Funky Heater Core. Looks New, Smells Busted.

[5.0turbines]

So, I decided to pull out the heater core while I had the dash down. Before, everytime I started the car it smelled like coolant with the vents on, in addition to the exhaust leak that made everthing worser. When the heater core was in the car there wasn't any fogging or anything but when I bypassed the heater core the smell went away. I think there's a very small hole somewhere. Heater core looks fair. No puffyness, stickieness, or dried on coolant. Looks dry. This is the first one I grabbed anyways so I'm just eyeballing it. Idk. I'll put it back in and place a small socket in the line as a restrictor. If I smell anything I'll take it back out.

[Rodentkiller]

You may as well replace the heater core with a new one instead of installing the old one.

[andymac0035]

+1

[5.0turbines]

For sure. I'll put this one back in for the time being and check it out. I don't really like breaking cash on something I'm not going to use for another couple of seasons. Besides, I've never really used the heater to find out if it was good or bad because it sat all last winter, I just smelled a coolanty smell. There was some clues under the dash that led me to believe it was swapped out before the car came to me, but not when, so I'll be cautious. Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[gadget73]

Hook it up to air with a regulator to cut it down to 15 psi. Dunk it in a bucket. If you see a stream of bubbles, you have your answer. I put in a brand new Ford heater core once and it leaked. New one is fine.

Pull the foam wrap off the heater core. It may be leaking at the sweat joints where the pipes solder into the core.

[5.0turbines]

You mean like with a compressor, because I don't have one of those. I'll also look in this area and eyeball for holes, cracks, etc.

[86VickyLX]

I'd get a new core and save yourself any aggravation of pulling the dash apart again.

[87gtVIC]

If you smelt the coolant before, it will still be there when you re install it and it wont be healing itself, only getting worse as time passes by. Heater core is too much of a pain to change to not change it when you have it out in the open like you currently do. Change it put a socket in the intake line as a restrictor and be done with it.

[91grandmarquis]

My moms olds heater core looked new, but it was leaking, you shouldn't be able to smell coolant. I would just throw another one in.

[86VickyLX]

Oh, and if your evaporator for your air conditioner is bad, now's the time to change that too.

[5.0turbines]

Alright, I'll take y'all guys advice and get a new one. Like I said, I'm no heater core specialist I just eyeball stuff.

[5.0turbines]

Oh, and if your evaporator for your air conditioner is bad, now's the time to change that too.

I'll leave that alone until ac overhaul time. Also wouldn't I have to evacuate the ac gas?

[andymac0035]

Can't you just hook it up to a garden hose and check for leaks that way?
Not as good as what Thain said, but it's an idea. (I'd still change it though).

.....and am I the only one seeing a drop of coolant on the fins in pic #2?

[91grandmarquis]

Can't you just hook it up to a garden hose and check for leaks that way?
Not as good as what Thain said, but it's an idea. (I'd still change it though).

.....and am I the only one seeing a drop of coolant on the fins in pic #2?

I just assumed that was random gunk on there, but I saw it. The garden hose may or may not find a small leak, in fact it may be so small no coolant is getting out really, but rather just that smell.

Oh and I understand what you mean about not wanting to buy extra parts if you don't need them, we have a surplus of random shit around and its never the stuff that brakes, so it just sits.

[gadget73]

You mean like with a compressor, because I don't have one of those. I'll also look in this area and eyeball for holes, cracks, etc.

air compressor is ideal, but if you have a bicycle pump that will work fine too. Just don't put more than about 15 psi to it. Just need to seal off one end. I actually jammed my finger in the tube when I air checked mine.