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Post Info TOPIC: Un-Gunking a plugged heater core
John D


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Un-Gunking a plugged heater core
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I don't know if this has been done before, but it seems to have worked.

I had VW bug level heat coming out of the "Green Mary". A "hold the inlet, compare to the outlet hose" test confirmed that the core was plugged up/blocked - scorching hot in, luke warm out.

Changing the heater core on a '94 to '96 B-body isn't something I'd wish on an enemy, let alone myself. So, I disconnected the hoses and using air pressure and water did a "back and forth" flush-out of the core. Some gunky stuff came out. Then some science kicked forward in my head....

I went to the house and got some baking soda and a bottle of vinegar. I poured a few ounces of baking soda into each heater hose, and blew it into the core with compressed air. Then I made up a mix of vinegar and water in a pop bottle, and poured a bit into each hose.

Within second the chemical reaction happened, and this mix of gunky goo/crud started foaming out of the hoses. I repeated it a few times and then flushed about a gallon of clear water through the core.

I've got HEAT!!



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
Dave Seitz


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I know in the past I have had to use Lime Away to clean some of these out because they are such a PIA to replace. At least you have heat again and it didn't bag out during the -30 week.

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Chris R


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Often times. No chemicals are actually needed. Just the simple force of a garden hose running the opposite direction of flow through the heater core is enough to really clear it out. Done it hundreds of times for customers to get thier heat working when this same thing happened. That old blue Escort I used to drive need it done one winter and never had a problem for years after that. The only catch is. Most people have thier garden hoses shut off for the season at this time of year. In any case, it does work.



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Chris - Ramsey, MN.

Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist.

While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water. I drank it!

Sincerly,

The opportunist.
steve m


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All I do is use compressed air and then use water hose to fill it up again and then blow air thru again both directions, Always worked without wrecking anything, Just did  one on a 99  tortus that was not blowing any heat, customer was very happy after being quoted 1,000 to fix by a shop.



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steve marier  maplewood, mn
seagrams72


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Chris R wrote:

Often times. No chemicals are actually needed. Just the simple force of a garden hose running the opposite direction of flow through the heater core is enough to really clear it out. Done it hundreds of times for customers to get thier heat working when this same thing happened. That old blue Escort I used to drive need it done one winter and never had a problem for years after that. The only catch is. Most people have thier garden hoses shut off for the season at this time of year. In any case, it does work.

 Done this a few times.  Works for me.



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Andy

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John D


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The backflush does usually work, but I wanted to get some FIZZ action going in there, without the hazard of chems eating away at a weak spot.

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
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