Heater Core

[C5_346LS6]

Was out picking up a part for my wife's car yesterday afternoon and once I arrived home and was pulling into the garage, smoke started coming in from all the vents. I realized it could have been 1 of 3 issues, 1) heater core 2) plugged A/C drain or 3) evaporator. I quickly checked the passenger side floorboard and a puddle of water. . HEATER CORE!

I didn't have time to take it to the dealer to have heater core replaced, so I bypassed the heater core and the car has been running fine. Couple things is noticed is that the car warms about 10 degree warmer. Why is that?

[Fixvet]

Originally Posted by C5_346LS6

Was out picking up a part for my wife's car yesterday afternoon and once I arrived home and was pulling into the garage, smoke started coming in from all the vents. I realized it could have been 1 of 3 issues, 1) heater core 2) plugged A/C drain or 3) evaporator. I quickly checked the passenger side floorboard and a puddle of water. . HEATER CORE!

I didn't have time to take it to the dealer to have heater core replaced, so I bypassed the heater core and the car has been running fine. Couple things is noticed is that the car warms about 10 degree warmer. Why is that?

The heater core is a mini-radiator that will reduce coolant temps will operating properly. 10 degrees increase shouldn't be a worry until you replace the core. I'm sure that is a bear of a job! Once when I was driving up a steep mtn pass in my daily driver Pontiac GP many years ago, my temps were getting very high, so I turned on the heater full blast at the hottest setting, and it helped drop the coolant temp by 15 degress or so. I made it to the top just fine, but with hot shoes!! lol

[C5_346LS6]

Originally Posted by Fixvet

The heater core is a mini-radiator that will reduce coolant temps will operating properly. 10 degrees increase shouldn't be a worry until you replace the core. I'm sure that is a bear of a job! Once when I was driving up a steep mtn pass in my daily driver Pontiac GP many years ago, my temps were getting very high, so I turned on the heater full blast at the hottest setting, and it helped drop the coolant temp by 15 degress or so. I made it to the top just fine, but with hot shoes!! lol

Would it be possible to mount a heater core in front of the radiator?

[Junkman]

The heater core in just about any car is a bear but the C5 Corvette must be near the top of the list. The instructions go on forever.

[markw8]

Heater cores in most things GM are bad news. My son had an 89 Ford Ranger with a bad one. It took 15 minutes to change. Drained, disconnected the lines then removed 2 screws on a door on the bottom of the box. The core nearly dropped out.

Mark

[BigJimZ16]

Originally Posted by C5_346LS6

Would it be possible to mount a heater core in front of the radiator?

If the heater core were to be mounted in front of the radiator, how do you suppose the heat would get into the passenger compartment???

[Fixvet]

Originally Posted by C5_346LS6

Would it be possible to mount a heater core in front of the radiator?

No. The outside air enters the plenum at the base of the windshield and goes thru the core under the dash to be heated by the hot coolant water circulating thru the core in order to warm the interior of a car. Hope that makes sense.

[Junkman]

Originally Posted by BigJimZ16

If the heater core were to be mounted in front of the radiator, how do you suppose the heat would get into the passenger compartment???

Magic. Or you could eat a lot of beans.

[BigJimZ16]

Originally Posted by Junkman

Magic. Or you could eat a lot of beans.

Beans... methane... FUEL!! the beginnings of a perpetual motion machine of sorts.

[C5_346LS6]

Originally Posted by BigJimZ16

If the heater core were to be mounted in front of the radiator, how do you suppose the heat would get into the passenger compartment???

I'm not concerned with heat entering the engine compartment, I live in Texas. I was concerned with keeping engine temps down, but I've found my issue.

I had a 90* elbow connecting the Inlet & Outlet heater core hoses, by passing the heater core. The 90* elbow was restricting coolant flow and I was water temps of 212* in stop & go traffic in 74* weather/ambient temps. I since removed the elbow and cut both inlet and outlet hoses and I have the line shortened from the coolant reservoir connected to the T/stat fitting. I'm now seeing 178* coolant temps in 70* weather/ambient temps in stop & go traffic.