Dreaded radiator swap advice 2008 S60

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 30 Oct 2019, 07:38

My son's 2008 S60 has developed a radiator leak. He is having to top off the reservoir every two to three weeks, so this job cannot be put off much longer. I have done a radiator job on a 1999 C70. I have read where on the S60 radiator lines need to be removed while taking it out through the bottom? The job was awful enough ion the C70 without that added step.

Is this going to be a requirement? With the C70 I did it while the car was up on ramps, dropped the sandwich through the bottom, decoupled the radiator from the intercooler and the condenser and then reverse to put it all back together. Is this the same for the S60?

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 31 Oct 2019, 04:57

volvooh wrote: ↑30 Oct 2019, 07:38He is having to top off the reservoir every two to three weeks

That don't sound too bad. Can you see where it is leaking? You might be able to patch it with J-B Weld. Which would save a load of time and money.

Post by **E Showell** » 01 Nov 2019, 01:58

Sure it isn't a heater core leak?

Post by **abscate** » 01 Nov 2019, 02:38

I don’t see how anyone can get a rad out of a Volvo up top. On a turbo model, much more work.

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 01 Nov 2019, 06:15

Yes, its clearly leaking down the side. Seems to be a re-occuring them with the volvos in my life!

The 1999 C70 was nasty, and I agree, I did not see a way to pull it through the top. Honestly, if you have a set of standard ramps, I am pretty sure that is what is used...twice, because I got a bum radiator the first time.

I have read where there are A/C lines on the S60 that need to be moved in order to drop the sandwich (and the radiator) down. Has anyone ran into that?

I've also considered running k seal. I have used it in a pinch before when dealing with a HG issue on two other vehicles, it allowed me to kick the can down the road to warmer days.

greg850r · Post by **greg850r** » 02 Nov 2019, 17:38

I don't like sealers in a cooling system. they usually don't fix it and then you've gunked up your heater core, etc.
That said, it sounds like you're either leaking at a tank seam or one of the trans cooler lines. Nothing will fix a seam leak but I have seen leaks at the transmission cooler fitting stopped by tightening the fitting a bit.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Nov 2019, 05:50

greg850r wrote: ↑02 Nov 2019, 17:38 I don't like sealers in a cooling system. they usually don't fix it and then you've gunked up your heater core, etc.
That said, it sounds like you're either leaking at a tank seam or one of the trans cooler lines. Nothing will fix a seam leak but I have seen leaks at the transmission cooler fitting stopped by tightening the fitting a bit.

I’m in Greg’s club on this one. Even squeezing a job Into the warmer months isn’t worth the hunk you put into your cooling System. If the leak is too large to tolerate by topping off, then get her done.