The windshield of my '93 (5.8, 150k) keeps getting that lovely anti-freeze film over a period of time. I don't drive the truck much, so I really have no idea how long it takes. The cooling system was recently flushed, and is setup with 50/50.

For simplicity sake, should I add in a little stop-leak, or just go ahead and swap out the core?

Thanks!

 

New core, stop leak is just another problem.

 

Gotcha. Thank you.

 

Core, no doubt about it.

 

I keep forgetting to replace the core in my 87 Ranger. I've had it bypassed for the last 2 years & here in Socal i really dont need the heater.

One of these days i'll take 30 minutes and replace it.

 

I know how easy it is to keep putting this off, but by the time you pour in a can or 2 of stop leak stuff - then have to replace the Core anyway, 'cause it ends up plugging up the core; might as well bite the bullet, get' er done - out of the way. Its better to choose the time you do the job rather than curse about it when you find you really need that defroster for the windsheild or get stuck in the cold, off road, on a country road, no help, no traffic and no heater.

I've noticed that trucks don't turn into "junkers" overnight, they get there gradually ... usually one postponed project at a time.

 

Mine was doing that and I was like ahh I get that next time im in town, well I forgot about and then it blew up and leaked anti freeze all over my floor. lol

It's only 22 bucks, just put it in a couple weeks ago. Not that hard to do either.

 

I just replaced the heater core in my wife's Chrysler LeBaron over the weekend. It took 6 hours in a professional shop, and every single piece of the dash you can imagine had to come out, then there were parts in there that you probably hadn't imagined that had to come out. The VISORS had to be removed as part of the process to get the heater core out.

That's the kind of vehicle that a heater core change is the last effort you make in fixing the heater.



A Bronco on the other hand... You're probably looking at an easy thirty minutes, maybe a little more if you have A/C. The heater box is in the engine bay, where it should be. Remove the bolts holding it on (a few are behind the glove box I believe), pull it out, put in a new $30 core, and put back together. Problem solved.

Depending on where you live in town, acquiring the heater core may take you longer than putting it in.

 

Thanks for all of the help. Living in PHX, I don't really need it too much, but I am getting tired of the nasty windshield.

 

If you never need it, you could just reroute your coolant lines to bypass the heater core.