Coolant Leak on Ground - Passenger side (Page 3/4)
Patrick SEP 01, 10:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:

... in the event I get a heater core that's smaller than the OE, would I have to fill the extra space in with anything?

Also I either read or saw in a video how copper cores are better than aluminum. Does it really matter which one I get? Can you recommend one or the other, or a certain brand?



IMO, "no" to all.
Brent7088 SEP 02, 03:04 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

IMO, "no" to all.



Ok, I guess if it doesn't leak and it fits ok I'm good to go.... probably just get the one from FS.
Brent7088 SEP 02, 05:58 PM
Another couple questions that came to mind while taking things apart for this job:

I noticed in the write-up from RWDPLZ that pulling the hoses is more or less the first step. Is it necessary to pull the inlet/outlet hoses from under the hood before dismantling the heater core housing from under the dash? Or is the hose pull done first so that all the coolant doesn't keep coming from the housing under dash?

Also - once the hoses are off the core pipes, how are they supposed to be restricted from coolant continuously spilling out? Just plug them with something?
Patrick SEP 02, 06:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:

Is it necessary to pull the inlet/outlet hoses from under the hood before dismantling the heater core housing from under the dash? Or is the hose pull done first so that all the coolant doesn't keep coming from the housing under dash?



It doesn't matter if you take the cover off of the heater box to look at the core before the hoses are disconnected, but you'll want the core to still be held in place while you wrestle with getting the hoses off.


quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:

Also - once the hoses are off the core pipes, how are they supposed to be restricted from coolant continuously spilling out? Just plug them with something?



Either plug them (or connect them to each other), or bend/hold the hoses up so that the open ends are the highest part of the system.
Brent7088 SEP 02, 06:31 PM
Ok thanks Pat - will do... I guess it's not a good idea to have the front end of the car jacked up as it is now, so I'll lower it to the floor to prevent coolant from pouring back toward the core.
Patrick SEP 02, 06:37 PM

quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:

...to prevent coolant from pouring back toward the core.



Keep in mind the system is cold and under no pressure. It's not like the coolant is going to be gushing out when the hoses are removed. Keep the rad and thermostat caps on to slow the (minimal) escape of coolant out the open hoses.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-02-2021).]

Brent7088 SEP 02, 06:44 PM
Yes I understand. I have a pan on the passenger floor to catch what does pour out - I just didn't know if the coolant would keep on pouring and pouring out from the housing under the dash if I had the front end in the air (leaning in the direction of the core), so thought I'd lower it in case it did.

[This message has been edited by Brent7088 (edited 09-02-2021).]

Patrick SEP 02, 07:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:

I just didn't know if the coolant would keep on pouring and pouring out from the housing under the dash...



The ends of the heater core are in the spare tire compartment. That is where a minimal amount of coolant will be leaking when the hoses are disconnected... not under the dash. The coolant in the heater housing is what has oozed out of the core. Just put a big towel down on the floor to catch what escapes when the cover is removed.
Rick Vanderpool SEP 02, 07:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by Brent7088:


Also - once the hoses are off the core pipes, how are they supposed to be restricted from coolant continuously spilling out? Just plug them with something?



There are plastic pliers specifically intended to clamp hoses.
Rick
reinhart SEP 02, 11:15 PM
Curious how you didn't notice the coolant on the bottom side of the plastic heater core housing? If there's enough to be dripping out the floor board, the bottom of the plastic housing would have to be at least damp. One wipe of the finger would have answered your question instantly.