On 12/10/04 4:43 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:

> The heater cores clog both internally and externally. Remove it, clean
> the outside real good, and check the inside, flush thoroughly. Have it
> tested for leaks. Re-use if all is OK.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Al and Sue Brase
> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 3:57 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: clean heater core
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas of possible procedures to clean a heater
> core? I'm getting very little heat out of it. It's been getting worse
> the last few years. I guess I should not have used stop leak way back in
> the 90s to stop the head gasket leaks!
> Yes, the coolant is getting up to temp. I've changed thermostats with no
> improvement.
> I'm able and willing to take out the heater core. With new ones a dealer
> only item and SO expensive I'd just l;ike to try cleaning.
> How about some slight caustic cleaner?
> I feel the best way to clean if it was out would be an ultrasonic bath
> type like jewelers use, but this is a bit bigger thatn a watch.
> My radiator shop says no to taking it apart. They would if it were
> brass.
> Al Brase
> 87 Vanagon, luke warm
> 
Speaking of externally clogged...if you have a rear heater in a eurovan it
may be extremely clogged externally.  When I pulled a couple out of salvage
cars both were filled with everything from toys to dog hair to dog food to
cat food to kleenex etc....
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jimt
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Remember that sanity is optional.
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