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New CSF Porsche 955/957 Cayenne High-Performance Radiator

Off-Roading and Overlanding is one of the largest and most popular motorsport activities among automotive enthusiasts and has been growing rapidly for years. With the demand for off-road capable vehicles skyrocketing, less traditional models have become increasingly popular. When the 1st Generation Porsche Cayenne (9PA or 955/957) hit the market it was mostly used as a grocery getter and commuter SUV. While always a capable off-roader, most people weren’t looking to take their $50K-$100K luxury SUV through the wilderness. However, As the price dropped in the used market, many enthusiasts decided to see what these SUVs were really capable of, and they have been a big hit since.

All of the 955/957 Cayenne engine options are more than capable of getting you around on or off-road. However, the Cayenne wasn’t well prepared from the factory with proper cooling to deal with the rigors of demanding driving. Berg Peaks Off-Road is very familiar with VAG rigs and teamed up with CSF to help develop a solution for their Cayenne builds. The goal was to design a radiator that could offer sufficient cooling for off-road, overlanding, trail running, hot climates, and towing/hauling. After almost a full year of design work and testing, CSF is pleased to announce the Porsche 955/957 Cayenne High-Performance Radiator.

Design & Engineering

CSF has a long and successful track record with Porsche cooling systems. From Intercoolers and Radiators for newer water-cooled models, to Oil Coolers for the Air-Cooled classics, CSF does it all. CSF also produces the most popular and widely used Performance Radiators for a variety of Off-Road applications. Therefore, you can be confident that you will be getting the best radiator possible. In addition, this new 955/957 Cayenne Radiator features CSF’s latest Ultra-Efficient 5mm fin cooling technology. The new fin technology increases the heat transfer area over a traditional radiator by 20-25%.

CSF vs OEM

The original OE radiator from Porsche is a plastic tank radiator with a single row aluminum core design. While this is generally accepted as good quality and durable, it just isn’t enough for the Cayenne. The 955/957 is notorious for having cooling issues. Just driving down the road on a hot day can overheat the engine and off-roading and towing/hauling is much harder on the cooling system. On top of that, these SUVs are 15-20 years old now. Those still running the original radiator have definitely lost some cooling efficiency due to bend/damaged fins and tube clogging. Needless to say, CSF had a lot of issues to address while designing this new radiator.

The CSF radiator features the latest 5mm fin technology. The smaller fin height significantly increases the heat exchange surface area improving overall cooling efficiency and recovery. A larger 2-Row 42mm aluminum core increases the fluid capacity of the radiator, and improves the cores ability to dissipate heat. CSF’s Exclusive B-Tube Technology increases the heat transfer by approximately 15% over regular oval welded tubes. In addition, the ultra-efficient multi-louvered fins maximize airflow through the core for the best possible performance.

The TIG-Welded 100% All Aluminum construction increases the overall strength of the radiator. This improves durability and longevity so you can be confident it will hold up to hard driving conditions. The CSF radiator mounts in the factory location and requires no modifications or cutting to install.

Real World Testing – Berg Peaks 955/957 Cayenne

Berg Peaks is one of the biggest builders of Audi, Porsche, and VW off-road vehicles. As the developing partner on this radiator, they performed the first installs and testing. Berg’s home city of Denver, Colorado is already harder on vehicles in general due to the high altitude, low air density, and extreme weather. Combine that with the variety of mountains, trails, and passes close by, and you have the perfect testing grounds for real world results.

Berg began testing the Radiator in November of 2023 after the “Warthog” 955 Cayenne Turbo SEMA debut. The first design featured our popular 42mm high-performance core with 6.5mm tall fins. Before major testing even began, Berg noticed a difference even at idle.

Test Results

The main testing was performed at Loveland Pass just outside of Denver with two similarly setup 955 Cayennes. Similar miles, same size tires, and both equipped with winches, lights, and other exterior accessories. One was equipped with the CSF Radiator, the other with the OE Radiator. The only difference was gearing. Berg said they had to be one gear apart to keep RPM similar with speed. The Cayennes were driven up the pass to over 10,000 ft (3048 m) and the data logged the whole way. The CSF Radiator proved that the performance was more than adequate for most types of driving compared to the factory radiator.