2002 Volvo V70XC Engine coolant leak

**2002V70XC** · 06-24-2014, 11:13 PM

Hi all
I'm a new V70XC owner and i'm already having loads of problems with this baby. This current one i'm trying to fix is the engine coolant leak.
I've identify the leaked coolant which can be seen if you look top-down on the driver side near the radiator. But I still don't know where it is leaking. Another sign which worried me was that there was some white smokes coming out from the middle of the radiator near the air intake after I drove the car for a while OR keep on changing gears (R-N-D) until the car warmed up.
I've brought the car to a shop and they did a compression test on the coolant system which found no problem but the radiator cap test failed (which means the cap can't keep the pressure) and they recommended me to replace the cap. I decided not to go ahead because they were going to charge me $60 for the part + $75 for 30mins labour + engine coolant refill cost. This is Australia! I was happy to pay $72.50 for their compression test.
I want to know if the radiator cap is the problem then how did the coolant leaked out and remained at bottom of the front bumper. And also if the cap failed, would it be able to cause the radiator to overheat and produce some white smokes?
I've purchased the radiator cap ($35 online from Melbourne) and i'm waiting for it before fitting it myself. Note that they have refilled my engine coolant and it passed the MAX mark on the expansion tank.
One more thing, my private mechanic told me that I need to replace the radiator which I thought was reasonable and I bought the radiator from the US ($350 for OEM one) but I'm waiting to see if replacing the radiator cap would fix the problem.
Today I drove the car to work (20mins) and I found some (very light white smokes that you have to focus to see it) came out from the same area but I wasn't sure if the radiator was overheating or not.
Can you guys give me some ideas....Thanks in advance

**nickbw** · 06-25-2014, 10:37 AM

When you say radiator cap do you mean expansion tank filler cap? This can fail and the tank is known to develop a crack but both can be replaced for not many $ - there is no radiator cap! The radiator has plastic end caps and is a point at which failure is likely. I would first change out the expansion tank for new and then probably replace the radiator as you have been advised by your mechanic. If you use the search engine on this forum you will find others who have done it as DIY job. The main rad is sandwiched with the intercooler and air conditioning condenser. I believe they come down and out and then have to be separated. First remove the cooling fan/shroud from rear of radiator, two 10 mm bolts a few electrical connections and it is out in 5 minutes.

**2002V70XC** · 06-25-2014, 04:59 PM

Thanks for the reply Nickbw!
The guy who did the compression test called it radiator cap and he clearly explained it so I know it's the expansion tank cap.
Update: I found some oil near the passenger side of the radiator which most likely be the cause of the white smokes. I'm not sure what oil it is.
Most likely I'll have to do some research on the radiator components and connections to understand it better. Most likely those radiator plastic end caps got leaking.

**myzomela** · 06-25-2014, 07:25 PM

Hello fellow Canberra XCer,

The oil you describe near the radiator is probably from the intercooler. Others may correct me, but my understanding is that when oil seals in the turbo start to deteriorate, oil goes through to the intercooler and leaks out there. The advice I got from a good indy (now retired sadly) was that it's not usually an urgent problem. Unless the leak gets too bad of course. (I'm starting to think about replacing my seals, but there are more urgent things to deal with first.)

I also have a DiCE and VIDA, so if you need codes read some time, PM me.

**2002V70XC** · 06-25-2014, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by myzomela

Hello fellow Canberra XCer,

The oil you describe near the radiator is probably from the intercooler. Others may correct me, but my understanding is that when oil seals in the turbo start to deteriorate, oil goes through to the intercooler and leaks out there. The advice I got from a good indy (now retired sadly) was that it's not usually an urgent problem. Unless the leak gets too bad of course. (I'm starting to think about replacing my seals, but there are more urgent things to deal with first.)

I also have a DiCE and VIDA, so if you need codes read some time, PM me.

I'm so happy to get a reply from someone from Canberra. Thanks for the useful info! I was thinking of taking the radiator out to check for leak coz i can't see it properly from the top.
One question for you: have you ever brought your car to Canberra Volvo dealer? Last time they quoted me $230 for the software update. I didn't do it coz i think it's a ripoff. Maybe I can bring my car in for the next minor service and get the free software update.
Regarding code reading: yes I would love to get my car checked for codes or even turning on the adaption mode. My Trans has some problems like flares and jerking.

**myzomela** · 06-25-2014, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by 2002V70XC

have you ever brought your car to Canberra Volvo dealer?

Nope. Once took my S40 in for keys, but apart from that I try to do everything myself. Another local once found an impact socket left on a bolt somewhere after taking it to the local stealership.

Originally Posted by 2002V70XC

My Trans has some problems like flares and jerking.

There's a LOT of info on this forum about tranny problems and replacing the fluid. You'd best read them soon. I'd think that's more urgent than oil around the intercooler.

**nickbw** · 06-26-2014, 12:50 PM

I would not be quite so gung ho, any trace of oil in the coolant is more than likely evidence that the so called transmission cooler aka heat exchanger for the transmission has been breached/ If not dealt with summarilly this means the end to your transmission so be warned! The greatest danger to automatic transmissions is heat and heat from transmission fluid is dissipated via the in radiator heat exchanger. This works fine for those who don't tow but for those who do it is nowhere near good enough. You can get your contaminated coolant sample checked out by a laboritory. Unless you do you will never really know what went on. For those of us who tow and do not need a megaphone to warn us we have added an external transmission cooler in addition to the in rad cooler. The intercooler and associated oil is a red herring. If you are having symptoms of poor gearbox changes I would hazzard that the intercooler has nothing to do with it"

**myzomela** · 06-26-2014, 04:34 PM

2002V70XC -

If there is indeed evidence of oil in the coolant, as nickbw has inferred, then yes I'd be very concerned. I'd be taking it to a professional, I think. But that's not how I read you when you said you had 'found some oil near the passenger side of the radiator', which is where the intercooler connections are. (Note North American readers, we're talking about a right hand drive car here.)

No, I wouldn't think the intercooler has anything to do with bad behaviour from the transmission. I think you're talking about three completely separate issues here: a coolant leak, oil near the left hand end of the radiator, and a troublesome tranny. Not sure about the white smoke.

**2002V70XC** · 06-26-2014, 05:10 PM

I replaced the expansion tank cap last night so I'll have to wait to see if its the fix for coolant leak. I checked the coolant and I didn't see any strange colour so I don't think mine got mixed up with trans oil.
For the oil leak or whatever leak from the right side of the radiator, I think it might be related to what myzomela said. I'll post up a picture soon from my mobile. Anyway, I brought my car to a local radiator service shop (Natrad) to get them to check the oil leak.
I've done some research through this forum about the transmission problems and that. Firstly i'll replace my top + lower engine mounts because the top one is badly broken. Then I'll do an ATF flush and then timing belt/drive belt. I've got lots of stuff to do on my list.
Thanks for the replies guys!