Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 09:01:51 -0400
Reply-To: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: rear heater must be on?
In-Reply-To: <5d903de80708040529vc404970qe05db8cef887171f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I got my '84 7 passenger in Hawaii in '91 and I know the PO had it for 4
years with the rear heater valve off. The only times I opened the rear
heater valve was to bleed the coolant system. That is until '99 when I
moved to Maine. In 2002 I did have to replace the O-ring at the valve
but the heater core is the one that was in it when I got it and it still
doesn't leak.
When I bought my '85 Westy, in 2002, it had a leaky rear heater core
(heater was bypassed) so I replaced it and have had no more troubles.
I'm of the opinion that leaving old coolant in the system too long (more
than two years) is the major cause for corrosion in the heater core and
elsewhere in the system, too.
Mike
Houlton, Maine
Raymond Paquette wrote:
> So, if I'm actually using mine-off in summer and on in winter, I should be
> okay? Of course, I don't know what the previous owner(s) did. Maybe I'll
> try leaving it on just to see if it bothers me in the summer. I'd hate to
> lose it, because it really does help out in the winter-I suspect because it
> recycles warm air instead of taking in outside. And I just moved to Mass,
> from San Diego.
>
> Ray
>
> On 7/31/07, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----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. )
>>
>>
>>
>
| 
