Hot air leaks >NOT< from the heater - '90 Westy 2WD

[RBEmerson]

Installing a real cutoff valve upstream from the heater core has fixed the problem of hot air coming out of the windshield, dash, and foot vents. Yea!

NTL we're still getting radiator temp hot air coming into the cabin. Other than it's coming in somewhere that allows hot air to heat up the dash, I don't know exactly where the hot air's coming from.

Note: we have OEM air conditioning, so there's an AC radiator in front of the engine radiator. FWIW, although there are some minor mystery refrigerant leaks, the AC works as it should - no hot air there.

My question is; at what point(s) can hot air from the radiator(s) pass into the cabin, excluding the heater vents? (I exclude them because all I get is ambient temp air, standing or driving)

I've thought about closing off the fresh air inlet, but given the cabin vents pass only ambient temp air, that's not a likely source.

FWIW, I have a ScanGauge installed, and can watch the actual engine temp. At the moment it's reporting 202-206F in normal summer driving - no worries there.
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[4Gears4Tires]

Have you taken your dash apart? There are tons of holes in the front of the van behind the dash.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[RBEmerson]

It's been years since the dash came off. Pulling it again is very much a "Hail Mary" option. I'm inclined to think pulling the radiator(s) gives the same access without making a hash of wiring, etc.
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[DanHoug]

one of the DISadvantages of running the AC is that one closes off the dash vents. normally, with the windows rolled down and all dash controls set to wide open, the ram air effect of the intake scoop forces a high volume of air thru the system that hot spots are not noticed.

with a completely closed up ventilation system, the "hot foot-well effect" comes into play with hot air from the radiator and AC condenser heating up the sheet metal your by your feet. there are 'hot foot-well kits' that insulate the foot well area against this heat. also, ensuring plenty of air flow thru the radiator/condenser keeps these ambient temps lower but this is reliant on clean condenser and radiator fins.

like riding in a vintage Land Rover, some discomfort to be expected!
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[zerotofifty]

Even a small hole, like half inch, or torn grommets can allow hot air to leak in a good deal.
on one car a torn shifter boot let in a whole lot of hot air, and it was a small tear!

i t dont take much of an opening to let in a lot of hot air.
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Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[dhaavers]

Granted, hotfoot is real. Quite a few years ago I did the full floor insulation plan & it helped a lot, then found I was still getting a jet of hot air directly through the floor below the gas pedal…to the tune of 5°-10°F over the floor right next to the pedal.



To deal with that, I wrapped some flexible foam “gap stopper” around the lever from the gas pedal above & below where it went through the floor, used spray adhesive to fix in place & lubricated with dry spray…it basically stopped that issue completely.

Shortly after that I fixed the stock AC system & then I started running a small USB fan down on the floor near the shift lever, pointing forward towards the driver footwell which helps a TON! When running the AC, the cool air on the floor gets moved right up to my feet where I need it. I haven’t thought about hotfoot for years!



- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[kamzcab86]

[RBEmerson]

To clarify "hot":

A) Not 90F (or higher on blacktop roads) ambient air (open the dash vent and it's not as hot as under the dash)
B) Not just a warm floorboard
C) An add-on indoor/outdoor thermometer shows 105+ F at the bottom of the dash, next to the steering column
D) The dash itself (e.g. below the fan switches) is hot, even when shaded
E) I feel hot air coming up from below dash level. Not only hot feet, but legs and up to my face

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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[RBEmerson]

[RBEmerson]

Problem solved. A huge dope slap to me for not pulling, while on the road, the baffle for the foot vents to reveal the culprit: the plug which passes hot water to the heater core.

An even bigger dope slap to the tech who installed the heater valve (see the control cable on the left side of the plug) but didn't replace the plug/gasket/seal. DOH!!

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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.