If you find yourself driving your rig in areas of the country where there are brutal winters, you may have had to replace your truck’s heater box more than once. This is due to the fact that most if not all OEM heater boxes are made of steel. Many states that receive significant snowfall heavily salt their roads. Steel, salt, and water are a bad mix. This combo will cause your heater box to corrode quickly, eventually rendering it useless.
Drivers that find themselves in more warmer climates don’t necessarily escape the wrath of aggressive heater box rust. Condensation is the rust causing agent that typically rusts out the bottom of the heater box.
Having said that, you might already know that replacement heater boxes come in a variety of types when it comes to their construction material. You can find them in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel variations. We have already established that replacing your heater box with a steel box, may not be the greatest idea. This then leaves you with two choices, stainless or aluminum. Which material is better in terms of durability, performance, and value? Let’s find out.
Drivers that find themselves in more warmer climates don’t necessarily escape the wrath of aggressive heater box rust. Condensation is the rust causing agent that typically rusts out the bottom of the heater box.
Having said that, you might already know that replacement heater boxes come in a variety of types when it comes to their construction material. You can find them in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel variations. We have already established that replacing your heater box with a steel box, may not be the greatest idea. This then leaves you with two choices, stainless or aluminum. Which material is better in terms of durability, performance, and value? Let’s find out.
Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum Heater Box
Stainless steel and aluminum can look similar but are quite different. Let’s compare the key aspects of each metal.Strength
The prime factor that contributes to the durability of any heater box is the construction material's strength. That's quite obvious. And while aluminum has a better strength to weight ratio, stainless steel delivers more raw strength. Yes, it is substantially heavier as compared to a standard aluminum box but it is also considerably stronger. It means that a stainless steel heater box has an enhanced capacity to withstand rough weather, especially chilly winters. Aluminum features a tensile strength of 276 MPa while stainless steel strength measures at 505 MPa.Cold temperatures have a negative effect on materials as it forces metals and alloys to contract which ultimately affects the structural integrity of the box. Stainless steel heater boxes make for a better choice for truckers who find themselves traveling through particularly cold regions.
Corrosion Resistance
Another key factor that determines the long-term durability of a metal is its corrosion resistance. Rusting is a natural oxidization process that leads to deterioration in quality which you can witness in the form of holes. If you are a trucker who has been using aluminum heater boxes for a while, you must have seen those dreaded holes. Needless to say, such severe damage means you either have to pay a high maintenance cost or completely replace the heater box which is once again a big investment on your part.This is where the stainless steel heater box can prove to be a better alternative as it is highly corrosion-resistant. Although aluminum also resists corrosion it is still susceptible to oxidization and rusting. Stainless steel has enhanced corrosion resistance because of two reasons:
The stainless steel alloy includes chromium which forms an invisible corrosion resistant film around the steel.
Stainless steel is also non-porous which means it is difficult for moisture to settle in and start the oxidization process that leads to rust formation.
Many truckers have to drive on salted roads during winters which further contributes towards pacing up the oxidization process that you want to avoid. Stainless steel heater box gives you a much higher resistance.
Thermal Conductivity
Being a poor thermal conductor makes stainless steel a better choice. During summer, aluminum heat conductor will continue to leak heat making your cabin hotter than it should be. On the other hand, a stainless steel heater box retains the heat well and does not let it leak into your truck's cabin so you can stay cool. Moreover, stainless steel can tolerate temperatures up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit while aluminum will start softening up around the 400 degrees Fahrenheit mark.Alloy Workability
Stainless steel is a hard material whereas aluminum is comparatively soft. And while it does make it easier for metalworkers to mold aluminum, it also means that aluminum isn't as resistant to abrasion and wear. In comparison, stainless steel's hardened nature allows it to be substantially more wear-and-tear resistant increasing its long-term durability. It means that truckers who invest in a stainless steel heater box can use it for years without having to worry about corrosion or rust.Another thing that you should keep in mind is that being a softer alloy, aluminum also cannot tolerate high temperatures and will start to soften up which can result in potential damage to the structure of the heater box. Stainless steel, being a harder material, can handle high temperatures while maintaining its structural integrity. Drivers and truckers who also have to work during summers won't need to be concerned about their heater boxes taking damage due to elevated temperatures.
Easier to Maintain
As discussed above, stainless steel is comparatively a harder material than aluminum. This malleability makes it difficult to carry out repairs since softer alloys take more power and skill to weld. And while aluminum can be easily bent, stretched, and manipulated, it will not be as friendly when it comes to welding. On the other hand, stainless steel's hardness makes it a better choice for maintenance since you can do the repair work with more ease and convenience.Another factor that contributes to aluminum being a challenging material to weld is its thermal conductivity. It easily loses heat which makes it a poor contender for welding. In comparison, stainless steel's poor thermal conductivity means it can retain heat for longer periods while maintaining its hardness making it easier to weld. So, even if your stainless steel heater box gets damaged, it will be cheaper and easier to get the repairs done. That might not be a possibility with an aluminum variant.
Can I Get Premium Quality Stainless Steel Heater Boxes?
If you are needing to replace a rusted out heater box, there are a few companies that fabricate a modified stainless steel variant of the OEM product that are compatible with the OEM heater box. For instance, you can buy a stainless steel Kenworth heater box here that will be much more corrosion and rust-resistant as compared to the original steel version.When you want your heater box to go thousands of miles, even tens of thousands of miles, without getting damaged due to corrosion or rust, stainless steel is a much better alternative.
Final Word
Due to increased competition and skyrocketing expenses, truckers are looking to find ways to cut down their overhead and costs as much as possible. And when they end up replacing their heater boxes about every three years, it is not only a frustrating experience but does not make business sense. Such unnecessary expenses rack up pretty quickly and eat into their profit margin. That's why many truckers are now moving to stainless steel heater boxes.They may cost a bit more upfront but they repay your investment with interest by not requiring multiple repairs and heavy maintenance. What's even better is that they continue to go on for miles and miles, year after year without taking any damage caused by rust or corrosion.
See our products at: https://shorelinemanufacturing.com/product-category/kenworth-heater-box/
