Heater Core Disaster
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 143
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Heater Core Disaster
I've had my 1979 F250 for a few months now, and had accepted a bit of a smell as part and parcel of an older truck. Then on a long trip, after about 5 hours on the highway, there was small, very small, antifreeze leak from the heater core into the cab.
So yesterday I pull the heater box out to change the core. Absolute disaster. This has obviously been leaking for a long long time. There's thick green sludge caked all over the interior. It's an inch thick in the bottom where it's been pooling. No wonder the truck always smelled. It's a wonder I didn't asphyxiate myself on those long drives. Good thing the window doesn't shut right and there was always a good breeze through the cab.
What a dumb design - basically a bowl under the heater core so it has to leak a half gallon before you get any indication...think I'll drill a hole in the bottom while it's out.
It's the dead of winter here. 0F (-19C) today. So I can't work outside. And I'm sure the wife's not gonna be excited about me cleaning this thing in the bathtub, or any other tub/sink in the house.
What a nightmare.
So yesterday I pull the heater box out to change the core. Absolute disaster. This has obviously been leaking for a long long time. There's thick green sludge caked all over the interior. It's an inch thick in the bottom where it's been pooling. No wonder the truck always smelled. It's a wonder I didn't asphyxiate myself on those long drives. Good thing the window doesn't shut right and there was always a good breeze through the cab.
What a dumb design - basically a bowl under the heater core so it has to leak a half gallon before you get any indication...think I'll drill a hole in the bottom while it's out.
It's the dead of winter here. 0F (-19C) today. So I can't work outside. And I'm sure the wife's not gonna be excited about me cleaning this thing in the bathtub, or any other tub/sink in the house.
What a nightmare.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
Likes: 45
From: Southern California
Just replaced the heater core in my '81 last weekend too. I know what you mean about the smell! Mine let loose all of a sudden. Started leaking on the floor and the inside of the cab got all humid like a sauna!
Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
Likes: 0
From: Grande Prairie, AB
Do you have air cond in that ol girl?
Seems like they always go in the dead of winter (or you notice it in the winter) eh? Mine went last winter, it was about -25F (-31c) i threw a pair of gloves on and gave er' .Only took a couple hours, had to do it, my only ride.
Good luck man, hopefully she warms up for ya!
Seems like they always go in the dead of winter (or you notice it in the winter) eh? Mine went last winter, it was about -25F (-31c) i threw a pair of gloves on and gave er' .Only took a couple hours, had to do it, my only ride.
Good luck man, hopefully she warms up for ya!
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: North Vancouver Canada
My heater core on my '93 F150 blew out this morning while driving to work. While driving home, it got so bad that I was having a hard time seeing through the steamy windows. I will have to change it tomorrow night after work, I guess. Do you have to remove the dash to get at it on a '93??
Chris
Chris
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 926
Likes: 3
From: SE, Michigan
Just changed one on my dads 92 F150. Remove the glove box, and take the 8 or so bolts off that hold the plastic cover on. Unclamp the two heater hoses under the hood. Theres two electronic clips that need to be undone under the dash to get the core out as well. Its not that tough of a job. Good Luck
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: North Vancouver Canada
OK thanks. That sounds easier than doing the one on the Chev S10 that I used to own. It wasn't that hard to do, but you had to pull out most of the heater ducting out of the truck from under the dash. The fit was so tight ( because I would not go to the bother of removing the dash) that I cracked a 3" hole in the plastic. Anyhow, I'll do the F150 tomorrow.
Chris
Chris
