Heater core
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 54
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From: Maine
Heater core
Hello, all. I've got a '96 F150 302. The heater was never that great and this morning I was blowing icicles.. had the windows down in 8*f weather.. warmer outside
! So, while I figure it may just be the foam seal, I've got a suspicion the heater's plugged up. Knowing how she was cared for before she became mine, I would nearly bet on it. I've read some goods and many bads about the new cores. On EBay I see them for cheap, then for around $80-100.00 for said to be OEM Motorcraft.. I've never had trouble with Motorcraft before, but hearing about the newer aluminum cores.. I'm just kind or worried. How do they hold up, or for that matter, what's the one to get these days? I'm fixing to pull mine and get something in it thats supposed to be good, and send mine off to be properly rebuilt at a radiator shop, and if the other holds up well I'll keep it for a spare, or vice versa. As it is the car I learnt to drive on has much better heat.. and it's a good sixty-something years older. ('31 Ford). Any ideas out there? Not much of a job to change I see, but I just want to do it right.
! So, while I figure it may just be the foam seal, I've got a suspicion the heater's plugged up. Knowing how she was cared for before she became mine, I would nearly bet on it. I've read some goods and many bads about the new cores. On EBay I see them for cheap, then for around $80-100.00 for said to be OEM Motorcraft.. I've never had trouble with Motorcraft before, but hearing about the newer aluminum cores.. I'm just kind or worried. How do they hold up, or for that matter, what's the one to get these days? I'm fixing to pull mine and get something in it thats supposed to be good, and send mine off to be properly rebuilt at a radiator shop, and if the other holds up well I'll keep it for a spare, or vice versa. As it is the car I learnt to drive on has much better heat.. and it's a good sixty-something years older. ('31 Ford). Any ideas out there? Not much of a job to change I see, but I just want to do it right.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 372
Likes: 5
From: 85716
I put in a Spectra Premium heater core a few months ago. It came with the foam weatherstrip already attached. The foam goes all the way around the heater core and keeps it sealed to the heater box.
If you buy the Motorcraft heater core, you have to get your own weatherstrip. It is the bare core only.
FYI the core you remove will have weather strip attached to it. It is old and brittle so you can't really remove it and re-use it.
If you buy the Motorcraft heater core, you have to get your own weatherstrip. It is the bare core only.
FYI the core you remove will have weather strip attached to it. It is old and brittle so you can't really remove it and re-use it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
+1 if its not leaking yet might be worth a try. If not I put a spectre one in my bronco a few months ago as well. A couple of the screws are a PIA to get to behind the dash. It was only like $20-$30 for the part though.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: Maine
Yes, I've heard of those Spectre ones.. but in my reading they only last a few years for the most part.. heck mine's the original. I find myself wondering if the one I spoke of in the first place is just a rebadge though.. I guess I'll try flushing it, nothing to loose I suppose.
Senior User
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 466
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
Yes, I've heard of those Spectre ones.. but in my reading they only last a few years for the most part.. heck mine's the original. I find myself wondering if the one I spoke of in the first place is just a rebadge though.. I guess I'll try flushing it, nothing to loose I suppose.
I am not positive but I feel like that heater core had a lifetime warranty from autozone. So at least I won't be out another $26.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 566
Likes: 5
From: SC
I just pulled the hoses off my '95's heater core and used a garden hose to push some water through briefly. Seemed a little rusty. Swapped to the other outlet and piles of brown crap came out. (Back when it was still warm) Went ahead and backflushed through the radiator too. Watched all manner of gunk come out of the cap opening. Added some chemical flush and drove a week. Did the flushing all over again. Drove around another week with water and flushed everything again. Weather started getting cool so I stopped and got antifreeze back in it. Now that it's really cold the heater kicks. After 20-30 minutes of driving I have to turn it down. Last year it got barely warm and would hardly even melt ice off the windshield.
If and when the heater core starts leaking then and only then will I have any interest in replacing it.
I realize the weather is completely wrong for duplicating exactly what I did but I bet a quick backflush of just the heater core itself would make a major difference.
If and when the heater core starts leaking then and only then will I have any interest in replacing it.
I realize the weather is completely wrong for duplicating exactly what I did but I bet a quick backflush of just the heater core itself would make a major difference.
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New User
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I had problems with the core on my Dad's 91 F250. After discovering the leak, I replaced it and it broke within a few days. Luckily, the new one was warranted so I replaced it again. It turns out a sticky radiator cap was letting the pressure get too high and the core (being the weak link apparently) was blowing out.
Radiator caps are cheap, so I'd recommend replacing it as well.
Radiator caps are cheap, so I'd recommend replacing it as well.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: tucson/luray usa
I had problems with the core on my Dad's 91 F250. After discovering the leak, I replaced it and it broke within a few days. Luckily, the new one was warranted so I replaced it again. It turns out a sticky radiator cap was letting the pressure get too high and the core (being the weak link apparently) was blowing out.
Radiator caps are cheap, so I'd recommend replacing it as well.
Radiator caps are cheap, so I'd recommend replacing it as well.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
I put in a Spectra Premium heater core a few months ago. It came with the foam weatherstrip already attached. The foam goes all the way around the heater core and keeps it sealed to the heater box.
If you buy the Motorcraft heater core, you have to get your own weatherstrip. It is the bare core only.
FYI the core you remove will have weather strip attached to it. It is old and brittle so you can't really remove it and re-use it.
If you buy the Motorcraft heater core, you have to get your own weatherstrip. It is the bare core only.
FYI the core you remove will have weather strip attached to it. It is old and brittle so you can't really remove it and re-use it.
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