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Date:         Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:09:59 -0600
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Rear heater control
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I apologize in advance for anyone who is bothered by pedantry. You don't have to read it.

Of course you are correct, Alistair. But, embedded in the imprecise language is a kernel of value. When a solution like coolant, which has a higher viscosity than does water, and may also contain some materials leached or eroded from various metal components of the coolant system, sits in a stagnant state, it is more likely to precipitate some of those materials creating a greater likelihood of plugging small passageways than when it is flowing.

I clearly demonstrated this when I had a pump go out on a dishwasher just when I was leaving for a three week trip. I just left the water, with detergent and crud in it, in the dishwasher. When I returned, I had to replace more than the pump. The screens and chopper blade were plugged and had to be replaced as cleaning them did not work, though I used a concentrated citric acid solution.

BTW, what is usually called a knob in mechanical applications where it serves as a handle to transfer a circular motion is in fact a kind of lever. An easy way to visualize this is to imagine that a door knob is reduced to a rectangular piece running across its diameter. Then cut off one radius of the piece. What you have is a lever such as has become popular for home doors to reduce strain on hands and wrists of older folks. Many knobs are constructed with a rectangular piece running across one diameter to serve as a handle to make grasping easier. That in fact is what the valve on the rear heater has. This also demonstrates the fact that a knob is simply a lever acting to apply torque.

mcneely

---- Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote: > "old coolant is terribly corrosive" > > come on now, how is coolant that is not circulated any older than the stuff that is circulated. I call bull-pucky. > > alistair > > On 2012-11-18, at 1:50 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote: > > > There is no 'control knob' .. > > there is a lever that you can reach with your fingers, through a hole in > > the rear heater cover. > > > > if the cover is not in place...the poster could be looking at a > > knob-like thing ..the bleed valve. > > > > Bentley would not say much about this leverthat regulates coolant flow . > > but the van's Owner's Manual sure does. > > > > 'Forward' on the lever is 'on'. > > Aftward is off. > > > > I recommend having it at least mostly 'on' all year .. > > as having no flow at all, ever, or for very long periods , contributes > > to rear heater core leaking .. > > a pretty common thing actually. . > > > > Whether warm air comes out the rear heater is determined by the fan for > > the rear heater being on or not, or course. > > > > you always want at least some coolant flowing through the rear heater so > > some fresh healthier coolant is always going through it ...the parts > > last longer that way. Old coolant is terribly corrosive. > > > > Nobody on this list of course... > > there are lots of vanagon owners that don't know about the heater > > control lever under the back seat. > > I was kinda shocked actually to find out VW did it that way. > > I can't think of one other car that has a partially heater control under > > the back seat. > > > > > > > > On 11/18/2012 11:49 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote: > >> Harry, that control allows coolant to circulate through the heater core. Summer, off, winter, on. To control air flow, use the knob on the dash. mcneely > >> > >> ---- Harry Hoffman <hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET> wrote: > >>> Hi all, > >> The heater under the rear seat has a control knob. > >> Can someone tell me what it does? The Bentley only shows a picture but not how it functions. > >> > >> Cheers, > >> Harry > >> > >> -- > >> David McNeely > >>

-- David McNeely


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