[s-cars] Heater Core Qu?

[Tom Green]

Tony,

Why do you want to cut a perfectly good  hose?  There are plenty of connections to unclamp and install the bypass.  Those silicone hoses will probably leak past the clamps.

But, back to your initial look at the leak.  If the heater core is leaking, the coolant will run into the cabin, not the plenum.  Look in the plenum area where the heater hoses run that you are considering cutting.  The airbox with the heater core is half buried in the hole in the bottom of the plenum so that most of the heater core and certainly all the bottom portion where the leak will run is inside the vehicle cabin.  If you have a leak that drips out the plenum drain it is somewhere out there where you are now looking.  Start at the hose connections to the bibs for the heater core and work back to the heater valve and the hoses that supply and return coolant from the engine.  

Tom

> On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:38 PM, "Tony" <tony.curran at sympatico.ca> wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> I have noticed loss of coolant and appearance of wet patch under the plenary 
> in the engine bay and on exhaust pipe. I assuming the heater core has a
> small leak.
> 
> Am I right in assuming the heater core and coolant are only active when
> heating the interior of the car - simple enough question but I have to ask.
> 
> As I can't get around to fixing it in the next couple of weeks(I have the
> write up) I was planning on doing a temporary fix by cutting the two hoses
> and placing a U bend in the engine bay. I do have two replacement hoses as I
> picked up an 034 silicon hose kit a few years ago. This will allow me to
> keep using the car without fear of the heater core letting go completely.
> 
> Good idea?
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Tony
> 
> 96 S6