What you suggest should work fine. You have to weigh up the time for a do-over if there is an issue. AS this is a small repair and the radiator is not at huge pressure I don't see why it won't work. Worth a try and if it is good, sell the 'new' radiator and get most of your money back.

Neil.

Rocket99 wrote: ↑20 May 2021, 14:54 no no
I was traumatized while a volvochild very young and never got over it had to replace engine

. Nothing on the ground, takes maybe 2 or more months to drop 1 inch.

just carry some along with....

I would cross the country with that “ leak” , let alone a brief saunter down Route 5

When you re-fill the radiator from empty, the system often 'burps' a few times as it can trap air. Carry some spare coolant with you for the first few trips and check each time you stop.

Neil.

I would cross the country with that “ leak” , let alone a brief saunter down Route 5 now the coolant was one inch higher in reservoir that when cold after warming up on a trip to town. Block tester fluid remains blue but I can see there is new volume added to the coolant space . freaky looks very b...

I second the mention to look under the driver's floor mat for coolant leaking from the heater core. I let that go on way too long in my last 2000 V70. What does it mean when pressure remains in the coolant system for 24+ hours after driving? How can this be quantified and diagnosed to be an actual p...

The coolant level fluctuates when you run. That’s normal

It should be between min and Max when cold. Don’t go over the max mark when cold

I second the mention to look under the driver's floor mat for coolant leaking from the heater core. I let that go on way too long in my last 2000 V70. What does it mean when pressure remains in the coolant system for 24+ hours after driving? How can this be quantified and diagnosed to be an actual ...

Yeah, I was going to note that too. Having it rise when warm/hot is normal. Is the system holding pressure, long after shutdown? Quick test in the morning before the first start, open the reservoir cap and see if it vents any pressure. It shouldn't have any if the system is fully cold. How long are ...

Rocket99 wrote: ↑21 May 2021, 11:42 Cooant in reservoir is one inch higher than when its cold.

It is called an expansion tank and for a good reason. Things expand when they warm up and contract when they cool down.

There is a chemical test kit that allows you to suck vapour from the reservoir into a clear plastic tube. This tube is filled with a small amount of liquid that turns a different color (blue to yellow) in the presence of hydrocarbons (combustion gases). This can help determine if you have a head gas...