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Heater Core Leaking??

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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 07:38 PM
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Heater Core Leaking??

I am getting an intermitten fog through my upper vents and my windshield will fog when I turn on my defroster. My windshield will only "defog" if I turn it up full blast (full heat and full fan speed) and wait like 7-10min. Their may be a small hint of antifreeze in the air, but that could also be my mind playing tricks on me.

Does this sound like my heater core is leaking? Could I use an alumiseal or something like that to fix it for a bit?

I am not really losing coolant that I can tell, but this could be a small leak.
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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 08:10 PM
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Sounds like your heater core to me. I hear that there is a chemical that is similar to the stuff that they use on homes to seal up leaks that is now available for cars. You might want to check it out.
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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 08:11 PM
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Sounds like a leaking core. May take a couple tubes, but it should work.
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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 08:23 PM
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I wouldn't bother messing with sealant. That goes thru your engine. Just replace the heater core. Mine was doing the same thing as you described and a sealant in most cases is just a band aid on a open wound.

It is leaking for a reason and will only get worse.
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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 08:23 PM
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I just want to make sure the sealer won't mess anything else up.
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Old Feb 15, 2008 | 08:24 PM
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see my post. I think we posted at the same time.
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Old Feb 16, 2008 | 09:28 AM
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Yeah i think we did also. I appreciate the help!

Paul
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Old Feb 16, 2008 | 11:24 AM
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The stuff I read about was not run through the block. You disconnected the hoses from the heater core and pumped this stuff through (after a good cleaning) and it is sealed. they claimed that it would last at least ten years.

I believe that it was some kind of an epoxy?
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Old Feb 16, 2008 | 04:19 PM
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Wow!! That would be awesome! I will have to try and research that.
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Old Feb 16, 2008 | 10:15 PM
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Heater Core

I just replaced my heater core. It let go (big time). Around here, Advanced Auto Parts had the best price, $89.00. It has a lifetime warranty and they had them in stock. Replaceing it was somewhat labor intensive....
Take care.
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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 11:43 AM
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Well I bit the bullet and replaced the heater core. It wasn't all that bad. I did it in 8 hours including travel time to advanced for the new part. The saving grace was the swivel ability of the tubes on the new heater core. Otherwise it would have been a major PITA.


Thanks for all of the help everyone.

Paul
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Old Feb 19, 2008 | 01:46 PM
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you did the right thing for sure. Could you try sending those pictures of your truck again?
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Old Feb 20, 2008 | 06:23 AM
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Sure! The e-mail must have bounced back.
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 08:46 PM
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Did you have to pull your air conditioner hoses off to do it with the moveable tubes?
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 09:40 PM
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I just did mine a week ago. I just removed the clips off the A/C lines and removed the bolts on the HVAC housing and slid it back, Cut the tubes off the old core and replaced it with a core with swivel tubes. The whole job took me about four hours start to finish. The core cost $200 bucks but I figured it was cheaper than having the A/C serviced and refilled, But when I went to reinstall the drier to the firewall it had rusted and started to leak the oil out of it so maybe I did not save anything after all....................
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