Thermostat recommendations - 06 XC70

Post by **scot850** » 05 May 2025, 16:06

I nearly fell over at the 'discounted' price for a Volvo OE blue box part here in Canada! $260 CDN + 12% tax with free shipping.

I see FCP has a Wahler part claimed to be the OEM for $110 US. Not sure if we will get hit with additional border charges on US sourced parts. So question is, are there any other brand options that can be recommended for our son's car? Current one I believe may be the original one, or may have possibly been replaced at the large service at 60k miles in 2012. I need to confirm.

A local supplier lists an aftermarket one and they claim it is the OEM supplier, Mahle??:

https://partsavatar.ca/mahle-original-t ... g-tm20-90d

I plan to do a coolant flush so think it makes sense to preventatively swap this out while in there, even though it is a PITA of a job. I'll be doing the belts, plugs, coolant, engine oil and filter. All other parts are up to date.

Oh, and does anyone know if it comes with a gaskets?

Appreciate the input.

Neil.

Post by **Blacklab467** » 05 May 2025, 18:07

I bought a blue box thermostat a couple years ago when I did the PCV. It came with a gasket and new bolts. Don't recall the price.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 05 May 2025, 19:29

Wow. That's a freaking rip off. Why would you have to replace entire thermostat housing. On 01 volvo they sell a separate thermostat for $33. I think it is ridiculous to require entire housing to be replaced for a simple part(the only thing worse is electronic thermostat in plastic housing hello GM TRAX junk). If unable to replace just thermostat, I would be willing to just change coolant and leave the old one in place if it works well(I replaced mine with oem and it lasted a year and one of the springs broke, fcp sent me a new one which is currently in for 3 years).

Post by **scot850** » 05 May 2025, 19:31

Blue box price from VOT is $260 + PST. Shipping is free. That is ridiculous for the cost of a thermostat as you can't replace just the thermostat. You now have to replace the whole housing and the temp sensor as it is no longer possible to get a separate thermostat and gasket.

Yet another one of the modern manufacturing 'improvements' to force you to buy half a car to replace a bolt!

Neil.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 05 May 2025, 19:40

Based on the picture it has 2 bolts on top of the housing which logically will give you opportunity to remove the thermostat away similarly to the older models. I see no point to replace aluminum case and perfectly fine coolant sensor(for this much money). I wonder if the thermostat inside of the housing will have any numbers helping to replace just it instead of robing your pockets of $260 Canadian. Sorry, this market influenced part turned me into grumpy old man

Post by **DavidE7** » 05 May 2025, 20:42

I tried to replace just the thermostat inside the later P2 aluminum housing and found that the individual thermostat and gasket are not available. The part number is stamped on the thermostat inside the aluminum housing. There are posts on this website about using the early thermostat housing along with a new thermostat on the later model year P2s. I was chicken and thought that Volvo engineers may have changed the flow characteristic inside the housing and the old part isn't compatible with newer engine's coolant flow. The last time I replaced the overpriced thermostat assembly on a 2007 S60, the gasket to the head was included.

Post by **cn90** » 05 May 2025, 22:53

This company (gernanparts.ca) is based in Toronto.
They carry Facet (made in Italy).

I installed Facet Tstat in my 2006 S60. Zero issues.

About CAD $65...

https://germanparts.ca/parts/volvo/2007 ... hermostat/

Post by **scot850** » 05 May 2025, 23:26

I'll have a look at that. They have an outlet here in Calgary which should save on the shipping and about 8% in Tax!

I spoke to my ex-Volvo mechanic buddy about this. His recommendation is if it ain't broken leave it in. He says the car will tell you if it is un-happy about the thermostat. I just wasn't clear if that was before or after the head gasket had blown?

Neil.

Post by **jonesg** » 06 May 2025, 00:26

got mine on amazon. I found the new water temp sensor was no good, I installed the original.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Thermost ... +Volvo+V70

you'll need extended reach torx drivers to reach the bolts.

https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-10080A-8-I ... F0aWM&th=1

Post by **abscate** » 06 May 2025, 02:28

There is a good thread in this Forum about replacing only the thermostat on the p2 cars…cn90, peppermint, or vtl maybe?