A Dura-Lite™ diesel engine truck radiator is a heavy-duty heat exchanger that removes excess heat from the engine so it can run hard, long, and safely.
Diesel engines:
- Run at high cylinder pressures.
- Produce sustained heat.
- Often operate for hours or days nonstop.
A truck radiator must be built tougher than an automotive car radiator.
A Dura-Lite radiator is designed and engineered to maximize heat transfer while surviving brutal truck conditions:
- Extreme heat.
- Vibration.
- Pressure.
- Long duty cycles.
Our philosophy is all about balancing thermal efficiency and structural strength.
Semi Radiator
A semi truck (also called a tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, or big rig) is a large, heavy-duty vehicle designed to pull freight trailers over long distances.
Why is it Called a “Semi”?
The word semi comes from the semi-trailer. The trailer has no front wheels. Its front end is supported by the truck (tractor.) So the trailer is only half supported on its own semi-trailer.
The other part of a semi truck is the tractor.
This is the powered part you drive and includes:
- Diesel engine.
- Cab (where the driver sits/sleeps).
- Rear axles.
- Fifth wheel (the coupling device).
Dura-Lite makes heavy-duty semi radiators specifically for semi trucks and other commercial vehicles. They are built as stronger, reinforced replacements for standard OEM radiators.
Dura-Lite’s radiators include fiber-reinforced tanks, thicker headers, extra header stiffening plates, and high-efficiency core designs to resist leaks and handle demanding cooling loads.
Dura-Lite products are offered as direct OE replacements for various makes (e.g., Peterbilt, Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo, Mack).
Radiator for Semi Truck
How a Semi Works: The tractor’s fifth wheel locks onto the trailer’s kingpin. The trailer’s weight is shared between the Tractor rear axles and the Trailer axles. Engine power moves both as one unit.
This design allows:
- Very heavy loads.
- Easy trailer swapping.
- Efficient long-distance hauling.
Most Semi Trucks use diesel engines because diesel engines provide:
- High torque at low RPM.
- Better fuel efficiency under heavy load.
- Long engine life (often 1 million+ miles).
Perfect for hauling 80,000 lbs. (36,000 kg) or more.
Dura-Lite makes heavy-duty radiators specifically for semi trucks and commercial vehicles – these are direct replacements for OEM radiators on big rigs.
Dura-Lite radiators for semi trucks are stocked and shipped from multiple Distribution Warehouses in both the United States and Canada, which helps improve availability and delivery times.
Our heavy-duty truck radiators for semi trucks are often eligible for same-day shipping if the order is placed before the daily cut-off time and the part is in stock at one of our Distribution Warehouses.
Big Truck Radiator
You can order Big Truck Radiators straight from Dura-Lite online:
Dura-Lite carries radiators for many different brands of heavy-duty trucks.
Use Dura-Lite’s website search tools to find the correct radiator by:
- Make, model, and year – helps find the correct radiator for your Peterbilt.
- OEM part number cross-reference – if you know the part number, this speeds up finding the exact match.
To see prices and add to cart, you will need to register an account and confirm your e-mail, once registered, pricing and inventory will show up.
Demand Excellence! Demand Performance! Demand Quality! Demand Dura-Lite!
