06 S60 2.5T AWD - Radiator repair or not?

Post by **scot850** » 06 Mar 2022, 19:34

I had a look at my friends sons car yesterday and had a pretty good look around the radiator which a repair show says has a pin-hole leak. The owner has been monitoring the coolant drop and says it is minimal.

Whilst I can see all the radiator, all I couls see as a tell-tail leak was a small (and I mean small!) area of what looked like verdi-gris (green) color about halfway down the rear of the radiator at the join between the plastic and aluminum core.

Now I had been planning to replace the radiator with either a Spectra or Nissens due to cost (Volvo radiator is 200% more expensive) as well as replacing the upper and lower hoses as the upper looks really tired.

But here is the question, would anyone consider a repair of any sort like an epoxy/JB Weld type product or is this really false economy?

If it were my car, I would just replace the radiator, but this young guy is a senior at school. So appreciate thoughts and suggestions!

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 07 Mar 2022, 00:02

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Just slow with a pair pliers gently apply pressure on the aluminum from both sides till you reach the leak. Had tighten head "gaskets" bolts on 3 cars with oil leaks and one worked while the leaks slowed considerably on the other two cars.

*

Post by **abscate** » 07 Mar 2022, 08:16

Clean all the residue off first. Then compress the aluminum fingers like BKM suggest. Start at the leak amp go three up and three down. The sealing action is an oring in compression in the radiator, so getting JB weld to the place of leakage is hard

Post by **scot850** » 07 Mar 2022, 08:44

That sounds like great advice. Will have to remove the upper house to access as naturally it is below there where access is limited but it is worth a shot to see if we can slow it. Biggest worry is we make it worse!

Neil.

Post by **cn90** » 12 Mar 2022, 19:42

A new rad by Nissens is only $120...

Post by **abscate** » 12 Mar 2022, 20:55

cn90 wrote: ↑12 Mar 2022, 19:42 A new rad by Nissens is only $120...

They get killed n

by shipping charges across the border

Post by **cn90** » 13 Mar 2022, 16:46

A radiator is still cheaper than an engine.

Nissens is a good choice for Canada.
Nissens is US $120 (FCPEuro pricing) vs CAD $300 (Canadian auto parts online stores sell this for CAD $300).

While I am not a big fan of Chinese rad, my 2007 S60 2.5T came with Spectra CU2805, installed by the P.O. in 2016.
Six (6) yrs later, it is still fine.

Post by **scot850** » 13 Mar 2022, 23:17

I can buy the Nissens radiator from PartsAvatar for $250 + free shipping. The Spectra is around $340 from same source.

Rock auto is cheaper but their shipping is much higher and if there is an issue then returning is expensive for refund.

It is good to know the Spectra has worked out for you. The original repair shop was going to use that part as they said they have had good experience with them. Mind you they were charging $500 for the same item which is the close to the OE Volvo dealer price!

We were supposed to look more closely at this today but the young owner had to delay the visit. He did give some more interesting information which makes me think there may be more to this than just the radiator. He mentioned that on gentle driving he barely looses any coolant, but if he goes WOT on the gas pedal he looses way more. I am now concerned the root issue may be either bad toque mounts or do P2's suffer the same crank pulley area engine mount failure as P80's do?

Thanks for the heads upon the engine concerns. I have the very same concerns for the same reason. However it is not my money we are spending. I have warned on the risks.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Mar 2022, 04:38

The gene for situational awareness is expressed on the X gene, so you have to be careful with young guys and car cooling systems.

$120 to get something across the border, Jeeeesh. I wish you lived in ONT or Montreal.

Post by **scot850** » 15 Mar 2022, 10:21

This young guy is a real car nut and loves cars. Seems to take care of the car and is monitoring the fluid leak daily. Most days minimal. His hockey season ended last weekend so now he has more time available, but as a 17 year old in senior year, he also works part time. I've know this kid since he was born and is responsible and understands that if he cooks the engine it is all over. His dad was also given the warning! We should get back to it this weekend hopefully.

Shipping! $18 from IPD to ship small packet shipping of the $7 seal kit for the trans cooler. 2 plastic clips and 8 'O' rings. 2 kits? Too big to go small parcel (???). Shipping $30 US.

Neil.