Volvo OEM Radiator Dissected

[abscate]

Found my 99 Original radiator

I only have the auto trans oil cooler on mine but the cooler is sealed with two thin rubber washers inset into both the cooler and the fittings.

[June]

Found my 99 Original radiator

I only have the auto trans oil cooler on mine but the cooler is sealed with two thin rubber washers inset into both the cooler and the fittings.

If the 99 radiator is bad can you open it to see what type cooler and the interior looks like on a 99 era Volvo from the factory? June

[mrbrian200]

This looks fairly typical of most OE rads since around 1985 or so. They're designed to last about 100k miles, at which point they begin springing leaks around that crimp to the plastic end caps. Higher quality replacements that would hold up for the remaining life of a car are harder to find for Volvos. Probably because sales volume is lower the smaller operations that specialize in high quality durable rads aren't as likely to venture into our territory.
It's kind of sad in that the coolant type used by Volvo does seem suitable to be paired with higher build quality/lifetime rads as evidenced by the lack of corrosion or deposits on that one. However in salt zones exterior corrosion would likely do them in anyway.

[June]

This looks fairly typical of most OE rads since around 1985 or so. They're designed to last about 100k miles, at which point they begin springing leaks around that crimp to the plastic end caps. Higher quality replacements that would hold up for the remaining life of a car are harder to find for Volvos. Probably because sales volume is lower the smaller operations that specialize in high quality durable rads aren't as likely to venture into our territory.
It's kind of sad in that the coolant type used by Volvo does seem suitable to be paired with higher build quality/lifetime rads as evidenced by the lack of corrosion or deposits on that one. However in salt zones exterior corrosion would likely do them in anyway.

So do I understand you to say the lack of deposits means Volvo coolant is bad? I thought no deposit forming is desired. June

[abscate]

Found my 99 Original radiator

I only have the auto trans oil cooler on mine but the cooler is sealed with two thin rubber washers inset into both the cooler and the fittings.

If the 99 radiator is bad can you open it to see what type cooler and the interior looks like on a 99 era Volvo from the factory? June

Sorry, I trumped on that one

It's actually my first replacement Nissens from 2013

[ZionXIX]

This looks fairly typical of most OE rads since around 1985 or so. They're designed to last about 100k miles, at which point they begin springing leaks around that crimp to the plastic end caps. Higher quality replacements that would hold up for the remaining life of a car are harder to find for Volvos. Probably because sales volume is lower the smaller operations that specialize in high quality durable rads aren't as likely to venture into our territory.
It's kind of sad in that the coolant type used by Volvo does seem suitable to be paired with higher build quality/lifetime rads as evidenced by the lack of corrosion or deposits on that one. However in salt zones exterior corrosion would likely do them in anyway.

So do I understand you to say the lack of deposits means Volvo coolant is bad? I thought no deposit forming is desired. June

I think he is trying to say that the Volvo coolant is so great at preventing corrosion that it deserves to be paired with a high quality all aluminum radiator like the do88 for what is essentially a lifetime setup.

[mrbrian200]

'Volvo coolant is so great at preventing corrosion that it deserves to be paired with a high quality radiator' is what I meant, yes. I re-read my post. To clarify. It's sad that Volvo didn't use a better radiator. It's good that the fluid resists corrosion and deposits so well.

I have a habit of combining several ideas into long compound sentences. Sometimes it works. Other times it just confuses the hell out of anyone trying to read it.