Renault Clio Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the Clio, a genuinely well-corroborated diagnosis: "95% chance it's the thermostat housing" — a cheap, common fix worth knowing.

Illustration for editorial purposes

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: Renault radiator part numbers for the Clio frequently change mid-generation as engines are updated or facelifted, so a part valid for an early build year may not fit a later one even within the same model name.

A Genuinely Well-Corroborated Diagnosis Worth Knowing: The Thermostat Housing

If your Clio has the 0.9 or 1.2 TCe engine and you're chasing a slow coolant leak, this is genuinely worth knowing directly: one owner's own assessment after extensive research put it plainly — "95% chance it is thermostat housing." This is a well-documented, common failure point on these engines, and genuinely good news on cost: one documented repair came to around £85-100, a considerably cheaper fix than the anxiety of an unexplained coolant leak might suggest.

A genuinely useful diagnostic insight worth knowing: a coolant leak that seems to disappear entirely over summer, then returns once temperatures drop in winter, is a real, documented pattern — rubber components expand slightly when warm, which can temporarily seal a very small crack or hole, only for it to re-open as the material contracts in colder weather. If your leak seems to have "fixed itself" only to return months later, this genuinely explains why, rather than suggesting anything was wrong with how it was previously assessed.

It's also genuinely worth knowing you're not imagining a problem if this feels like a common complaint: multiple owners and independent motoring columns have confirmed that this generation of small turbocharged engines leaks coolant in significant numbers, and if a dealer is dismissive of a genuine, repeated coolant loss without a proper investigation, it's worth pushing back rather than accepting a simple "topped up, no fault found" response, particularly if you're being diligent about flagging it before it becomes a genuine overheating risk.

The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Nothing about this component is glamorous, but almost every serious engine failure that isn't wear-related traces back to a cooling system problem left unaddressed. Catching the early signs here is genuinely cheap insurance against a much bigger bill.

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.

What It Does

The radiator transfers heat from the engine coolant to the surrounding air, keeping engine temperature within a safe operating range. On automatic versions, it often also cools transmission fluid through a separate internal circuit — one more reason the correct part number matters so much here.

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 Renault Radiator

The same part, covered across other Renault models.