Date:         Sat, 5 Oct 2019 15:10:53 -0500
Reply-To:     Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Palmer <w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM>
Subject:      Re: Smelly rear heater
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BY5PR10MB4322EE1DD0BAA79B9BE14F58A0990@BY5PR10MB4322.namprd10.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Today the smell wasn’t nearly as bad. It’s the original heater so I can’t complain about it’s service. Just wondering if I can fix it or if I should replace it? Don’t suppose it’s as simple as a gasket or clamp or something?

Thanks
Jeff

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 5, 2019, at 7:29 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> 
> For some reason these rear heater cores are very high failure items. Poor quality and design along with the fact that they see high flow rates causing internal erosion and most of the time the valve on them is open with the fan not running so they see a lot of temperature cycling. If any doubt take it out and inspect. It is not a bad job to get them out. When they ultimate fail yo will know as the coolant drips out the sliding door. If you creative drill a hole in the housing and floor to add a hose to let the drips run out that way. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric Caron
> Sent: Saturday, October 5, 2019 8:01 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Smelly rear heater
> 
> Hi Jeff,
> 
> Your post went to my junk box.  I’ll re post below hoping others will see it.
> 
> My heater core in the rear started to smell in 2013 and I didn’t find any coolant.  I changed it and the valve going into it.  The Van cafe valve is very strong.  That did it.  No more smell and a very useful rear heater.
> I used the bus Depot core at the time.
> 
> This is one of the jobs I’ve gotten good at having done it on  my first vanagon as well. 
> 
> Eric Caron 85 GL Auto 
> 
> Original post.
> 
> 85 Westfalia with 325k km. 
> 
> Pretty sure my rear heater core is leaking but I see no evidence of it. When I turn the fan on I smell it. I’ve taken the cover off but see no leakage. What am I missing?
> 
> Don’t tell me to remove it. I’m in the great white north and it’s essential!
> 
> Thanks
> Jeff
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
>>> On Oct 5, 2019, at 1:34 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Shouldn’t I see a puddle or stain? Or does it evaporate? Or leak 
>>> internally?
>>> 
>> 
>> You're most likely to smell it if it's a core leak, since that's where 

>> the blower blows through.  And yes, small amounts will evaporate on a 
>> hot surface.
>> 
>> Yrs,
>> d