Freightliner truck radiators are not cheap to replace. Freightliners have a radiator in front of the engine block that cools the water flowing through it, so it doesn’t overheat.
A newer design has an electric fan blowing air across the radiator core to help keep things cool even when the vehicle is stopped or moving slowly. If your Freightliner’s radiator needs to be replaced, it’s essential to understand what the cost is to replace it.
The average cost you’ll pay for a radiator replacement on your Freightliner is $1400. Depending on the model and year you have, the price will vary from $875 to $2,100. It will take a trained mechanic 1.5 to 3 hours to complete this repair which is not nearly as long as other repairs in and around an engine. Expect to pay an hourly rate of $80 to $140 for a professional to work on your Freightliner radiator. This makes the average labor cost of a mechanic $250.
Depending on the price of the mechanic you choose, expect to pay on the low end $120 to $420 in labor cost. Expect to pay anywhere from $450 to $1500 in parts cost.
Depending on any other things that may need to be replaced or were damaged from your broken Freightliner radiator, the cost can be even higher. Let’s walk through all of the costs you need to know for replacing your Freightliner radiator.
Cost To Replace A Freightliner Radiator
The average cost to replace your Freightliners radiator is $1400. This is the amount that most Freightliner radiators cost to replace, including labor.
The price range varies from $875 to $2,100, depending on your model and year. We will first look at the radiator parts cost and places you can find radiators for sale.
Cost of Freighliner Radiator Parts
Depending on your model, you can find brand new replacement radiators for sale. The cheapest place to buy radiator parts is usually online.
You can source a used or new radiator at a fraction of the cost that it would typically go for if you were to take it to a Freightliner dealer to replace your broken one.
The cost of the radiator itself will be the most expensive part of this repair. Expect to pay anywhere from $450 to $1500 for a top-of-the-line Freightliner radiator.
Places to get a Freightliner radiator
bigmachineparts – $450 to $1,200 – New
4statetrucks – $460 to $2,100 – New
americancoolingsolutions – $300 to $1,300 – New
wheelerfleet – $490 to $1,390 – New
AutoZone – $505 to $1,500 – New
Amazon – $109 to $1,300 – New
eBay – $170 to $1,800 – New and Used
These are some places to get a radiator to replace your current one. Typically the cheapest way to get a replacement radiator is by going to a junkyard. To get a used radiator, you can contact your local junkyard and see if they have one available. Expect to pay around $300 for a used one.
Cost of Radiator By Freightliner Model
The model of Freightliner you have will determine the price range that your radiator cost will fall in. Different manufacturers make radiators for each model, and the quality will vary from brand to brand. Depending on how much you want to spend replacing your broken radiator.
Here are some options
Freightliner M2 Radiator Replacement – $360 to $750
Freightliner Cascadia Radiator Replacement – $675 to $1,300
Freightliner Argosy Radiator Replacement – $400 to $970
Freightliner Coronado Radiator Replacement – $950 to $2,840
Freightliner Century Radiator Replacement – $456 to $1,100
Freightliner XC Radiator Replacement – $530 to $1,050
As you can see from these examples of Freightliner radiator costs, the prices vary significantly. This is due to how many models and years are available for replacement radiators. The manufacturer will also have an impact on a price range as well.
Each of these models will typically have different sizes and types of engines, which determines how much it costs to replace the radiator in your Freightliner.
Labor Cost To Replace A Freightliner Radiator
It is typically not recommended to repair your radiator yourself. Usually, the cost of having a mechanic working on your Freightliner will be anywhere from $120 to $420 for labor.
These costs represent a professional charging an hourly rate of $80 to $140. This repair is not long and will typically take 1.5 to 3 hours.
Most mechanics that work on typical consumer vehicles will not work on commercial equipment like Freightliners. That is why it is crucial to research and determine what mechanic has the proper setup to do this repair before choosing one.
There are many places where you can take your Freightliner to have this repair done.
Freightliner Truck Dealerships – $1,300 to $2,100
Typically, a Freightliner dealership will be able to perform this type of repair for you. Depending on where the dealership is located, they might charge more or less than other places. Some dealerships are franchised, and others with different overhead rates are privately owned.
This is typically one of the more expensive options if your vehicle’s warranty does not cover this type of repair.
Loves Light Mechanical – $1,000 to $2,200
Loves Light Mechanical can be a trucker’s savior when driving cross country. Their mechanics are highly equipped to work on Freightliner vehicles. They typically have a lot of experience working with these vehicles and can efficiently do this job for you.
Local Commercial Truck Repair Shop – $850 to $2,200
If you do not want to go to a dealership, you can find local mechanics that will work on your truck. This option typically will cost you less than going directly to a truck dealership.
Cost To Repair A Freightliner Radiator Yourself
To replace a Freightliner radiator yourself, you will need to research what the correct tools are that you need. Typically you will only need a couple of ratchets, a wrench, a funnel for fluids, and a leakproof container to hold fluid.
You will then have to purchase either a new or used radiator for your vehicle. Depending on your specific model, this will typically cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500.
Once you have purchased your new or used radiator, it is time to take off the old one. Some Freightliner radiators are very easy to access, and others are challenging. Make sure you do your research before trying to do this yourself to ensure it is a viable option for you.
If you have never done this before, it may be best to have it repaired professionally. If you are mechanically inclined and know what you are doing, there is no reason to pay someone else to do this for you.
Miscellaneous Parts Cost To Replace A Freightliner Radiator
If you have a Freightliner truck, there will be additional costs that you need to know about. Sometimes a radiator will not come with all of the parts that it needs. This means that you will have to purchase some parts separately from the radiator.
Some of these parts includes
- Radiator hoses – $20 to $100
- Overflow reservoir – $25 to $50
- Filling funnel for adding coolant – $5 to $30
- Radiator fluid – $20 to $55
- Clamps for hoses – $1 to $5
- Fluid level indicator (bleed screw) – $15 to $20
These parts are essential for the radiator to function correctly. You must purchase all of these separate parts along with your new or used radiator. This will ensure it fits perfectly and does not cause problems or malfunctions with your Freightliner.
Flush Your Cooling System Before Replacing Radiator
It is necessary to flush your Freightliner’s cooling system before you attempt to replace the radiator. This means draining all of the fluids from your Freightliner’s cooling system before you start working on it.
Doing this will save time and money in the long run. This ensures that once you have finished your radiator replacement, there will be no coolant or fluid leftover in your system. Complete the repair by adding new coolant and fluids.
Final Thoughts
If you need to replace your Freightliner radiator, you must research and find the best price on the replacement radiator upfront. This will ensure that you get a great deal on what you are buying for your Freightliner truck.
Expect to pay an average of $1,400 if your radiator is replaced professionally. You can do this repair yourself for around $300 to $1,500 if you have experience but opting for a professional is a viable option if you don’t want to do the work yourself.
It is also essential to take time to flush your vehicle’s cooling system before you replace the radiator yourself. This will save you time and money in the long run by ensuring that all of your Freightliner’s fluids are completely drained from the cooling system before starting this repair.
Once you have completed your radiator replacement, add new coolant and fluid to complete your Freightliner truck’s repair. Your radiator is an integral part of your Freightliner’s engine, so it is crucial to understand the costs and what it takes to replace it.