Hello All,

Rockauto sent me the wrong radiator. I ordered a Motorcraft RAD23 which is supposed to fit a 2011 Duratec. I have a 2005 but they did not have a part listed for that. I think that is not the issue they are the same truck and I cross-referenced the radiator to the Denso one and it checked out. The issue is that this has an opening for a radiator cap and the Duratec are closed systems with a degas tank. This is annoying and an issue you can run into when you buy things that are shipped. I don't want to send it back as I don't think they will pay for the shipping even though the part is incorrect. The number on the radiator does not yield much information.

Its a good thing that I am not in a rush to change this out.
Should I just return it and get the Denso?
Should I dust put a cap on it?
If I do that do I go for a 30 psi or something really low.
I wanted to avoid this game and just buy the right radiator in the first place.

I am done venting.


Thanks,

BOB

 

Why not contact the seller/shipper, tell them they sent the wrong part and you expect them to make it right? And this includes return shipping. Emailing a shipping label is an easy fix for them.

 

Thanks,

I will do that.

Just kind of annoying but I never make mistakes.

My wife is a pharmacist.

I enjoy telling people that when she makes mistakes people die.


I guess I will get over it.

BOB

 

I have arranged for its return.

Glad that the radiator is not broken and I was just doing this as a PM ( its 18 years old)

Maybe its an omen.


BOB

 

In a few simple searches online, it appears the Motorcraft RAD23 is supposed to fit 2006-2011. Did you order a Motorcraft RAD23 and did Rockauto send you a Motorcraft RAD23? If so, they didn't screw up.

See my statement above. I'm starting to see a potential issue here.

But you do. Sounds like you ordered the wrong part for your truck and are blaming a parts supplier for filling your order correctly.

This is true. They could die if she makes a mistake. However, if a doctor mistakenly ordered an antibiotic but the patient really needed a blood thinner and your wife filled the antibiotic prescription, you'd be the first to say the doctor was wrong.

Point is, vehicles and their parts change constantly. One year doesn't always fit to the next. My truck is an early '98 and I'm finding that it's a mixed breed of 2nd gen leftovers (taillights), very specific parts ('98 - '00.5 pulse vacuum hubs), and 3rd generation parts. The thermostat housing is completely different than the run of the mill '00+ 4.0 engines. You gotta be careful on what you order.

 

Sometimes, the changes happen during the production year. A vehicle made in the first half of the year may use a different part than one made in the second half of the model year.

 

Agreed. My example on the hubs was a complete system change half way through the 2000 model year.

But if the part is listed to fit 2006-2011 and thats what was ordered, is it the supplier's fault that the purchaser assumed it would fit his 2005?

 

Thanks for your response,

I am aware that 2005 and 2011 are different years and for whatever reason, I sometimes have to order parts from later years than 2005 as they do not have them for 2005, in that aspect I am taking a small risk but the trucks did not change much at all during those years and have not had an issue.
The issue is that there is an opening for a radiator cap on the radiator where the 2005 and 2011 both have a degas system which would not have a radiator cap so if I actually had a 2011 ford ranger 2.3 Duratec I would have the same issue. I have even looked up 2011 rangers on youtube and the 2.3 has a degas tank.

I would have preferred to use the Motorcraft radiator but suspect if I have them send me out another one I would get the same error, a radiator with a radiator cap.

It's not the end of the world and I did enough investigation to expect that 2011 radiator would be shipped that did not have a cap but you don't win them all. I wish I could just call over there and have them confirm the part prior to shipment but I don't think they do that.

Thanks,

BOB

 

So, Rockauto did not send the wrong part. The Motorcraft RAD23 was ordered and they delivered.

Pretty lame to call out a company for filling an order to the customer's request.

Sounds like you got it figured out but the supplier didnt screw up, that was on you.

 

After giving it a bit more thought,

It may also just be that the RAD23 is the Ford replacement for the original radiator as they just expect the end user to put a radiator cap on it and hook up the vent hose to the degas tank and go about their lives like everything is just ok with the world.

I wonder if anyone else has replaced the original radiator with degas system with the RAD23 and just converted the setup to work with the degas system.

See no big mistake.

BOB

 

RAD23 was ordered, RAD23 is not supposed to have a radiator cap per description (picture) and application to replace 2011 radiator, RAD23 has a radiator cap.

That is not an issue with the year being different as they are both the same system. I respect that they have a business to run but this would not work without modification if I had a 2011 in the same manner as I have with my 2005.

 

No it is not. Maybe on a 3.0/4.0, but that radiator is NOT the correct part for any 2.3 DOHC ranger.

Rockauto's listing has the correct radiator in the photos, and the correct Motorcraft Part number. They literally sent him the wrong radiator.

Below the part description, "replaces RAD 24"

Ford Ranger 2.3 Radiator 2001-2011

FoMoCo radiator photo (mirrored, for some reason)

RockAuto Radiator, photo description

They sent the wrong radiator.

 

These links both show for '06-'11 2.3L. Don't see any reference to the 3.0 or 4.0.

Oreilly Auto Link to RAD23

Ebay Motorcraft Radiator RAD23 Link

 

Alright, now look at the photos on both the links you provided.
Do they have radiator caps on them?

Also, at the bottom of the eBay listing
"Superseded Part Numbers
This item may have been superseded from a different part number from this manufacturer. This is only provided for reference, the part being sold is not guaranteed to be equivalent to any of the part numbers below. To confirm that this part fits your vehicle, enter your vehicle's Year, Make, Model, Trim and Engine in the Compatibility Table.


Brand
MOTORCRAFT
Part Numbers
6L5Z8005BA, RAD-24"

 

Thanks all for your responses,

I will purchase one from the Motorcraft site that specifies RAD 24 and hopefully that one will not have a radiator cap.

BOB