Volvo 850 1996 - Mystery of the Diasppearing Coolant

[John Horner]

I still don't understand the higher coolant leakage during city
driving compared to long trips.

City driving generally results in higher coolant temps and higher
coolant pressure than highway driving does, which would explain why a
small crack would loose coolant under city conditions.

However, my question now is, is is possible to seal the leak in what
looks like a plastic radiator through some sort of adhesive.

I wouldn't bother trying. You can, however, save significant money by
replaceing the radiator yourself with a good quality aftermarket unit
instead of the Volvo part.

Nissens is a well respected aftermarket Volvo radiator brand and they
sell for $190 in the US:

http://www.eeuroparts.com/productdetail.aspx?searchResults=1&code=5758

 

[viktor weisshaeupl]

years out of the original radiator was very good going. Quoted A$800
for R&R new radiator.

Who would you even think to buy the radiator from a Volvo shop? At least here in
Austria there are companies which produce after market radiators and some even
do the change for probably much less than the Volvo shops. The Volvo repair
shops here in Austria charge about 102 Euros for a mechanic hour, so everything
else is cheaper. I looked at local Ebay, from Germany e.g. a company selling an
850 radiator new for 128 Euros excl shipment. Checking www.ebay.com results in
Volvo radiators for around 100 US$ in the USA. So I am sure you can come up with
a repair much cheapter than the 800 A$.


My 745 TD radiator has a small leak, visible track of liquid, but not resulting
in much loss of coolant. I checked what the aftermarket radiator would cost, it
was about 120 Euros about a year ago. Even the same identical parts have about
triple price when going from Volkswagen to Volvo. I needed a new "gear ring"
(sorry, I don´t know what the correct term in English is) around the flywheel
where the starter engages. Since I have the Volkswagen diesel engine, I also
checked at a Volkswagen shop, the spare part price was about 1/3 of the Volvo
price, they promised to take it back if it would not fit, but it fitted well.

Regards,
Viktor

The e-mail in the header is never read
personal e-mail vikwei at gmx dot at

 

[Chris]

Who would you even think to buy the radiator from a Volvo shop? At least here in
Austria there are companies which produce after market radiators and someeven
do the change for probably much less than the Volvo shops. The Volvo repair
shops here in Austria charge about 102 Euros for a mechanic hour, so everything
else is cheaper. I looked at local Ebay, from Germany e.g. a company selling an
850 radiator new for 128 Euros excl shipment. Checkingwww.ebay.comresultsin
Volvo radiators for around 100 US$ in the USA. So I am sure you can come up with
a repair much cheapter than the 800 A$.

My 745 TD radiator has a small leak, visible track of liquid, but not resulting
in much loss of coolant. I checked what the aftermarket radiator would cost, it
was about 120 Euros about a year ago. Even the same identical parts have about
triple price when going from Volkswagen to Volvo. I needed a new "gear ring"
(sorry, I don´t know what the correct term in English is) around the flywheel
where the starter engages. Since I have the Volkswagen diesel engine, I also
checked at a Volkswagen shop, the spare part price was about 1/3 of the Volvo
price, they promised to take it back if it would not fit, but it fitted well.

Regards,
Viktor

The e-mail in the header is never read
personal e-mail vikwei at gmx dot at

Thanks for everyones helpful comments. I am going to do DIY
replacement. Just one more question. Is it normal for a radiator to
crack in 11 years and only 116,000km??? The mechnic at olvo said it
was but speaking to friends (with other makes of car) no-one else has
had a radiator go at that age/mileage. Is it just a (very) weak point
on 850s???

Chris

 

[Michael Pardee]

Thanks for everyones helpful comments. I am going to do DIY
replacement. Just one more question. Is it normal for a radiator to
crack in 11 years and only 116,000km??? The mechnic at olvo said it
was but speaking to friends (with other makes of car) no-one else has
had a radiator go at that age/mileage. Is it just a (very) weak point
on 850s???

Chris

11 years is a decent life for most radiators these days. The plastic tanks
almost guarantee failure in the second decade. 10 years is about the minimum
you should expect, but 20 years is truly living on borrowed time. I think
our 760T made it 12 years before the upper tank cracked. The radiator shop
replaced that tank with copper, but in less than 5 more years the lower tank
cracked and the whole radiator needed to be replaced - the bottom tank in a
metal version cost more than a radiator. My daughter's '93 Honda needed a
radiator two years ago; that would have been 12 years old.

Mike

 

[viktor weisshaeupl]

Just one more question. Is it normal for a radiator to
crack in 11 years and only 116,000km??? The mechnic at olvo said it
was but speaking to friends (with other makes of car) no-one else has
had a radiator go at that age/mileage. Is it just a (very) weak point
on 850s???

I am an end user and have experience from two Volvos so far, no statistics or
professional experience.

I bought the 745 TD 1989 ten years old in 1999, 240.000 km. Now it has about
375.000 km, the radiator has a tiny little leak on one side, I have put a
sealant fluid into the coolant last year. Whether it has prevented anything is
difficult to say. This car is now used only for short distance local transports
in the countryside, so I will not do any bigger fix any more. Changing a
radiator still would be a small fix, costing only about 120 Euros + antifreeze +
my time to
change it.

Some months ago I purchased the 855 TDI 1996 with 220.000 km. As much as I
know - the previous single owner always had this car serviced at the same Volvo
shop - the radiator had not been changed yet. The coolant is pure antifreeze I
was told when I had the car thoroughly checked befor purchasing it. At the
moment it is

Another question - how often has the coolant been changed in your car? I usually
have it changed every 2 years, antifreeze with 50% water is enough in this
climate here.

So does anybody really know:
1) Does changing biannually the coolant prolong radiator life?
2) Does using pure antifreeze prevent corrosion in radiators completely?

Regards,
Viktor

The e-mail in the header is never read
personal e-mail vikwei at gmx dot at

 

[Chris]

Hi Chris,

I think you said you were in Australia, so am I (Sydney). I bought a new
radiator from Volvo about 6 years ago for my old 740 (its very similar) and
was surprised to find the cost at around AUD240-ish. So check on the price
of a new one for the 850. DIY replacement should be a fairly straight
forward job. Have a look athttp://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/Radiator850turbo.php, but you won't have
the turbo intercooler to worry about.

Personally I wouldn't try repairing the plastic radiator parts, tried that
with another car and had no success. I couldn't get the glues I tried to
stick to the plastic. If it's the aluminium core, I wouldn't try either,
there's probably more just around the corner at this age, and I'd be
thinking reliability.

Incidentally, mine is still the original radiator, I'll keep my fingers
crossed )

regards
Barry- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Baz

OEM Volvo radiator A$318. Have been offered used one, guaranteed 3
months, for A$150

 

[Chris]

Thanks for everyones helpful comments. I am going to do DIY
replacement. Just one more question. Is it normal for a radiator to
crack in 11 years and only 116,000km??? The mechnic at olvo said it
was but speaking to friends (with other makes of car) no-one else has
had a radiator go at that age/mileage. Is it just a (very) weak point
on 850s???

Chris

11 years is a decent life for most radiators these days. The plastic tanks
almost guarantee failure in the second decade. 10 years is about the minimum
you should expect, but 20 years is truly living on borrowed time. I think
our 760T made it 12 years before the upper tank cracked. The radiator shop
replaced that tank with copper, but in less than 5 more years the lower tank
cracked and the whole radiator needed to be replaced - the bottom tank in a
metal version cost more than a radiator. My daughter's '93 Honda needed a
radiator two years ago; that would have been 12 years old.

Mike

Thanks Mike - so much for "Progress". My Dad has a 1979 Triumph TR7
and 1991 Jag XJ6 both on original (non plastic) radiators. at A$318 at
least the OEM price is not too bad

 

[Chris]

I am an end user and have experience from two Volvos so far, no statistics or
professional experience.

I bought the 745 TD 1989 ten years old in 1999, 240.000 km. Now it has about
375.000 km, the radiator has a tiny little leak on one side, I have put a
sealant fluid into the coolant last year. Whether it has prevented anything is
difficult to say. This car is now used only for short distance local transports
in the countryside, so I will not do any bigger fix any more. Changing a
radiator still would be a small fix, costing only about 120 Euros + antifreeze +
my time to
change it.

Some months ago I purchased the 855 TDI 1996 with 220.000 km. As much as I
know - the previous single owner always had this car serviced at the same Volvo
shop - the radiator had not been changed yet. The coolant is pure antifreeze I
was told when I had the car thoroughly checked befor purchasing it. At the
moment it is

Another question - how often has the coolant been changed in your car? I usually
have it changed every 2 years, antifreeze with 50% water is enough in this
climate here.

So does anybody really know:
1) Does changing biannually the coolant prolong radiator life?
2) Does using pure antifreeze prevent corrosion in radiators completely?

Regards,
Viktor

The e-mail in the header is never read
personal e-mail vikwei at gmx dot at

This car has never had its coolant changed because it has always been
serviced at Volvo dealer and the service schedule says the coolant is
"for life"


I don't think corrosion has killed my radiator as it seems to be the
plastic tank that has split. perhaps vibration is more likely cause?

Is there any harm in trying a sealant that is put in the coolant???

 

[Michael Pardee]

This car has never had its coolant changed because it has always been
serviced at Volvo dealer and the service schedule says the coolant is
"for life"


I don't think corrosion has killed my radiator as it seems to be the
plastic tank that has split. perhaps vibration is more likely cause?

Is there any harm in trying a sealant that is put in the coolant???

I knew sealants rarely worked, but a couple years ago I had a heater core
fail the afternoon before leaving on vacation and I was desperate. I tried a
cellulose-based sealant, and surprise! it didn't work :-( I had to
disconnect and plug the heater hoses. When I got back I removed the heater
core to repair it. The core looked like I had stuffed a bunch of shredded
newspaper into the radiator! I fixed the core, reverse flushed the radiator
and cooling system, and got everything working more or less normal. Now I
swear I will never resort to sealants again!

Mike

 

[viktor weisshaeupl]

Now I swear I will never resort to sealants again!

At least the sealant my mechanic put in, did not result in any disaster, I just
do not know the brand or composition. I only think the earlier sealants had
mustard seeds in it which went into the small leaks, where they started to swell
and clog the leaks.
Viktor

 

[John Horner]

Thanks for everyones helpful comments. I am going to do DIY
replacement. Just one more question. Is it normal for a radiator to
crack in 11 years and only 116,000km??? The mechnic at olvo said it
was but speaking to friends (with other makes of car) no-one else has
had a radiator go at that age/mileage. Is it just a (very) weak point
on 850s???

Anything over 10 years is a bonus with radiators.

John

 

[John Horner]

This car has never had its coolant changed because it has always been
serviced at Volvo dealer and the service schedule says the coolant is
"for life"

Argh, there are no "lifetime" automotive fluids, but many companies seem
to think there are! Changing the Volvo fluid at least once per five
years is the way to go.

I don't think corrosion has killed my radiator as it seems to be the
plastic tank that has split. perhaps vibration is more likely cause?

Vibration and temperature cycles.

Is there any harm in trying a sealant that is put in the coolant???

Don't do it. Those sealants can plug up things which shouldn't be plugged!

John