Radiator leaking

[Clan]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

A radiator that only lasts 3 years has to be 'not of satisfactory quality' and 'not fit for purpose' I would have thought. Volvo radiators have always lasted decades in previous cars they've made.

They have indeed lasted decades as they were made from brass but now they are alloy and susceptible to corrosion and it is not the radiators themselves which are suspect it is the coolants anti corrosion inhibitors ...

[Clan]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

If that's the case, you'd hope it will be spotted by the technician during routine maintenance.
The OP has full dealer history.

Yes, there is specific wording regarding coolant condition on the service check sheet you are given regarding the word "Corrosion" .....

[nibotg]

I appear to be in exactly the same position as OP, also a March 2013 XC60 just out of warranty diagnosed with a leaking radiator. I've had the car from new - originally leased - so it doesn't have service history with the dealer. Best I have been able to negotiate is approx 45% Volvo contribution which means I pay about £60 less than I would at a local independent Volvo specialist.
Not what I expected from the Volvo brand when I purchased the vehicle at the end of the lease.
How many more failures are needed before it starts to look like a bad batch of radiators and would Volvo care anyway ?
I've been told (by both dealer and independent) that the leak is between the metal and plastic parts of the radiator and can't be repaired. Anyway it's booked in for the replacement to be fitted tomorrow.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Clan

They have indeed lasted decades as they were made from brass but now they are alloy and susceptible to corrosion and it is not the radiators themselves which are suspect it is the coolants anti corrosion inhibitors ...

Isn't it the dissimilar material construction that's causing the issue? Plastic/alloy. All alloy construction radiators last well from my experience. Volvo supplied the coolant used and say it is good for five years so there should be no problem caused by it after three years. If it was damaging the radiator it would also be damaging the engine as well wouldn't it?

I'm pretty sure my XC90 rad was all alloy construction and that was lasting OK.

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

You might have claim if it was 'not of a satisfactory quality', 'not fit for purpose', or doesn't match the sellers description.

I suggest that trying to use these will be extremely difficult for an item that is subject to the stresses placed on a car radiator and will almost certainly cost more than the £250 that the OP has to pay after the Volvo contribution and this voluntary contribution would also be seen as significant compensation for the failure.

So, from your words above and RoyMs quote we are to assume Volvo rads are now only good for 6 years ?
My 5 year old S60 is still on the original rad., does this mean a change has been made around MY12/13 to an inferior product ? Or, is my car on borrowed time ?

Sounds like the sooner I get out of a Volvo the better. Such a shame as they were so good.

[wimorrison]

Volvo radiators are no different to any other marque and all components will suffer failure during their working life, some will fail early and some later with the majority around the same time whatever that happens to be.

one or two failing around 3 years old doesn't mean anything at all, several hundred might mean something and in the same wy because 2 failed at 3 years this doesn't extrapolate to a 6 year life.

It unfortunate that the OPs radiator has failed, but Volvo have recognised this early failure for both case reported here therefore Volvo have firstly done the honourable thing and secondly it shows that Volvo consider that the expected life span is more than 3 years.

Let's not read something into something that isn't there or look for problems where they don't exist

[GMcL]

That sounds a bit desperate. FIAT rads would last 7 years before failure and everyone is happy to tell you what a rust bucket any Italian car is.

3 years for a Volvo and expecting the owner to split the cost is a bit mean.

Dress it up any way you like but you have said yourself in another thread your dipped beam headlight bulbs last longer.

Originally Posted by Clan

They have indeed lasted decades as they were made from brass but now they are alloy and susceptible to corrosion and it is not the radiators themselves which are suspect it is the coolants anti corrosion inhibitors ...

So how does an alloy head and block cope ?

[GMcL]

Merged posts...

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GMcL

That sounds a bit desperate. FIAT rads would last 7 years before failure and everyone is happy to tell you what a rust bucket any Italian car is.

3 years for a Volvo and expecting the owner to split the cost is a bit mean.

Dress it up any way you like but you have said yourself in another thread your dipped beam headlight bulbs last longer.



So how does an alloy head and block cope ?

radiators are wafer thin compared to heads and blocks ..

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by Clan

radiators are wafer thin compared to heads and blocks ..

and no gaskets are used ? Are these F1 engines ?