Ford B-Max Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

The B-Max's 1.0 EcoBoost has a well-documented degas bottle cracking issue — serious enough to be referenced in a UK Parliament transport document.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 8V518005DC (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 69233 / Valeo 735378

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford B-Max (2012-2017) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Radiators are sold by engine, gearbox and air-conditioning fitment, and one model usually has two or three different cores — a thicker core for diesels and automatics, a thinner one for small petrols — with different hose positions, so a radiator for the wrong engine will not connect up. The references below are UK aftermarket listings whose fitment lists name this generation, labelled by brand with the core size in mm; genuine numbers are those quoted against the listing. Check your engine code and whether the car has air conditioning against your VIN, and replace the coolant and bleed the system after fitting.

Radiators (aftermarket)	Nissens 69233 (350 x 563 x 23 mm, mechanically jointed aluminium core, plastic tanks, fits 1.5 TDCi 75/95 PS and 1.6 TDCi 95 PS diesels); Valeo 735378; Denso DRM10006; NRF 53044; Van Wezel 18002442; Ava FD2442; Hella 8MK 366 303-241; Prasco FD344R002. Nissens 69235 (352 x 544 x 24 mm, mechanically jointed aluminium core, plastic tanks, fits 1.4 petrol and 1.4 LPG 90 PS, codes SPJD, SPJE, RTJC)
Core sizes & variants	The diesels take the 563 mm wide core and the 1.4 petrol the 544 mm core; both use 28 mm hose connections.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	1516268, 1522383, 1573215, 1671390, 1772863, 1897436, 8V518005DC/DD/DE/DF/DG (diesel); 1516267, 1523440, 1548603, 1897435, 2029176, 8V518005BD/BE/BF (1.4 petrol)
Fitment notes	Nissens 69235 is supplied with gaskets and seals. These are the same radiators as the Fiesta Mk7, EcoSport and Transit Courier, so stock is plentiful.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: radiator core size and construction can differ between petrol and diesel B-Max engines, and again between manual and automatic gearboxes where the automatic needs an integrated oil cooler circuit — confirm your exact engine code and transmission before ordering.

A Genuine, Documented Weak Point on the 1.0 EcoBoost's Cooling System — Ford B-Max Radiator

Across the 1.0 EcoBoost family generally (primarily 2012-2017 production), the plastic degas bottle (coolant reservoir) and its connecting hoses have a well-documented tendency to develop hairline cracks as the plastic ages and heat-cycles over years of use — serious enough that a UK Parliament transport committee document specifically references "failure of the degas pipe affecting 1.0L Fox engines" as a known issue Ford was asked to address. Watch for dropping coolant levels requiring more than one top-up between services, a sweet smell from the engine bay, or white smoke from the exhaust on starting — all worth investigating promptly rather than simply topping up and continuing to drive.

Worth knowing: a genuine UK recall (reference R/2020/089, 2020) also covered certain Kuga and Puma models specifically for a related coolant leak risk — worth checking your own registration via the DVSA recall checker even if your model wasn't part of that specific recall, since the underlying degas bottle weak point affects the wider 1.0 EcoBoost range.

Ford B-Max Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

This isn't a part anyone gets excited about, but on the Ford B-Max, overlooked cooling problems are responsible for most serious engine failures that aren't simple wear-and-tear. Catching the early symptoms is about the cheapest insurance available against a major bill later.

Before you buy: radiator size and design vary significantly by engine size, transmission type, and whether your car has air conditioning. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Ford B-Max Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How to Replace Radiator 2011-2017 Ford Fiesta (sister (ford fiesta mk7))

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B-Max is built on the Fiesta Mk7 platform; no B-Max radiator video exists on YouTube.

Ford B-Max Radiator: What It Does

Keeping the Ford B-Max's engine temperature within safe limits comes down to the radiator's job of transferring heat from the coolant into the surrounding air. Automatic-gearbox versions often build in a second circuit for transmission fluid cooling too, which is exactly why fitting the wrong part number can cause two problems, not one.

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Ford B-Max Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Ford Radiator

The same part, covered across other Ford models.