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

The C-Max's 1.0 EcoBoost shares a well-documented degas bottle cracking issue with several other Ford models — referenced even in a UK Parliament document.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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Ford C-Max Radiator: OEM Part Number

Manual gearbox, all engines	Standard radiator with no transmission cooling circuit
4/6-speed automatic (torque converter)	Radiator includes a built-in internal transmission fluid cooler as a separate circuit within the same tank — if this internal cooler fails, coolant and transmission fluid mix into a pink, milky fluid nicknamed the "strawberry milkshake of death," which can destroy the transmission if not caught quickly
Powershift (dual-clutch automatic, where fitted)	Uses a separate standalone transmission oil cooler rather than one integrated into the radiator tank — confirmed as a genuinely different cooling architecture from the older automatic's built-in design

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: radiator core size and construction can differ between petrol and diesel C-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.

The 1.0 EcoBoost's Coolant Reservoir Has a Well-Documented Cracking Tendency

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

There's nothing exciting about this component, yet on the Ford C-Max, most catastrophic engine failures that aren't simply down to wear trace back to a cooling problem someone ignored too long. Catching it early is cheap; catching it late usually isn't.

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 C-Max Radiator: What It Does

The Ford C-Max radiator's core job is moving heat out of the engine coolant and into the passing air, holding engine temperature within safe limits. Automatic versions frequently add a second internal circuit for transmission fluid cooling, which is exactly why the correct part number carries extra weight on this component.

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Ford C-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.