Date:         Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:32:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: removing rear heater
Comments: To: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <m1iqu83zjn.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Allan Streib wrote:
> Now that I have the core uncovered, I see no evidence of leaking but
> the antifreeze smell was unmistakable last time I ran the blower.

On my '84 7 passenger, I once had the same symptoms but, at first, I
couldn't find the leak.  I finally found it by first warming up the
engine, which pressurized the cooling system, and wiggling the hose that
goes to the shutoff valve.  Under pressure, I could easily see the leak
at the O-Ring which is between the shutoff valve and the heater core.
Replacing the O-Ring cured that one.  That was 8 years ago.

When I bought my '85 Westy, the heater hoses bypassed the heater so I
removed it to check it out.  I could see corrosion in the fin area of
the core and its leak was sufficient that I could fill the core with
liquid, plug one side and blow into the other and see where the liquid
was leaking out.  A new core and O-Ring fixed that one and that was 7
years ago.

On my '84 Westy, the shutoff valve itself leaked and required replacement.

All are working now and are used quite a bit here in Maine.

Mike
Houlton, Maine