Having a leaking heater core can be one of the most frustrating leaks you can have in your vehicle. Nearly every leak in your vehicle is an external one. The fluid will leak onto the ground. Sure, that isn’t the best for the environment and it can make a mess in your driveway or the parking lot at work, but at the end of the day as long as you keep your fluids topped off, you can keep driving your vehicle relatively comfortably.
What Does A Heater Core Do?
The purpose of a heater core is to bring warm coolant into the cabin of your vehicle so the ventilation air can be warmed up allowing your car’s defroster and heater to work properly. Think of it as a small radiator.
What are the symptoms of a leaking heater core?
A leaking heater core usually will cause a much more annoying leak. The heater core is located inside most vehicles. Even if the heater core is located outside of the vehicle’s cabin, fluid can still leak into the cabin through the ventilation conduits.
Coolant can leak into your vehicle’s cabin, causing a variety of problems. First, when your car isn’t warmed up yet, the coolant will make a mess on your floorboards and possible start the process of corrosion. Coolant can seep into carpet padding and carpeting if it leaks onto the floor. This moisture can cause corrosion to your car’s floor pan if it remains trapped under your carpet. This can happen under your carpet and quickly spiral out of control. In extreme cases, corrosion can cause damage to the vehicle’s flooring and make it unsafe.
The coolant can leak into the vehicle’s interior because it will reach almost 200 degrees when heated up. The hot coolant will soon turn into steam inside your vehicle, which will cause an unpleasant odor. It can quickly spread through your ventilation system, making it difficult to eliminate the odor. Depending on the size of the leak, steam can cause fogging issues on your windows. It is also possible for the steam to spread through your ventilation system making it difficult to remove the issue. Lastly, antifreeze is a poisonous substance so breathing in its vapors can even be harmful to you and your passengers.
If you have a leaking heater core, then you may have experienced some of these symptoms and have realized how frustrating it can be. It isn’t unusual for heat cores to develop leaks because they are often made from relatively thin metal to help aid in the heat transfer from the hot coolant inside to the air being blown over it by your vehicle’s HVAC system. Over time, this thin metal can cause cracks. Also, joints in your heater core may become loosen due to road vibrations and bumps.
Can I replace a leaking heater core?
Replacing a leaking heater core can be an extremely annoying project due to its location in your vehicle. The heater core should be placed next to your fan that circulates the air through the ventilation system. This fan should be close to your car’s firewall to allow it to pull in air from outside or circulate the air inside, depending on how the system is set up. If you have air condition in your car, then the AC evaporator will be right next to the heater core which is also a delicate piece of equipment that is difficult to move.
Can I repair a leaking heater core?
Fixing a leaking heater core will always be much easier than replacing one. Since it is only a small leak in the heater core, we recommend simply sealing that leak and leaving your heater core in place. You can do this by simply by adding BlueDevil Pour-N-Go to your vehicle’s radiator when your vehicle is cold. When BlueDevil Pour-N-Go reaches the leak point, the temperature differential will cause a chemical weld to form sealing your leak without affecting any other part of your cooling system.
To learn more about BlueDevil Pour-N-Go, visit our website here: Pour N Go Head Gasket Sealer
You can purchase BlueDevil Pour-N-Go from any of our partnering local auto parts stores like:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributer
- DYK Automotive
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