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The smelly Westy rear
heater core, (removal & maintenance)
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The
smelly "beast", It take 5 minute to get the sucker out from the camper
version. 2 small screws, 1 connector and the 2 hoses clip. Be careful,
you will spill some coolant on the floor.
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Remove
the 2 metal clip and pull out the front grill.
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First remove the
2 valve screws. |
Valve: The O-ring should be replace
and seal (my idea) with Loctite 518 Sealant. My Westy rear heater is a
bit smelly but i found no leak at all, nothing near the O-ring & valve
or neither at the core that was also tested at 15psi!!!!, the valve by
itself when true a 15psi test. You will see later that the core is in
medium condition but NO lost of pressure at 15psi. Another Westy
mystery...
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Pull out the core and test this one to at
least 15 psi. |
Check for corrosion, mine is showing some
at one end but it does not loose pressure. I think that when hot, it
leak just a little bit and it's enough for a small smell in the van. (see
picture below) $69.99USD!!!
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You can
see the corrosion here, probably I sign of fatigue. I am thinking of
removing the rear core, I don’t use this one at all and it’s expensive
to replace for something I don’t use (summer camping only), I also would like the extra
space under the bench… If you want to remove the rear core you simply
have to remove or block the “T” connector and the 2 hoses that goes to
the heater.
- A:
To the front heater core
- B:
Up to the rear heater core (B is smaller, it act like a
restrictor.)
- C:
To the big cooling tube between the termo. and the water pump
or to the cooling distributor on the passenger side.
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Compression
test without a compressor and a gauge
| How to make a
compression test without a compressor and a gauge / regulator (That
I have, sorry). Take a old bicycle pump (or similar), cut the end of
the tube and make some kind of adaptor that will fit between the
radiator / heater core and the pump tube. (you can find all kind of
adaptor and fitting at any auto part or hardware store). Close the
other end of the core with a 4 inches tube and a bolt. Pump air into
core until it’s hard to pump, you should have more PSI than needed;
spay water and soap on core and look for leak. Another way is to
fill the core with hot water, pump a few time and look for water
leak. 
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