Stay away from Cold Case radiators

[gatorayde]

To preface this, I do not like leaving negative reviews, especially for small businesses that support the automotive community. But with that said, these radiators have some major flaws that need to be addressed and are not worth the hassle for how expensive they are.

Short backstory, I had my OEM radiator upper outlet crack/split (common issue) and ordered a Cold Case replacement. Shipping time was normal, but the packaging was pretty insufficient for a ~$400 radiator. Very little padding to protect it.

It did arrive safely, but I immediately noticed it had a dent in the top of the polished aluminum. The box was not damaged and the styrofoam protecting it was in tact. It was polished over, so clearly a manufactuing defect. No big deal, Cold Case emailed me back about a week later telling me they were filing a UPS damage claim. I'm not sure why when it clearly wasn't a shipping issue, but that was their decision.

I needed to get my car done ASAP, so I opted to just deal with the dent and get my car drive-able again. That's when a plethora of issues came about. Here's what I found:

-The radiator cap threads are not correctly machined, and cut plastic threads that dropped into the coolant system. You have to force the cap on the first 1 or 2 times you tighten it, which basically chases the plastic threads to match the aluminum radiator threads.

-The passenger transmission cooler fitting leaks. I am going to try re re-seal it again with some PTFE tape but it seems like the quick disconnect is leaking, not the threads.

-The lower coolant hose inlet hit the frame, it's not even close to fitting. I had to heat it with a torch and carefully bend it about 3/4". The black line here is where it was located originally, before bending
http://i.imgur.com/zOfyADM.jpg

-The fan mounting brackets are not remotely close to holding the radiator in securely. I had to shim every single bracket with a piece of 1/4" high temp rubber.
http://i.imgur.com/AT5yT3u.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JLt0Det.jpg

-The filler neck is not in the OEM location
http://i.imgur.com/Ofc7Ldr.jpg

I did not have time to wait 2-3 weeks for a new radiator which is why I opted to suck it up and deal with these issues. Going back, I should've sent this back for a refund and bought a new OEM radiator. It was an absoulte headache to get this to fit.

Cold Case did respond to my concern over the lower inlet not fitting, to which they replied:



With some G8s, modifications must still be necessary to the frame.
There is really no rhyme or reason. Some fit perfect and some hit the frame.


To me this isn't an excuse to sell an aftermarket "drop in" radiator. And suggesting your customers to modify/weaken a structural member on your vehicle is absurd.

Buy these at your own risk.

[STL_G8GT]

I don't need a new rad, but I was happy to see these hit the market on the off chance that I ever would need to replace my stocker. Sad to see it's basically not a reliable option for those who need a radiator replacement. Time to start stockpiling stock parts, I guess.

Thanks for the heads up and detailed review.

[Chewy]

WOW! Too bad! I was told they fit the GT but not the GXP. ???

[Leon McJones]

Anyone have input on the fit for those with tilted rads and otr intakes?

[donkeyGT]

I hope I don't have fitment issues with their hoses..

[gatorayde]

I don't need a new rad, but I was happy to see these hit the market on the off chance that I ever would need to replace my stocker. Sad to see it's basically not a reliable option for those who need a radiator replacement. Time to start stockpiling stock parts, I guess.

Thanks for the heads up and detailed review.

I fully agree, unfortunately your only options are the stock plastic rad's that inevitably crack, or roll the dice on one of these.


WOW! Too bad! I was told they fit the GT but not the GXP. ???

I vaguely remember reading the exact opposite somewhere, mine is an 08 GT.


I hope I don't have fitment issues with their hoses..

I would hope they can't fawk up a couple silicone hoses, but you never know lol

[captainmal]

I had the same neck brake issue. Bought the cold case and had it put in by my mechanic. He didn't mention any issues. But then the rad started leaking. So I sent it back for warranty but I needed the car so I had to buy a oem and get that in. Now I have a brand new cold case still in box. =O(

[SpaceFrank]

I had the exact same issues with a Cold Case radiator as the original poster. Also an '08 GT. I bought mine from G8Only around the same time (April 2017), so it may have been from the same manufacturing run. It took almost 6 weeks to ship because they were back-ordered from Cold Case at the time, so I got mine in late May 2017. Like the original poster, I just dealt with the issues and installed it anyway. I don't drive the car that often, so a few months had passed by the time I got around to installing it, and I didn't think I'd be able to return it at that point.

For those wondering about installing these with an OTR intake, mine went in tilted with a Vararam. This didn't present any additional issues on top of what the OP describes, but the lower outlet still hits the frame rail out of the box, the fan mounts have to be shimmed or zip-tied on, and the cap threads are AFU. Would not recommend.

I could've lived with all of this until the core started leaking a few months ago. Now it's going to the scrap pile. I have to wonder if Cold Case fixed any of these issues since then, but I'm not giving them a second try. Looks like G8Only now lists Mishimoto radiators for the VE Commodore... I'll start a new thread on that.

[Kylef]

I had the exact same issues with a Cold Case radiator as the original poster. Also an '08 GT. I bought mine from G8Only around the same time (April 2017), so it may have been from the same manufacturing run. It took almost 6 weeks to ship because they were back-ordered from Cold Case at the time, so I got mine in late May 2017. Like the original poster, I just dealt with the issues and installed it anyway. I don't drive the car that often, so a few months had passed by the time I got around to installing it, and I didn't think I'd be able to return it at that point.

For those wondering about installing these with an OTR intake, mine went in tilted with a Vararam. This didn't present any additional issues on top of what the OP describes, but the lower outlet still hits the frame rail out of the box, the fan mounts have to be shimmed or zip-tied on, and the cap threads are AFU. Would not recommend.

I could've lived with all of this until the core started leaking a few months ago. Now it's going to the scrap pile. I have to wonder if Cold Case fixed any of these issues since then, but I'm not giving them a second try. Looks like G8Only now lists Mishimoto radiators for the VE Commodore... I'll start a new thread on that.


If you got the Rad in 2017 from Cold Case, we have made some revisions to this rad since. I put one in my 09 G8 about a year ago without issue. As far as the cap goes, they are machined correctly. It appears that the plastic threads on the cap overtime get distorted from heat. A new Rad cap screws right onto the radiator. Apologize for any issues! Cold Case also comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

[SpaceFrank]

Thanks for the follow-up info. If y'all really have updated the design and fixed the issues, I'd be interested in getting a warranty replacement and trying it out. I guess I'll give the office a call tomorrow. The warranty section on the website mentions an online form you can fill out, but when I submitted the form it just said "thank you for validating your warranty."

[tchr49]

If you got the Rad in 2017 from Cold Case, we have made some revisions to this rad since. I put one in my 09 G8 about a year ago without issue. As far as the cap goes, they are machined correctly. It appears that the plastic threads on the cap overtime get distorted from heat. A new Rad cap screws right onto the radiator. Apologize for any issues! Cold Case also comes with a lifetime warranty as well.

Good to know. Have very few miles on my car, but thinking of changing out to yours as proactive maintenance.

[Kylef]

Thanks for the follow-up info. If y'all really have updated the design and fixed the issues, I'd be interested in getting a warranty replacement and trying it out. I guess I'll give the office a call tomorrow. The warranty section on the website mentions an online form you can fill out, but when I submitted the form it just said "thank you for validating your warranty."

The online "warranty" section is only to validate the warranty. You will need to call in for a warranty claim. Call in and ask for Kyle, I will be glad to assist :cheers:

[boydtc2693]

The online "warranty" section is only to validate the warranty. You will need to call in for a warranty claim. Call in and ask for Kyle, I will be glad to assist :cheers:

So potential buyers are taking you on the word that the issues have been fixed.

Fact: ColdCase.com site still shows the same picture depicting the G8 radiator with the same problems highlighted by others here.
Issues:
1) lower tube at wrong angle - others had to heat and bend the tube up to clear the frame; [still at wrong angle, BIG ISSUE]
2) upper clip retainer too large - others add rubber shims or bend the thin bar down; [minor issue]
3) lower fan tabs appear too deep and fan shroud tabs floats - others add rubber shims; [minor issue]
4) location of the trans cooler lines off by 0.75" - bent tubes of trans line was misaligned with molded fan shroud; [P.I.T.A.]
5) plastic radiator cap threads cut by metal threads - cannot assess cap threads though without buying product now. [fixed?]

I contacted a tech at there site via their IM. I inquired if they have more recent pictures of the "fixed" product for the G8? Nope. Was told the picture was current. I think the tech finally had enough questions of fitment... and finally said to go buy the OEM for the exact fit. That is zero confidence in a product. Plus 6-8 weeks wait from China too. So I will take my $430 elsewhere. Don't play the pay-for-shipping game with them just to take that chance and waste time/money. The headache is not worth it for a two-row. Heating up their radiator to bend the tube voids the warranty, because you might have caused other structural damage that will cause a leak later. Maybe some ColdCase models work great and match OEM nearly 100% for other vehicles, however; not for the G8 crowd. We are a small bunch. Only < 200 for sale any given week nation wide. Looking to go with the Mishmoto radiator now. CSF does not support Pontiac now.