Radiators & Cooling System Parts for Performance & Racing

Understanding Radiators

Whether you’re hitting the drag strip, track, or partaking in some spirited street driving, keeping your engine cool is essential, and that will often start and end with your radiator. Your car’s radiator works by funneling coolant through finned narrow tubes that remove heat from the coolant before it flows back through the engine. Airflow from driving aids the flow of coolant, but you also need a radiator cooling fan for situations where your vehicle isn't moving. OEM radiators for most cars work well enough, but once you start adding boost or additional performance mods it's time to consider an upgrade. Switching to a high-performance radiator made of aluminum, for example, can keep your engine cooler, reduce curb weight, and improve overall performance. What's more, OEM parts will fail over time, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on radiator hoses, cooling fans, and temperature sensors.

Upgrading Your Radiator

Upgrading your radiator is a great way to improve your engine’s cooling capabilities and you have a few options. Two-row radiators are the most common and affordable option because many OEM radiators have a two-row design. That said, upgrading to a high-quality two-row radiator can immediately improve cooling without breaking the bank. On the other hand, you have three-row radiators that offer superior cooling. This is due to three-row radiators having more tubes and fins to better dissipate heat. Three-row radiators tend to be more expensive, but you might need one if you plan on adding a lot of power to your engine. New cooling fans and radiator hoses may also be necessary if you go this route. There are also unique drag racing and muscle car radiators that are made for short bursts of high-speed driving. These radiators tend to have larger core sizes and more cooling fins to maximize heat transfer. Larger cooling fans may also be included, along with the unit being able to handle a massive flow of coolant. If going the drag racing radiator route, you may need to install new hoses to handle the flow of coolant. It doesn't matter if you need a high-performance two-row radiator from premium brands like