Volvo: Coolant loss, coolant loss, head gasket

Question

my car is a 96' 850 Glt 2.0 the problem I have is after changing the heater radiator due to leak and damage, whenever I add coolant the coolant is all emptied after I drive the car for a few miles and low coolant warning light comes on. when I check the expansion tank sometimes its empty, sometimes when I open the cap it begins to boil and the level rises..  now I wonder if the head gasket could be damaged? but when I took the car to the dealer they say head gasket cant be damaged because in that case the car wont perform normally, the engine would run rough and check engine light will come on. the replacement of the radiator was done in the Volvo Authorized dealer as well as the previous maintenance.. I wonder what you think?

thanks


Answer
Mete,
Is the car overheating regularly? That would indicate a stuck t/stat. Pressureize the cooling system and see if there are any other leaks. There is a test that can be done on the cooling system to see if the head gasket is leaking. You may want to have that done. If the gasket were just beginning to leak the car may use coolant and not yet begin to run poorly.