The lines for the rear heater should be capped or blocked when removing it.
They should not be looped together. Doing so reduces flow to the front
heater and also can have an effect on radiator flow during low speed-idling.
Any coolant flowing through that loop is flow not available someplace else.
If removing the heater permanently you can even remove the tees underneath
to eliminate some more leak points.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
nirav patel
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 11:35 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rear heater leak - coolant soaked carpet/pad

I had a leaking rear heater core with my first vanagon, an '87 GL.  I
removed the heater core and a nice guy named Mitch at VW Haven in Pittsburgh
created a metal bypass for me.  For cleaning, I removed all the carpets and
mats and soaked in some degrease solvent.  That and some elboe grease should
do the trick.  Good luck.
+nirav