Repeat heater core failures
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,256
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From: NC
Repeat heater core failures
In the last 6 months I've had 3 heater cores go out in my 89 7.3 idi, The original and 2 aftermarket Spectra cores. I checked for electrolysis with a volt meter, showed 0.0.95-0.1 well below the 0.3 minimum. Its got a 7lb stant radiator cap, not sure what else to check. The last core blew and I found a pinhole in a tube.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 4
From: NC
I just ordered a new motorcraft aluminum heater core, original aluminum one lasted 28 years. Gonna change the coolant and the additive(vc-8), is there anything else I should do? Thought about hooking a gauge up between the heater hoses and checking for excessive pressure.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,561
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the cheap china replacement cores are paper thin. get a made in USA core and it will last 30 years like the original did.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,298
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From: NJ
If your old core was aluminum it was not original. OE/Motorcraft heater cores have always been heavy brass/copper. As of a couple years ago they still were, it would be quite unfortunate if they stopped making them and sell rebadged China aluminum now.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2013
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From: NC
From what all I see, 80-86 is brass,87+ is aluminum, it had Ford on it, I'll get a pic when I get home
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Cargo Master
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,256
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From: NC
So the brass Ford ones are around $90, hc-1 and hc-3, the aluminum core is hc-7 and the same price. Spectra is cheaper, but available about anywhere.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2015
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Thanks a ton for the numbers, I love part numbers and try to keep as many as I can find around.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Saint Maries Idaho
Glad you figured it out, the brass cores are a heckuva lot better than the aluminum ones. One other thing that will help, is soldering a ground wire to the core and running that to chassis ground (firewall works well). It will help prevent damage from electrolysis. You can also add a radiator cap that has a sacrificial anode to help prevent it as well.