I have a coolant problem on my ’98 V70. Heading up the mountains last weekend – it was over 100 degrees and I was pushing the car. The engine began to overheat and something gave in my coolant system which spewed some coolant onto the engine. The low coolant light came on. Since then, I have had to top off the coolant several times, and I’ve seen a few small puddles under my car after driving for long distances.

I cannot see a leak, but its definitely leaking periodically. Any ideas on where to begin?

Try the bottom of the coolant bottle, inspect the small overflow line. Check the 2 lines between the engine and the firewall. Just start looking....

Drive around for 10 minutes to get the temp up to normal, you want the system pressurized to make finding the leak easier.

Klaus
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1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

Found it. It is a hairline crack in the radiator. There is a black plastic section on the passenger side of the radiator with a large (1.5") diameter hose leading from it to the engine. just below the hose, when the pressure is up, the crack expands and a thin stream of coolant squirts out.

Is this piece separate from the radiator? I'm looking up images now, but it looks like this plastic piece is "clamped" to the metal radiator.

Can this crack which is about 2" long (vertical) be "welded" with a compound? What could lead to a crack like this?

Welcome to the plastic radiator club. You will have to buy a new radiator. Buy new top and bottom hoses, and clamps, while you are at it.

Remember that the tranny fluid lines are on the driver's side and the oil cooler lines on the passenger side.

Klaus
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1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

is it normal to only have the tranny cooling lines?

Turbos have an oil cooler builtin to the radiator, NA engines do not. Automatics have a tranny cooler

Klaus
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1967 220 belonging to C.A. lives on

I have a small leak. I have to add about every 4 weeks. I know it is the radiator. I can see a spot that weeps. I followed the path of the coolant that was left in the driveway one day