Johann Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 was your radiator all aluminum construction? if so please post a pic of this cracked all aluminium radiator. No not mine. I received pictures of a leaking Alu rad but the pictures only show coolant drops. Can't really see where it cracked. Radiator was little over a year in use. AFAIK the problem has been solved by replacing the rad under warranty. The leak appears to be at the core to end tank weld at the end of the IC mounting plate. This plate has been welded to the tank at an angle. Looks like is has been wiggled back and forth with the working difference of the IC. IC was pretty rigid mounted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougy Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 No not mine. I received pictures of a leaking Alu rad but the pictures only show coolant drops. Can't really see where it cracked. Radiator was little over a year in use. AFAIK the problem has been solved by replacing the rad under warranty. The leak appears to be at the core to end tank weld at the end of the intercooler mounting plate. This plate has been welded to the tank at an angle. Looks like is has been wiggled back and forth with the working difference of the intercooler. intercooler was pretty rigid mounted. so yours was plastic Johann. as far as all aluminium ....leaks at welds, yes...improperly welded, pulling , flexing at the weld ect...ohhh yes it happens with all aluminium...bot not a blow out like you'd see with heater cores or plastic radiator end-tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johann Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 so yours was plastic Johann. as far as all aluminium ....leaks at welds, yes...improperly welded, pulling , flexing at the weld ect...ohhh yes it happens with all aluminium...bot not a blow out like you'd see with heater cores or plastic radiator end-tanks. Yes plastic. Sorry for not making that clear. The plastic end tank simply popped out of the alu clamps. The radiator itself is mounted in rubbers with an M8 bolt. Similar rubbers for the IC using M6 bolts would be nice. Aren't they used somewhere else in a Volvo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougy Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 you know here on the net and go on about this and that and can easily convince one to use 3" steel tubing for exhaust instead of 3" stainless steel .... bottom line is, plastic nylon radiators and heater cores do their job very well and yes they are waaaay cheaper to mass produce in large quantities in comparison to all aluminium radiator or a heater-core. but given a choice in a high performance car I rather have all aluminium one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougy Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Yes plastic. Sorry for not making that clear. The plastic end tank simply popped out of the alu clamps. The radiator itself is mounted in rubbers with an M8 bolt. Similar rubbers for the intercooler using M6 bolts would be nice. Aren't they used somewhere else in a Volvo? you did, my bad, you did write "pulled it out of the tank clamp" that I don't know but yes, that would be nice to have the radiator mounted to intercooler with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I have seen multiple Volvo radiators crack exactly as Andy illustrated - the end tank bulging & cracking in the rear facing center area of the (usually) pass side end tank The leak appears to be at the core to end tank weld at the end of the IC mounting plate. This plate has been welded to the tank at an angle. Looks like is has been wiggled back and forth with the working difference of the IC. IC was pretty rigid mounted. My original Howe rad started seeping where the top plate was welded to the end tank after 1 1/2 years use. They warrantied it, and redesigned the junction with a flex . I have the AC condenser hanging off it, no IC. My X1/9 radiator came with the later style flex joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod'sT-5 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I have seen multiple Volvo radiators crack exactly as Andy illustrated - the end tank bulging & cracking in the rear facing center area of the (usually) pass side end tank Exactly where mine blew this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbodor3 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 I've had my plastic radiator crack, twice. Once seemingly randomly, and a second time parking too close to the curb. My alum radiator prevents the first, not the second. But if I did skim a curb again, I'd likely have a small leak (not the gushing, tow-my-car-home leak from plastic end tanks). The decision for me had nothing to do with how much power I was making. I saw my coolant temps get near 110C during stop/go traffic. The fan works harder to keep things cool. My aluminum still gets up to 110C during stop/go, but it cools down faster when moving, and takes longer to heat up when the fan kicks in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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