Recency did my heater core, Have wonderful heat now, and no more fogging windows and nasty *** smell!

This seems to be a popular topic lately. If anyone is planning on doing there core, let me know, Id be glad to help with some pointers, all things considered it wasn't that bad of a job.

Total cost:

$75 for core
$40 for coolant
$30 for new heater hose and clamps
$25 for beer

$170 sure beats the $700 the mechanic wanted to do the job.

Took a Saturday afternoon, probably 4-5 hours total, had an extra set of hands which helped alot.

Also, you do NOT have to discharge the AC, unless of course you are doing your evap core at the same time. In my case my evap was fine.

EDIT: Pics of my truck in pieces and the nasty *** core that came out!!!

https://i.imgur.com/Gfqz6.jpg - Oh god what have I done!

https://i.imgur.com/KhgUq.jpg - Nasty!

https://i.imgur.com/5FR0O.jpg -Ew!

 

Congrats. it's a real PITA but once it's done you feel like you've conquered the Roman Empire.

 

Yep! Definatly felt good!

The only real big snag I had was I tried to re-use the old hose clamps with the new hoses I bought...as soon as it got up to operating temperature coolant started leaking out all of the hoses and into the cab a little ...Mopped that up quick and went and bought new clamps and all was great.

..Lesson learned! DONT RE-USE THE CLAMPS!

 

Lol I just did mine. I gotta a friend that needs his done this weekend so he's paying me $250 to do it. Im not complaining lol

 

Post pics of the old core, I thought mine was pretty terrible, im curious how bad they can get!

 

They get a lot worse depending on how long it was leaking obviously. But where you able to get the debris out of the box before reinstalling the new HC? With a vacuum or something?

 

I used a vacuum and these water pads that soak up water only. Worked great

 

I stuffed a rag down in there and mopped up all I could, there wasnt really much in there, the foamy part at the bottom was drenched, but not dripping when I pulled it out, so im assuming it had absorbed most of that had managed to leak to the bottom.

Pretty sure I got most/all of it because I dont smell any anti-freeze smell anymore and my windows no longer fog with the heat on.

If you look at my pics you can see that the leak was at the top of the core (Its wet and dripping down from the top) so im thinking the vast majority of the coolant was evaporating before having a chance to pool at the bottom.

 

Thanks for the info. Only reason I asked is because I believe the HC and the AC core rot from all the crap that gets in the box to begin with.Rotting them from the outside in. This can help with that theory. http://www.genosgarage.com/prodinfo....r=CFF-DG-0610K

 

Here was mine. Not terrible, just leaked bad. Ill get a pic of my friends this weekend