Aftermarket Radiator for '04 A/T Rx8
 

Hi people, my stock radiator has a hairline crack in it, which is causing water/coolant leakage. I'd like to upgrade to an aftermarket radiator for the A/T.

I've done my searching, and havent found out which radiators are compatible with the A/T. I think the Koyo and Mizu are M/T only. (certain websites said so)


I live in south florida (temps 90-102) in the summer. Should i go with the stock radiator again? approx 150 dollars shipped. or an aftermarket one for the A/T for about 250 non-shipped?

p.s. do the A/T's require a fluid cooling system that the manuals do not?

you have 2 options.

1.) replace it with a M/T radiator and fit up a seperate transmission fluid cooler.

2.) BHR has a really nice Griffin radiator that has a intregal trans fluid cooler.

The Koyo has been fitted to several members vehicles and the cooler was no better. In most cases to the cooling from the Koyo was worse than the stock Rad.

the A/T does have it's own cooler built into the bottom of the stock radiator.

Click the link for the Black Halo Racing AT Radiator. LINK

bhr ftw

Just to clarify; Black Halo Racing has Griffin exclusively build performance A/T radiators to OUR specifications and these radiators are available only from BHR.

okay, thank you for the responses.

but.....

my car is stock and im basically just looking for a replacement radiator. The only reason i was looking into aftermarket was because a friend of mine said that the koyo and mizu would be close to the price of a stock OEM replacement one. So i figured, I would check how much more cooling capacity they had. Obviously, it is WELL not worth it, so i think i might jus go with stock replacement.


to BHR: thank you for the input, in the future I will hopefully purchase many stuff for my rx8.
but at the moment, such a beautiful radiator that can withstand up to 700 h.p. , just isnt right at the moment for me, my car, or my wallet. >.<

You'll be sorry.

If you are going to remain N/A, there are other (more worthwhile) mods you can spend money on.

why exactly will i be sorry? thats what im worried about... so aftermarket?


and thank you charles. r. hill, the BHR inventory is amazing and i pray to have your radiator in my car one day. =]

also, is the MIZU radiator only for the manual? it says so on certain websites.

may it be because they sell it without the engine cooler?

Correct. BHR is the only company who makes a performance radiator for the A/T RX-8 with an internal tranny cooler. What is a "MIZU" radiator?

MIZU is a radiator/cooling company

people called them Mishimoto knockoffs. Cuz lot of times they just copied(or "borrowed") Mishimoto's design ... without copying everything. meaning a lot of times their Radiator don't fit 100% as stock.

the only "special" thing about their radiator is their usual lower price (lower quality?) and Lifetime Warranty.

Ray: Mizu Radiator <-- click

Thx, Jackson.

There is none better on the market then the BHR for my AT. I tried others before BHR released theirs but none worked.

Just wanted to clarify one thing quickly: If the 'stock' one you're referring to is used it could cost $150 shipped. If it's new, it's not stock as in factory OEM but in fact an aftermarket piece of some sort. Mazda dealer cost is close to twice that price.

Best of luck what ever choice you make.

Paul.

i understand what your saying. the stock parts im talking about are "replacement parts". not factory OEM. the mazda dealer IS twice as much, correct.



but i understand the BHR auto radiator is by far the superior with nothing quite close, but at the moment i dont have that to spend, so whats my best second option for a cracked radiator? :tear:

Chances are that you will not have cooling issues until you do some serious tracking or power-adder mods to your car, so I wouldn't get our radiator just yet if I were you.

If it's just a hairline crack , surely it can be welded ......

The tanks are plastic and replaceable, and the top tank usually cracks where the air separator nipple is located.

well its not exactly that "hairline"... but i will see about the welding


and Charles R. Hill, thats exactly what i was thinking. In the future i will hopefully get one.
and thank you for the advice, i will check that area also.

Where the f*#k is Jensen Beach???? If your close to Vegas I'll give you a stocker that I have. I'll never use it again.

ahaha, South FL man. not anywhere close to you.

but thank you for the offer man. PM