So the saga continues.Last week I had the car checked by a good local garage to see for sure that I do have a head gasket issue with this car. And, indeed they confirmed that I either have a cracked head or a blown head gasket, most likely the latter.

The garage did a 'coolant leak or consumption performed CO2 test' and the car failed.

The next day the top radiator hose came off and I discovered that the neck of the radiator has been shortened and there is a rough breakage area around the collar of the neck. I have not been able to find a piece of the radiator neck so I assume it has been blown away. I suffered a hundred dollar bill to have the car towed home. I noted that the hose clamp is of the screw variety and I think these cars came with the fancy special clamp endemic to Volvos.

Could this have been broken by pressure? Or is it definitely the result of excessive twisting. I tend to the latter deduction.

I am going back to the garage tomorrow and I will present them with the facts as I know them. Bank holiday today. If they assure me it was not their doing I will take their word for it. They have always been honest with me in the past.

I looked into replacing a radiator on a xc70 and it, like everything else on this car, is a major project. Happily radiators are not too expensive.