Hey Scott

I've read this warning before and wonder about it.  It does make instinctive
sense that the coolant sitting there may rot the rear heater core.  But why
is this not true for the front, which stays shut off much of the year?  What
about vehicles?  Many (all) shut off the heat by shutting off the coolant
flow to the core.  Why is this not a universal problem?

Or is the concern only about leaving the vanagon rear shut off for years on
end?  How about off for summer, and on for winter?

Regarding having the rear disconnected, I think there's an argument (in
theory if not practice) that oxidation need oxygen, which is in air, and
will happen worse/more quickly with the core drained.  My dad (mechanic for
50yrs) always recommended against junkyard radiators for this reason.

Raymond

( oh. !...your rear heater....SO MANY VANAGON OWNER'S DON'T KNOW about
> this.....
> It MUST either have the valve under the rear seat at least half on to keep
> coolant circulating, or the rear heater should be disconnected.
> LOTS of vanagons have the rear heater water valve closed, the coolant sits
> in there and rots out the rear heater core. I've got a new one right here
> in
> stock.....It's not that the rear heater system is so weak, it's not, it's
> that people don't understand how to take care of it, and it's few and far
> between to find a vanagon tech who knows about this, or cares, or will
> explain it to you. I dare say.  )
>
>