Has anyone unclogged a heater core? If so what have you used to unclog it? My 1998 Blazer has a clogged heater core and I've tried a few different things to unclog it including radiator flush. It works for a while then stops heating again. What I've used it Coke A Cola, Radiator Flush, Dish Deteregent in the coolant.
- Thread starter John B.
- Start date
If you can , reverse the hoses on the core. It doesn't care which direction the coolant flows through it and if you can reverse the flow you will gradually work more debris out of it instead of just plugging right back up. Flush the core both directions with a garden hose until it comes out clean.
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
Switch the hoses and run it backwards for a while.
I had a 69 Rambler that the heat quit on it. I tried flushing it, etc, etc. You would have had to pull the whole heater housing and half of the dash to change the core.
Someone told me to switch the hoses so I did.
It worked fine after that.
I had a 69 Rambler that the heat quit on it. I tried flushing it, etc, etc. You would have had to pull the whole heater housing and half of the dash to change the core.
Someone told me to switch the hoses so I did.
It worked fine after that.
When I worked for a GM garage we had that issue quite often. We always used one of those brass water spouts that you twist the end to turn it on. It was drilled and tapped with a Schrader valve. We unhooked both heater hoses and put the hose in one side and turned the water on. While it was circulating through,you would hit the valve with a shot of air with an air hose. Do that several times and it will clear it up. Never had a return after the customer took it.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Fill the system with vinegar and run it hat way. Then pull the heater hoses off and hook one end to a garden hose and see if you can flush it out with the hose
BAnNC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Western North Carolina
Reverse the hoses, run for a while, maybe it will break loose.
OR blow it out with pressure and water. Then be ready to replace the water pump within weeks cause it will blow all the seals.
OR dismantle the interior of the Blazer and replace the heater core. BTDT to all of the above.
OR blow it out with pressure and water. Then be ready to replace the water pump within weeks cause it will blow all the seals.
OR dismantle the interior of the Blazer and replace the heater core. BTDT to all of the above.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
Make sure the hoses and the connectors at the engine are not clogged ... BTDT and almost got whopped...
I rig up my water hose so I can hook directly to the heater core connections and flush the ell out of it both ways... I will soak one from time to time with CLR if I have a few days. Nuttin in soak form will help unless you give it TIME... To keep the rust out add a few cans of water pump lube I get it at NAPA.... Your Chebby S10 and a Ford Taurus are of the worst its the nature of the beast... You have my condolence both are a P.O.S. and should be ground up into sausage if and when they hit 100K....
Lou from Wi.
Well-known Member
John B,
Go to a plumbing supply house and ask for a bottle of Calci-Solve. Link below. It is used to clean boiler tubes, and derusts a whole raft of things. Cleaned out our steam jenny tubing without harming the tubing. We've also used it on heater cores. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT BREATHE THE FUMES, WEAR RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION! We set our heater core in a small plastic tote, and poured Calci solve into the core,full strength. It didn't take long to clean it. Neutralize the acid with baking soda and water after you drain the calci sole from the core. We used it over and over again in the same bottle,using a small funnel to refill the bottle with the used acid. It is an excellent product. Hope this helps.
LOU
poke here
Go to a plumbing supply house and ask for a bottle of Calci-Solve. Link below. It is used to clean boiler tubes, and derusts a whole raft of things. Cleaned out our steam jenny tubing without harming the tubing. We've also used it on heater cores. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT BREATHE THE FUMES, WEAR RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION! We set our heater core in a small plastic tote, and poured Calci solve into the core,full strength. It didn't take long to clean it. Neutralize the acid with baking soda and water after you drain the calci sole from the core. We used it over and over again in the same bottle,using a small funnel to refill the bottle with the used acid. It is an excellent product. Hope this helps.
LOU
poke here
onefarmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- 6735 S Lowell Rd, St Johns, Mi 48879
I have a 66 c60 Chevy the core was almost completely clogged. I've had this method work several times before too. Take both hoses off the engine Put a garden hose to one and get it to flowing. Once it flows good stop the garden hose and using an air hose blow thru it full force. Fill the core with water and blow it again. Fill with water and blow the other way. Continue until water coming out is clear. It has always worked for me and never blew up a core yet.
CAREFULLY remove both heater hoses at the core.
Note: Spit the hoses with a knife and remove. DO NOT twist or pull unless you want the distasteful job of replacing the heater core.
Use a garden hose and water pressure to back flush the core.
Replace the hoses.
Replace coolant with new anti freexe and distilled water every two years and never use stop leak to prevent reoccurrance.
Dean
Note: Spit the hoses with a knife and remove. DO NOT twist or pull unless you want the distasteful job of replacing the heater core.
Use a garden hose and water pressure to back flush the core.
Replace the hoses.
Replace coolant with new anti freexe and distilled water every two years and never use stop leak to prevent reoccurrance.
Dean
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
If the heater core is plugged you can bet the rest of the cooling system is also plugged.
This is why using distilled water and a quality antifreeze is recommended . Although every time distilled water is mentioned . Some Bubba starts flapping their yap about how they have used tap water for 50 years and there has never been a cooling system problem in their vehicles or equipment.
Try the Calci- Solve or whatever the other guy recommended, if that doesn't work try the CLR, if that doesn't work go to a farm supply and get some of the Acid dairy farmers use on their milk equipment to control milkstone deposits (it's a phosphoric acid), if that doesn't work look for 66 baume Hydrochloric Acid (may also be called Muratic acid) if you work at it long enough the Muratic will dissolve the mineral build up OR the heater core itself. By the time you get to the Muratic/Hydrochloric acid your are employing the Nuclear option on mineral build ups. But before I did all of this I'd make sure the valve that controls flow through the heater core is working and isn't plugged itself.
Go to store and get Cascade dishwashing powder. Make a strong solution and add too radiator run several miles to get warm,THEN back flush heater core with water hose. Then flush the radiator with water. May need to do this a couple times. Very surprised at the crud that comes out. My '04 GMC looked like almost a tar like substance came out of the heater core, no problems since.
John
John
Fullers Farmalls
Member
If you are running Dex cool in that blazer and by chance soe one added some green antifreeze you will have a nightmare cleaning that system. If you get it clean change over to the green stuff. It doesn't break down nearly as fast that awful Dexcool
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy