Vauxhall Insignia Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A failing expansion tank cap seal is a well-documented, often-overlooked cause of coolant loss on the Insignia — worth checking before assuming a bigger fault.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 13241725 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 630716 / Valeo 735482

Accuracy note: Covers the Vauxhall Insignia (A 2008-2017) 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 630716 (680 x 379 x 26 mm, brazed aluminium with plastic tanks, 2.0 CDTi all outputs); Valeo 735482; Denso DRM20109; Ava OLA2474; NRF 53776; Van Wezel 37002474; Mahle CR 1102 000P; Hella 8MK 366 301-081
Core sizes & variants	The 2.0 diesels take this 680 x 379 mm, 26 mm-deep core, shared with the Saab 9-5 (YS3G) and Chevrolet Malibu diesel.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	13241725; 1300291
Fitment notes	34 mm inlet and 38.7 mm outlet; supplied with the sealing cap.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: automatic gearbox Insignias typically need a radiator with a built-in transmission oil cooler that manual versions don't have — ordering the manual-spec part for an automatic car will fit, but won't cool the gearbox oil properly.

A Genuinely Common, Overlooked Cause of Coolant Loss — Vauxhall Insignia Radiator

If coolant keeps disappearing with no visible leak underneath the car, it's genuinely worth checking the expansion tank cap itself before assuming a more expensive fault. A failing seal in the cap is a well-documented, commonly overlooked cause of coolant loss and a hissing sound once the engine's hot — and it's often overlooked in favour of investigating the thermostat or head gasket first, even though it's a genuinely cheap part to simply replace and rule out.

A genuinely useful filling technique: air pockets trapped in the cooling system during a refill are a common, underappreciated cause of overheating symptoms and a coolant level that seems to disappear — filling too quickly is the usual cause. Adding coolant slowly, almost dribbling it in, gives trapped air a proper chance to escape rather than getting sealed into a pocket that later causes symptoms that look exactly like a leak or failing thermostat.

Vauxhall Insignia Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Few parts get less attention than this one, but on the Vauxhall Insignia, a neglected cooling system is behind the vast majority of avoidable serious engine failures. Noticing the early warning signs costs nothing and can save a genuinely large repair bill down the line.

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.

Vauxhall Insignia Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Vauxhall/Opel Insignia front bumper/radiator removal

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Also 845rNOpGCuI (removal tip).

Vauxhall Insignia Radiator reference plate

Vauxhall Insignia Radiator: What It Does

On the Vauxhall Insignia, coolant runs through the radiator to shed engine heat into the airflow, keeping temperatures in check. On many automatics, a separate internal circuit inside the same unit also cools the transmission fluid — one more reason a mismatched part number causes more than just a cooling problem.

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Vauxhall Insignia 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 Vauxhall Radiator

The same part, covered across other Vauxhall models.