non-aluminum cores, some repair shops are attempting to repair F Series, Bronco, Ranger and Bronco II vacuum-brazed aluminum radiators with an incorrect repair procedure. Improper repair on an aluminum core, such as the use of a torch and soft solder will burn the epoxy on the air side of the header and permanently damage the core.
If a nylon tank radiator is sent out for repair, it is the responsibility of the servicing dealer to advise the radiator repair facility that the nylon tank radiator uses an aluminum core and that epoxy is used on the air side of the header. Repair procedures for servicing nylon tank radiators are given in Section 27 of the respective passenger car shop manuals and the 1985 Ranger and Bronco II shop manual. The service procedure was inadvertently omitted from the 1985 Lt. Truck Shop manual; in which case, reference should be made to the procedure given in the 1985 Ranger and Bronco II shop manual. This information should be made available by the servicing dealer to the radiator repair facility so that repairs are consistent with the recommended service procedures.
The following list gives all nylon tank radiator core usage vehicle and model year.
Escort/Lynx - EXP/LN7 1981 Copper/brass
1982 Copper/brass and mechanically assembled alumi-
num (also built 750 vehicles with a vacuum-brazed
aluminum core)
1983/84 Copper/brass and mechanically assembled alumi-
num (wide and narrow width).
1985 Mechanically assembled aluminum and vacuum-
brazed aluminum.
Tempo/Topaz 1984/85 Mechanically assembled aluminum and vacuum-
brazed aluminum.
Lincoln Continental/Continental/Mark
VII 1984/85 2.4L diesel only - vacuum-brazed aluminum.
F Series (F-150/350) Bronco 1985 All gasoline engines - vacuum-brazed aluminum.
Ranger and Bronco II 1985 All gasoline engines - vacuum-brazed aluminum.
Figure 3:
All radiators having nylon tanks can be identified as follows:
Mechanically Assembled Aluminum - available in both the standard and narrow width and can be identified by the round tubes. This radiator core has epoxy on the air side of the header (Figure 3) and should be repaired only with epoxy as outlined in the Shop Manual (Section 27).
Copper/Brass - used only on Escort, Lynx, EXP & LN7 vehicles and can be identified by the steel side supports
(Figure 3) which are attracted to a magnet. This radiator core can be repaired using the conventional torch and soft solder method.
Vacuum-Brazed Aluminum - similar in appearance to a copper/brass core but is all aluminum including the side supports. This radiator core has epoxy on the air side of the header and should be repaired only with epoxy as outlined in the Shop Manual (Section 27).
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"