The heaters are just small radiators. Turning on the heaters increases the total cooling capacity of the system. In many cases it will be enough to stabilize the engine temps. Most cases of overheating are transitory such as climbing a long hill on a warm day. Turning on the heater as a aid to the cooling system has been used as far back as heaters have existed. It has saved my butt a few times. Just last year on a camping trip a blown fuse disabled my radiator fan but I was able to proceed by running the heater at full speed. Of course it was a very hot day and I was miserable so I fixed the problem as soon as I reached camp. Some cooling problems are too fundamental to be helped by the additional radiator capacity of the heater. If there is no coolant, or if the water pump impeller is not turning, the heater won't help. If the head gasket has failed such that combustion gases have replaced the coolant at the pump then a lack of circulation will prevent the radiators from doing much. Mark Malcolm Stebbins wrote: > > > At this point you can shed additional heat by turning both heaters on > > full blast, but you won't like being in the same vehicle with it. <g> > > david > > In my experience, this is has a VERY temporary effect, maybe a > minute or two relief for the engine, then right back to over-heating > (form whatever cause). M |
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