Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:36:54 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: No heat at stoplights.
In-Reply-To: <A5BEFB4A-A96A-4EB3-A899-A3E3FBEF3733@mts.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
The 1.9 liter cooling systems do make less heat at low speed as the water
source is only from the right head. On the 2.1 both heads go into a common
manifold (the infamous one that breaks) and the heaters return almost
directly to the water pump. However, if the engine has ever experience a
water pump bearing failure, the back of the impeller immediately gouges into
the case. This new groove makes an internal bypass behind the pump and
affects the low speed performance.
Also, when was the last time the front heater core was replaced? This core
makes a great filter both for coolant and road dirt. Once it packs up with
dirt there is little heat transfer. You will be surprised how much heat you
can get out of a new core. Another trick close the valve to the rear heater
1/2 way or so. The cores are in parallel. All the coolant that goes to the
rear does not go upfront. Not much is needed in the rear as that one
recirculates the cabin air. The front heater has to heat outside air. Oh,
and do not put the front fan on high speed.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Palmer
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:00 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: No heat at stoplights.
David where do you live? My van has always been like this, for ten years or
so, so I just can't believe it's because of an ailment that I haven't sorted
out during that time. If you live somewhere particularly frosty you might
notice this more than someone in a more temperate climate.
I live in Winnipeg, where it gets super cold, and I just always assumed
that when the engine is turning slower the coolant is circulating more
slowly, and cools down by the time it reaches the front of the van.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss, sometimes it isn't ...
Jeff
85 Westfalia GL
Winnipeg
On 2010-01-05, at 11:26 AM, David Prendergast wrote:
> Did a search on this but didn't find much. 84 Westy, heat seems to be
> working fine (although not as hot as I remember, although it could be
> my imagination) Whenever I come to a stoplight and reach down to feel
> the heat (front, havent checked the rear) its blowing cold until I
> start moving again. Weird and wacky to me. No coolant leaks and
> bottle is full.
