Brass Radiator vs Aluminum and Plastic?

What you’re looking at is differential coefficient expansion rate of the two different materials. Aluminum core on plastic tanks. The aluminum core is going expand at a different rate than the plastic tanks. This puts a stress on the seal between these two different materials.

With an all copper radiator, the core and tanks are made from the same material and are soldered together, so the coefficient expansion rate is the same. So no leaks.

Tester