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Suggestions for hi-performance radiator

3.1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  xvfan70  
Hello Everyone,

It's been about a year since I posted, I believe.

I have a first-gen Crosstrek (2015) and it still drives wonderfully (at approx. 55K miles on the odom). No major issues except the occasional clunking of my front suspension if going over dips as speed.

This summer will see me at the desert quite frequently doing late night astronomy. I was wondering if someone could recommend a good high-performance (or larger than OEM) radiator for me to have installed? For folks doing astronomy with their telescopes, we tend to go out to areas with Bortle 1 or 2 skies and this basically means for me going to Death Valley or the eastern fringes of Joshua Tree or the Mojave Preserve in Southern California. It goes without saying these areas are beyond baking hot during summer. And, returning back to the crazy Los Angeles area will likely mean encountering stop and go traffic.

Although my car has never overheated, I'll be going up and down elevation hauling a lot of heavy new equipment (as well as a lot of water). Thus, just hoping to consider getting a better radiator that a good tech of mine can install in a day or two so that my little 2.0 can stay cool.

Many thanks crosstrekers! Below is "Buffalo," my friend.

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I have a 2013 Limited with CVT that I just replaced all the coolant hoses (9 plus two CVT fluid hoses, and two thermostats) since they were almost 11 years old. I also got a new radiator from CSF Radiators with a little bit more capacity than the OEM My OEM was ok no leaks, never over heated etc, just wanted something bigger. I got the I#7095 in chrome which fit right in my car no modifications at all. There are two straight hoses under each side of the engine above the exhaust header. So you have to drop the exhaust header to replace those hoses they are generic Gates 3/8" straight hose got t 2 foot long piece from O'rielly's and that left plenty left over. It does get hot here in Southern New Mexico over 100 in the summer but my subie never over heated.