How bad does my heater core look

[shagginwagon83]

Long story short, my grandma is awesome. Gave me her 83 westy with 114k miles right after getting a 4.5k paint job. She is funding the 'essential' parts to restore it.
Anyhow here she goes:
Replacing blower motor(never worked for me>
Windshield wiper motor
Both windshield wiper shafts
Jeep resistor with 4 speed switch
Some sound deadner

But not the heater core! I know the haters are going to come out, but an oem one from van cafe is $150. I really don't want to put any unnecessary costs on my grandma. I have one more semester of college and I'll be graduating and getting my bachelor's in Computer Science. A year from now I hope to replace the heater core along with brake booster and slaves.

Anyhow, how bad does this look? I don't even know if it works. Is there a way to test it?

[levi]

Hey, you've got an awesome Grandma. Very cool.

The only thing I think that matters is, Was it leaking?
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

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[shagginwagon83]

[Bills85Westy]

Whether it was leaking or not, if you've got the thing out and in your hands, i would replace it. As you know, it's a job to get it out and IMHO one of the "might as well" if you're that far in there.

My 85 Westy had a really well maintained cooling system & on a low mile van. It sat for some time and as I started to use it regularly, I had to replace both the front and rear within the first 4 years. Just a little bit of weeping that caused fogging when starting out in the morning.

Of course, if you don't mind getting in there, replace it when it fails.....
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[Steve M.]

Yes there is a way to test it.
That would be a pressure test.
You know what happens when the engine overheats and you've got steam blowing out of the radiator because of low coolant causing the engine to overheat-that steam is a lot of pressure.
That steam will burn you. Fortunately the heat exchanger is enclosed inside the heater housing so the chances of that happening is practically zero-you've never heard of anyone getting burned by a heater core!
But that pressure is why you get it tested. the pressure cap on a radiator is designed to vent pressure at 15psi I think (somebody can chastise me if I'm wrong.) The heater core and radiator has to withstand more than 15psi so that the weak point is the radiator cap and it vents before the radiator or the heater core ruptures from the pressure.

I would be concerned about the powdery looking corrosion shown in your pictures. That is a sign of something not right.
The question is the source of that moisture to cause that.
If there was any of that powdery white corrosion on the ends of the heater core between the plastic and the aluminum where the seals are I would change it.

A pressure test would show if the seals are going bad.
A radiator shop can do the test.

$145.00 at Van-Cafe.com
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

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[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

Here is another alternative.
However, when ever you buy anything used the condition is always in question and you have to check it just like the parts you have that you are questioning.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2067171
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

it's in your hands....replace it. it's 100 years old. I just rebuilt my rabbit truck top to bottom. I replaced the old heater core just because. these tend to block up over time from junk in the cooling system.

I have heat by the end of my driveway now. just do it. you'll be glad you did. buy a behr or valeo if you can. no china junk. I wouldn't waste a minute trying to clean it....
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[danfromsyr]

people say it's a pain in the butt job, and most of them haven't replaced a heater core from a more modern VW..

the vanagon dash while a pain comes out in about 2hours (less once you get used to it). you are younger than you are rich. I say clean it, put it back in and all will be fine.. replace it again in a year.. put that $150 towards brakes/fuel pump/coolant items that will leave you stranded or unsafe.

but, do yourself a favor and put some 1/4" hardware cloth sandwiched between the heater box and the 2 holes that it mounts to. keep the heater core from becoming a mouse habit trail. because even if you put a new one in. nothing is worse than mouse pee on a heater core.
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[vino de vano]

the pic of your flaps sealing are a little fuzzy. It's important to use the right foam for a good seal. I went with a truck bed to camper shell foam tape. Just a thought. Lucky you to have such a great grandma. Tough call on replace core or not. I just rinsed mine out and put it back in and am hoping it lasts.
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what a long strange trip it's been

[Steve M.]

[Abscate]

Fill it with water, Put a rubber stopper firmly on one pipe, then rig up a garden hose to the other. 30 feet of water pressure up,in the air is about 1 ATM pressure, if it holds that Put it back in.

If you dry it in the sun for a day before, any seep will show up well.
_________________
.ssS!

[tencentlife]

Hmm, surprising ol' Terry Kowabungowski or whatever isn't here flogging his gold-plated heater cores.

...

There's an old joke where the guy calls his lawyer's office and asks to speak with him, but is told that his lawyer is dead.

He calls again the next day. Same question, same polite reply.

He calls again every day for three weeks running, with the same short conversation each time.

A day comes when he calls once more and asks for his lawyer. The receptionist finally loses patience and yells at him, "Mister, for the twentieth time, your lawyer is dead!"

He says, "I know, I just love hearing you say it."

...

Come on, folks, who wants to give me that pleasure?
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.

[levi]

I'll give you 2nd best.
He is BANNED

How are you feelin ten cent.
Long time no see
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[levi]

Btw;

If you want, you can ask me again tomorrow.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[levi]

Also, that heater core has the clean area on it because there's a plate that goes over that.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[tencentlife]

[Wildthings]

If you leave the baffle plate out you will get more air flow and the exterior of the core will be less apt to clog with dog hairs and other nasties.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[Steve M.]