Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:33:37 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: rear heater must be on?
In-Reply-To: <5d903de80707311211x44a05c4eu1f28290a343b5b9d@mail.gmail.com>
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I think 'years on end' is the main factor.
For decades and for all makes of cars we've turned our heaters off in the
summer, and no heater core problems.
But vanagon rear heater cores sure go out. Most people have no idea about
the valve back there. Maybe someone closes it ....and it stays closed for 10
years.
Almost 'all' vanagon rear heater cores', ....if they haven't been replaced
or disconnected by now, , they're due.
Heck, lots of people can't distinguish between having hot coolant flow
through a heater core, and whether you run air though it to take heat off it
or not.
Yes, I hear you on your last statement. I've used many radiators that have
been sitting around.....so I don't 'exactly' feel that just exposing them to
air makes them go downhill.....it makes 'some sense.'
I heard of one tech that said if you change the coolant, it exposes the
thermostat to air for a while, and that will hurt it, so you must replace
the thermostat if you change the coolant.
I haven't found that to be the case at all, but I still hold that 'it should
be considered.'
I have seen about a hundred leaking rear vanagon heater cores....
My preference.....some coolant is *always* flowing in the rear heater core ,
and that keeps 'em happy.
And no heat comes out unless the fan is on of course.
I have one in stock, a rear heater core, good high quality brand, should
anyone need one.
btw , you don't want to need a front heater core, they coast about 4 times
what a rear one costs, and they're a large job to replace. Rear ones aren't
that bad.
Scott
www.turbovans.com <http://www.turbovans.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Raymond Paquette [mailto:raymondpaquette@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:11 PM
To: Scott Daniel - Shazam
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: rear heater must be on?
Hey Scott
I've read this warning before and wonder about it. It does make instinctive
sense that the coolant sitting there may rot the rear heater core. But why
is this not true for the front, which stays shut off much of the year? What
about vehicles? Many (all) shut off the heat by shutting off the coolant
flow to the core. Why is this not a universal problem?
Or is the concern only about leaving the vanagon rear shut off for years on
end? How about off for summer, and on for winter?
Regarding having the rear disconnected, I think there's an argument (in
theory if not practice) that oxidation need oxygen, which is in air, and
will happen worse/more quickly with the core drained. My dad (mechanic for
50yrs) always recommended against junkyard radiators for this reason.
Raymond
( oh. !...your rear heater....SO MANY VANAGON OWNER'S DON'T KNOW about
this.....
It MUST either have the valve under the rear seat at least half on to keep
coolant circulating, or the rear heater should be disconnected.
LOTS of vanagons have the rear heater water valve closed, the coolant sits
in there and rots out the rear heater core. I've got a new one right here in
stock.....It's not that the rear heater system is so weak, it's not, it's
that people don't understand how to take care of it, and it's few and far
between to find a vanagon tech who knows about this, or cares, or will
explain it to you. I dare say. )