I've had my '84 7 passenger since '91 (16 years) and the first 8 were in
Hawaii.  Leaving the rear heater valve shut off for long periods has not
caused me any problems with the core.  It's the same one that was in it
when I got it.  I did have to replace the O-ring at the valve several
years ago but it had gotten hard so it was simply time for that one.

Mike
Houlton, Maine
'84 7 pass
'84 Westy
'85 Westy

Raymond Paquette wrote:
> I read (on this list) a post that you should always leave the rear
> heater valve cracked a bit so that a little coolant always flows.  The
> concern was coolant sitting in the core for half the year and starting
> corrosion.
>
> Is this a real concern?
> If for the rear, then why not a concern for the front?
> If for the vanagon heater core(s), why not every vehicle?
>
> Raymond
>
> On 5/15/07, * Mike Collum* <collum@verizon.net
> <mailto:collum@verizon.net>> wrote:
>
>     I agree when it comes to the actual purchase.  I provided the link for
>     the photo and verbage ... and should have said so.
>
>     I don't have any trouble with my OEM valve shutting completely off so
>     I've never considered an add on.
>
>     Mike
>
>
>
>     John Bange wrote:
>      > On 5/15/07, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net
>     <mailto:collum@verizon.net>> wrote:
>      >>
>      >> Terry Kay offers such a valve which can be seen on this page
>     (scroll
>      >> down a little).  It includes verbage on the installation:
>      >
>      >
>      > Personally, I find $25 to be a little steep. If I were going that
>     route,
>      > I'd
>      > stop by the hardware store and buy a couple 5/8" barb fittings
>     and a valve
>      > and build it myself out of BRASS rather than plastic. I also
>     would use
>      > proper spring clamps rather than those horrid cheese grater ones
>     he shows.
>      > Seriously, what could that toy plastic valve and fittings be
>     costing him,
>      > three bucks maybe? You could definitely do better on your own.
>      >
>      >
>      > --
>      > John Bange
>      > '90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"
>      >
>
>