Makes sense to me, but others seem adamently opposed to the idea.

On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 6:53 PM , brady wrote:

> Loop the hoses together and as Ron Popeal would say "set it and forget
> it"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its nothing magical don't let folks confuse you.
> The coolant system will not care if the rear heater is not there!
> Brady
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Dave Mcneely To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 5:43:13 PM
> Subject: Re: rear heater blowout - stranded
>
> Ok, if I have a pipe running between the two hoses, it just returns
> hot coolant to the engine.  Understood.  What's the problem? Is the
> thinking that the cooling capacity of the heater is important?  But if
> the heater is not functioning (as in the valve on the heater is
> closed, the cooling capacity is not working.   For that matter, is
> there even coolant there, unless I turn on the rear heater (thus
> opening a valve somewhere else)? Does coolant fill those hoses all the
> time, and only enter the heater if the valve on top of the heater is
> opened (by hand)?  If so, why couldn't those who want to keep the
> heater under the seat (I don't, I want the space) just close the
> valve?  I'm really confused now.  Wasn't before.
>
> Dave Mc
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM , RICHARD KOERNER wrote:
>
>> Yes, the best way is to plug & clamp both hoses to the heater, it
>> maximizes coolant flow up to the radiator.  If you use a "pipe" to
>> connect the hoses, it just returns hot coolant back to the engine.
>> I'm not sure which is "in" and which is "out"....just plug both of
>> them.  I used the "pipe" method for years until Dennis Haynes and
>> other gurus pointed out that plugging is better.
>>
>> Rich
>> 85 GL
>> San Diego
>>
>> --- On Mon, 8/24/09, Dave Mcneely  wrote:
>>
>> From: Dave Mcneely Subject: Re: rear heater blowout - stranded
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Date: Monday, August 24, 2009, 2:04 PM
>>
>> I have the rear heater removed from, and a pipe fitted to the hoses
>> to connect one to the other.  I'm not limping.  Dave Mc
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 3:36 PM , Matthew Snook wrote:
>>
>>> OK, I'm having an adventure...
>>>
>>> '84 Westy 1.9
>>> Currently parked roadside at Whitehorse Campground, Umpqua National
>>> Forest
>>> (that's Oregon) on highway 138
>>>
>>> Pulling the hill eastbound the temperature was running high but not
>>> critical, when I started smelling antifreeze.  As I started making
>>> plans to
>>> pull the rear heater after I got home to Rocky Point (Klamath
>>> County) a
>>> gusher erupted under the rear bench seat, steaming all of my
>>> clothing and
>>> stranding me over a pool of coolant.  For now, I hope.  I passed the
>>> 3500
>>> foot mark, so I have another 1500-2000 ft climb before I'm on the
>>> downhill
>>> to Klamath Lake. :(
>>>
>>> I took the rear heater cover off, restarted the engine, and soon
>>> water and
>>> steam was coming from somewhere inside the heater unit.  I can't see
>>> the
>>> leak directly.  I tried setting the little lever on the passenger
>>> side of
>>> the unit back and forth, but it didn't seem to affect the output.
>>> My Bentley doesn't say which of the hoses is supply or return, upper
>>> or
>>> lower.
>>> Question: can I disconnect both hoses, clamp a stick in there to
>>> block the
>>> openings, and limp back home that way?  Will there still be adequate
>>> flow of
>>> coolant through the rest of the system?
>>>
>>> Matt
>>>
>>> Matthew Snook
>>> matt@snooksband.com
>>> 541.805.5133
>>> -----------------------------
>>> 2201 Cedar Street
>>> La Grande OR 97850
>>>