Heater Core, why OEM?

[jblackburn]

Heater cores are a pretty common failure after 10+ years on most cars.

Our Saab 900 blew 4 of them over a period of 20 years. "Dad, the car's leaking antifreeze on my foot." "AGAIN?!" The BMW ate one after 20 years - I was 5 and I remember him complaining about changing it on that one

The Ford Expedition blew one (it had a separate core for the rear AC system) after only 2 years...but...it was a Ford.

[cn90]

On a related note, I am the BMW E39 forum and can tell you this:

- Behr makes coolant reservoir for BMW and the coolant reservoir you buy from BMW is excellent.

- Behr also makes coolant reservoir as aftermarket but it splits, it cracks, it has an extra valve that blocks the flow of coolant etc. etc.! It even says on the box "made in China".

The bottom line is Behr builds radiator, coolant reservoir etc. etc. for Mercedes, BMW, Volvo etc. but it SEEMS that the coolant reservoir made for BMW comes from Germany. In contrast, the coolant reservoir in the aftermarket is made in China!

The Chinese are notorious for sh---tty products.

[burnout8488]

Actually, I'm not saying that.

OEM heater cores are lasting like 5-8 years now (I would estimate originals lasted 10 years on average), IMHO that's really not so bad. If you put one in today, there is a decent chance it will outlast the rest of your car.

I don't mean to sound thick headed, I just re-read my posts and realized I'm coming off a little anti-Volvo.

I guess I just feel like a heater core shouldn't be a part that is expected to fail, but then again I've never owned a European car. Never heard of heater cores being notorious for failing on any of the Japanese cars I've owned or worked on either.

Regardless, you're correct in that the new core will most likely outlast the car in the time that I'll own it, so there's no reason to really complain.

[Xilikon]

With a car over 10 years old, we are expected to replace almost all parts so don't be surprised. My current thing is a dead starter and it's being rebuilt by a shop before I reinstall in my car. Last time, it was the blower that ı replaced with a aftermarket. Next thing, if everything else is ok, is to replace the AC compressor which just seized last week.

The previous owner spent over 6500$ to fix my Volvo including all new brake parts, new suspension parts, timing belt job, new steering rack, fuel pump, etc...

[da7]

Actually, I'm not saying that.

OEM heater cores are lasting like 5-8 years now (I would estimate originals lasted 10 years on average), IMHO that's really not so bad. If you put one in today, there is a decent chance it will outlast the rest of your car.

I don't mean to sound thick headed, I just re-read my posts and realized I'm coming off a little anti-Volvo.

I guess I just feel like a heater core shouldn't be a part that is expected to fail, but then again I've never owned a European car. Never heard of heater cores being notorious for failing on any of the Japanese cars I've owned or worked on either.

Regardless, you're correct in that the new core will most likely outlast the car in the time that I'll own it, so there's no reason to really complain.

most likely because most Japanese cars (at least the Hondas and Toyotas and Nissans that I've seen)
have a "heater control valve" that restricts the coolant to the heater core unless you turn the heater on, whereas the Volvo have the coolant flowing thru the heater core all the time, thus it experiences much higher pressures and much more stress cycling through hot and cold all the time...

[taxidad]

Mine blew because of extra pressure build-up in the cooling system due to a blown head gasket. At least they're easy to bypass in the engine bay until you get a new one. FCP have a Behr for $119 & their own aftermarket brand for $69 (& I saw it in their eBay store for $55). Strangely there is a note at the bottom of their description which says "*Note: This heater core is OEM." They look exactly the same & have a lifetime warranty from FCP (with conditions). If they're both made in China do they come from the same factory, but you're paying for the "OEM" status on one of them? I'm merely speculating. The promise of the lifetime warranty means I might try the cheaper one.

[da7]

i think you have to be careful there, as i check out ebay a lot and most of these sellers seems to use the same picture for different brands of products (claiming the picture is for reference only) and I checked the listing that you are referring to and it seems like they specify in their heading: Lifetime warranty, but mentions only 1 year in the description... also if you check out this thread: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=40020
it seems like the heater core received, are VERY different to the one pictured....

[taxidad]

Thanks for that da7, I hadn't read that thread. Warning duly noted. Fortunately I haven't ordered it yet. Not a risk worth taking to save $50. Looks like FCP are onto the issue so it will be interesting to see what they do. Thankyou for pointing that out!