Parts brands - OE Volvo, trusted aftermarket, and bad

[454cid]

I stopped watching "car wizard" some time ago. His wife "giving a tour or interior" killed it for me. Plus his videos are more "entertaining " than "useful " for step by step repair. PHAD, SMA, SD, advanced level auto diagnostic are way better channels.

I don't watch all his videos, but I do watch the ones where he reviews a car that I'm actually looking at.

SMA is probably South Main Auto, but what are the other two?

Wizard did alert me to the likely reason why my fathers truck likely still has an EVAP code after he replaced a valve.

In terms of Toyota or Lexus..they are not without problems( anyone in brand should watch Car care nut channel), but sure lasting way longer than anything out of Europe.

I don't own a Toyota, but I've watched Car Care Nut's videos when researching the possible purchase of one... still haven't pulled the trigger yet.

I am upset with how manufacturers make parts 1 use only(for example you need to get access to ac compressor and you need to remove some hoses to get there, lots of them will have 1 time use clips and you need to buy entire hose with new clips(seen it on GM, Ford, ...))

I guess I haven't found one time use clips yet.... other than the Oetikers on my Volvo, but I haven't had to take any apart yet.

[abscate]

Oetiker? Oetiker? Someone said oetiker ????

[Vova585]

PHAD- Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostic Great case studies. Amazing explanations of the problems.
SMA-South Main Auto. Nothing short of amazing too. More mechanical repairs. The only complain about evil Eric O. -he does not work on volvo or other euro cars. Always great service for my Prius and Ford. Never had any issues with quality of work. Was able to find and correct issues that both Ford and Toyota dealers missed just days prior.
SD- Scanner Danner. Paul is patriarch of yootube automotive education. His videos and book are being highly regarded everywhere (north America, Europe...)
Car Care Nut- no wonder guy has 1.5mil subscribers. No swearing, always kind and honest. If I would be close to chicago area, I would totally bring my Prius and dad's Corolla to his shop.
Advanced level auto diagnostic- mobile mechanic channel of NJ. Wish the guy would have more subscribers. His videos are improving constantly.

[abscate]

It’s not a winner unless it’s a Spinner…

[abscate]

fail. Not only that but the price of replacement can quickly total a car with the stupid high prices of parts.

These guys all use the same fallacy that repairs to a car should be capped at its retail value. A meticulously maintained car like one of Dirks , with new FCP parts that are free moving forward to the owner, has much higher value than the KBB.

That same car you would replace it with needs $3000 of parts and labor to reach the same Stage 0 state.

[abscate]

IMHO lots of people started recently to buy volvo only due to the fact that BMW, AUDI, MB started to make absolute nightmare in temrs of reliability and cost of ownership (lets be honest, people that can afford those cars usually not worrying about extra 10-15K initial price tag difference between those cars and Volvo). But after several visits to dealer....Most of them run to Lexus dealer and never look back, some are buying Volvo(probably got tired to wait a new Lexus delivery or just need car now).

You can start a fight pretty quickly by asking Lexii owners,” How do you like your Toyota?” The art is the slight emphasis on the “Toy”

I’ll put some pics up of the OE radiators.

Volvo hoses seem to be coming from Poland lately, Rein are mostly Turkey built

Adding pictures of OE radiator from Volvo AUG 2025

Interesting cut in the top/bottom Al frame - is this thermal strain relief?

[Krons]

IMHO lots of people started recently to buy volvo only due to the fact that BMW, AUDI, MB started to make absolute nightmare in temrs of reliability and cost of ownership (lets be honest, people that can afford those cars usually not worrying about extra 10-15K initial price tag difference between those cars and Volvo). But after several visits to dealer....Most of them run to Lexus dealer and never look back, some are buying Volvo(probably got tired to wait a new Lexus delivery or just need car now).

You can start a fight pretty quickly by asking Lexii owners,” How do you like your Toyota?” The art is the slight emphasis on the “Toy”

I’ll put some pics up of the OE radiators.

Volvo hoses seem to be coming from Poland lately, Rein are mostly Turkey built

Adding pictures of OE radiator from Volvo AUG 2025

Interesting cut in the top/bottom Al frame - is this thermal strain relief?

You used a grinder with a cutoff wheel to open the box?

[Vova585]

IMHO lots of people started recently to buy volvo only due to the fact that BMW, AUDI, MB started to make absolute nightmare in temrs of reliability and cost of ownership (lets be honest, people that can afford those cars usually not worrying about extra 10-15K initial price tag difference between those cars and Volvo). But after several visits to dealer....Most of them run to Lexus dealer and never look back, some are buying Volvo(probably got tired to wait a new Lexus delivery or just need car now).

You can start a fight pretty quickly by asking Lexii owners,” How do you like your Toyota?” The art is the slight emphasis on the “Toy”

I’ll put some pics up of the OE radiators.

Volvo hoses seem to be coming from Poland lately, Rein are mostly Turkey built

Adding pictures of OE radiator from Volvo AUG 2025

Interesting cut in the top/bottom Al frame - is this thermal strain relief?

I dont remember such "cut" on my oem radiator that went in 1 month ago. Will try to find motivation and see if I can get a picture from below the car. I like how oem has reinforced hose attachment in comparison to Nissens. Nothing against Nissens, for the price they are ok. I think my prior Nissens lasted 7 years and around 100k until hose attachment decided to "divorce" main radiator body. I bought Nissens initially, but felt like quality was subpar to oem, and "gready man pays twice" mentality kicked in and I decided to go with oem.

[454cid]

The radiator cuts are made by the manufacturer, and I do think it's for expansion, but maybe for the brazing process. I asked when I worked in the business, but never understood why some had the cuts and some didn't.

[BlackBart]

I discovered a URO (the horror!) hose on my car. It’s old but still has the sticker on it - must have been before we all knew about URO. Off it comes! I bought these silicone hoses, but I’ve never heard of do88.

Also, my new blue box Volvo timing belt kit came from Slovakia (Slovak Republic).