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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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 Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 11:18 am Post subject: OE Vanagon heater core reseal |
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after installing a new core, i've suffered poor heat output and have wanted to return to the extremely fine finned OEM core that has far better heat transfer. important for our winter temps in northern MN. so... lots of photos.
OEM core. notice the density of fins compared to replacement
replacement
header tank loosened by simply prying outward with a fine screwdriver and then using a Channel lock pliers to bend tabs a bit more. pretty darn easy.
inlet/outlet side opened. notice the 100% separation between the inlet hose and outlet ensuring 100% of flow thru core with no short circuiting.
i thought there'd be a sealant rope, or some sort of schmoo but it is just a plain rubber/buna endcap seal. this should respond really nicely to re-sealing.
crossover side of tank.
i'll clean the core up in a bath of citric acid, notice one tube is blocked, the rest look great, but the citric will also brighten up the exterior and remove some aluminum oxide. what to seal with? i'm thinking The Right Stuff because it gets harder than normal RTV and seems to bond tenaciously. open to suggestions.
_________________
-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
Last edited by DanHoug on Fri Dec 03, 2021 4:35 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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bobhill8
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2017
Posts: 737
Location: MA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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 Good stuff
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1986 Westy
1971 Squareback |
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brickster
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004
Posts: 512
Location: CO, USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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| What do you want to seal? You said that it didn’t have one originally. |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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| brickster wrote: |
| What do you want to seal? You said that it didn’t have one originally. |
the header tank to core was originally a crimp onto buna material. 35 years later, the rubber has compressed and lost some schproing elasticity and is going to need help keeping coolant contained.
_________________
-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 |
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brickster
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004
Posts: 512
Location: CO, USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
| brickster wrote: |
| What do you want to seal? You said that it didn’t have one originally. |
the header tank to core was originally a crimp onto buna material. 35 years later, the rubber has compressed and lost some schproing elasticity and is going to need help keeping coolant contained. |
Understood. I would use a small amount of RTV silicone in the groove and crimp securely. You could use a toothpick to distribute it.
As a test once cured, you could pump air into it (<=15PSI) and see if the pressure drops. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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gonna test at 40 psi for 24 hrs... because that's just the kinda guy i am! <swagger mode off>
actually, there's a fella selling vanagon heater cores in the classifieds that he pressure tests at 40psi. so i know it can take it, and might as well stress it beyond anything the system would see.
was just reading on the The Right Stuff black vs gray. the black is more oil resistant and has greater flexibility so i'm going with the gray TRS because i don't need flexibility at all other than some thermal expansion and the harder gray should still accomodate that well.
things are setting (sitting?) in a hot citric acid bath now and cleaning up nicely. water turning dirty, soft nylon bristle brushing of fins releasing dirt. i'm doing a final cleanse in the dishwasher on a heated cycle with Cascade detergent. always brightens our aluminum cookware so it should do great for this. no toxic lead soldered seams to release brain numbing heavy metals so i'm good with it in the DW. it's had far worse in it.
_________________
-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 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon core reseal |
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| djkeev wrote: |
I love LEXEL and was thinking this may be a good candidate, but its max use temperature is only 200°........ Boo
Dave |
TRS gray... 450F continuous!!
_________________
-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 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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i was at NAPA filling my $.99 bag with 20% off and put some Permatex TRS in. wasn't until i got home and saw that it was gray vs black that i've used on heads. crap. both are rated at 450F continuous but the gray appears to be even harder than the black, which is harder than any other RTV i've used. so i THINK it is a good application in this case with very restricted movement yet high sealing needs.
about ready to throw everything in the DW. including the citric acid bath because we have have iron in our well water and the DW iron stains clean up nicely with a citric acid wash. it's all for Science.
_________________
-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 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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patrickgreen
Samba Member
Joined: June 23, 2005
Posts: 37
Location: Put-inBay Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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| Not sure of its temperature rating but 3M 5200 is a flexible adhesive that has amazing bonding properties. Designed to be in and around water. |
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khughes
Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2013
Posts: 747
Location: Phoenix AZ
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
i was at NAPA filling my $.99 bag with 20% off and put some Permatex TRS in. wasn't until i got home and saw that it was gray vs black that i've used on heads. crap. both are rated at 450F continuous but the gray appears to be even harder than the black, which is harder than any other RTV i've used. so i THINK it is a good application in this case with very restricted movement yet high sealing needs.
about ready to throw everything in the DW. including the citric acid bath because we have have iron in our well water and the DW iron stains clean up nicely with a citric acid wash. it's all for Science. |
I used to use tons of this stuff (https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-makers/permatex-high-temp-red-rtv-silicone-gasket/?locale=en_us) to stabilize the pleats on HEPA filters in an oven running at 265C. Held up well at that temp for 6 months (our normal replacement interval). So temperature would be no issue. I haven't used it before for any liquid application, so no experience there, but since it's made as a gasket sealer, it should probably work well over the existing Buna. And increase the schroochiness...
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'86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin) |
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16CVs 
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4026
Location: Redwood City, California
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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Why did you replace the original ( OE ) original core, was the one you took out OE or OEM?
I've yet to see an original core leak.
Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32632
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4800
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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| 16CVs wrote: |
Why did you replace the original ( OE ) original core, was the one you took out OE or OEM?
I've yet to see an original core leak.
Stacy |
aaaand i've had 3 vanagons... all with leaky heater cores that smell of antifreeze when the heat valve is opened, an 85, 87, and 89. it's probably a geographic/climate thing where extreme cold (-40F) & system heat cause a discontinuity in the seal.
_________________
-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 |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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| 16CVs wrote: |
I've yet to see an original core leak.
Stacy |
I've never seen a heater core leak on these, but they typically leak at the seam or the tanks crack. I can see welding on some aluminum tanks, but this plastic is prone to cracking due to the finite number of heat-cycles they can endure. Same with Audi and Mercedes.
Cool project, though.
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Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16883
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 11:35 pm Post subject: Re: OEM Vanagon heater core reseal |
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IF i were to attempt this i wouldn't be testing anything to 40 psi, it's a sure way to not only distort the core, but it's a fantastic way to have the plastic go off like a bomb if it's in a bad mood.
i have seen 7 year old heater cores go boom with 25 psi. coolant caps are designed to fail at what, 15-18 psi?
anyway, i wouldn't use any goo. i'd be making gaskets out of this:
https://www.mcmaster.com/high-temperature-rubber/f...nd-strips/
or find end tank gaskets for heater cores and radiators. they do exist
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