2006 V70: Replace radiator as preventative measure? Topic is solved

[vtl]

I did just that: a new Volvo radiator that I've luckily got with 1/3 discount. Bypassing the cooler is not a good idea in cold climate.

[firstv70volvo]

Replacing parts on a old car just because they are old is extremely inefficient, buy a newer car first. If you are willing to drive an older car, perform all manufacturer maintenance (ie Coolant replacement) and keep a watchful eye. Look for fluid drops on ground when you pull out of your parking spot and check fluid levels before every major trip. Watch gauges regularly. I am near retirement age and have never owned a brand new car, no regrets.

Thousands of heat cycles on a radiator with plastic end tanks and a part that can leave you stranded and your engine overheated when the plastic cracks apart isn't that inefficient to replace after 17 years, it is a maintenance item like a timing belt IMO. For most other parts I agree, keep up with the maintenance and keep a watchful eye. I've replaced 5 radiators that have failed suddenly(plastic) on the various friends and family cars that I take care of so that's been my experience. These failures haven't been slow failures like a leaking water pump either.

Interesting, I have always had advance notice to radiator failure. Hope my luck holds out:)

Here's the cars with sudden radiator failures I've dealt with:
15 year old Honda Accord, original radiator exploded with a crack in the top tank, I heard it, my wife's car and I was right next it on my bike when it happened, sudden loss of most all of the coolant.
Nissan Maxima ~17 years old, long crack in top tank, lots of coolant loss.
Older Isuzu Trooper, cracked tank, original radiator, stranded on the side of road.
My car, 2001 Volvo upper inlet broke cleanly off at the lip area that's holds the top hose on, Nissen aftermarket part 7 years old
My car, 2001 Volvo cracked side tank near upper inlet area, original radiator, 13 years old

I do live in the central valley of CA so it does get very hot here and there are long mountain grades in the Sierra Nevada range, which are a good stress test for any radiator and cooling system overall.

[Blacklab467]

I wouldn't recommend replacing it unless you have deep pockets and are replacing it with a Volvo OEM one, then stick the one you pulled off that was serviceable in the garage attic for later, and refill with Volvo branded coolant. I recently replaced my perfectly good 20 year old radiator hoses and thermostat whilst doing a PCV job and only because it was accessible during the PCV job.
These cars produce enough broken parts as it is when they get old, don't go throwing money at parts that aren't broken!

[vtl]

But that's exactly the point: a broken radiator produces more broken parts

[firstv70volvo]

I wouldn't recommend replacing it unless you have deep pockets and are replacing it with a Volvo OEM one, then stick the one you pulled off that was serviceable in the garage attic for later, and refill with Volvo branded coolant. I recently replaced my perfectly good 20 year old radiator hoses and thermostat whilst doing a PCV job and only because it was accessible during the PCV job.
These cars produce enough broken parts as it is when they get old, don't go throwing money at parts that aren't broken!

Perfectly good old radiators don't fail slowly and controllably because they are partly plastic, they fail suddenly, release all the coolant and leave you stranded at potentially the worst possible time. Some crucial parts like the radiator don't wear out they age out from heat cycles and need to be replaced to keep your car reliable and avoid really expensive damage to an engine or even the transmission. Replacing a 17 year old radiator is not throwing money away at a part that isn't broken, it's preventive maintenance that makes sense.

[vtl]

Agree with firstv70volvo. Ruptured radiator on these engines ends up in a warped head more often than not.

Also old radiator is full of scale. With a new radiator the engine will be running cooler.

[cn90]

They key thing is...

- If you drive around town and your coolant level sensor is working, then no need to worry bc in the rare
event that the radiator leaks, the level sensor will warn you in the dash.

- My experiecne with a different Volvo (1998 S70/V70), the radiator cracks near the top hose,
hairline crack that leaked only when HOT. It was a slow leak.

- OTOH, if you plan to keep the car for a long and you frequently drive long-distance, then yes, a brand-new
Volvo genuine radiator is not a bad choice. it is not that expensive (~ $310), it costs the same as 2 new tires...

[hughiescho]

Thank you to all whom have posted. You have provided me a wealth of knowledge and opinions on this subject.

I am still on-the-fence about either replacing the radiator, or leaving it and installing a bypass to an aftermarket transmission cooler.

If you have any thoughts to share further, I will definitely be checking back on this thread.

[abscate]

We have very few internal cooler failures ruining either engines or transmissions on these cars. I would take that failure off my worry list.

[Krons]

Changing old cooling hoses proactively yes, radiator no. Plastics on expansion tank can get brittle too and easy to replace.

About to do all the cooling hoses on my 08 C70 with 120k miles.