What is the heater core responsible for?
The heater core is part of a car’s cooling system. It looks and acts like a smaller version of a radiator, circulating coolant through the little tubes and radiating heat into the cabin.
What does it mean when your heater core is leaking?
Having a leaking heater core can be one of the most frustrating leaks you can have in your vehicle. Almost any leak in your car is an external leak, meaning the leaking fluid will just leak out onto the ground.
Can a car heater core leak into the cabin?
Even if you have an older vehicle with the heater core outside the cabin, leaking fluid can still find its way into the cabin through the ventilation ducts. Having coolant leaking into the cabin of your vehicle can cause all sorts of problems.
What happens when a heater core is ruptured in a car?
When you run the heater or defroster in your car, coolant travels through both the heater core and radiator. That means that a ruptured heater core will cause coolant leak out, resulting in a low coolant level in your radiator. Keep in mind that you should only check your radiator’s coolant level when the engine is completely cold.
Can you use K seal to fix a heater core leak?
Can K-Seal Fix My Heater Core? If you’re looking for a heater core leak quick fix, then you’re in luck — K-Seal will fix most leaks in the heater core. When using K-Seal for this type of repair make sure that the heater is switched to maximum so that it flows through the pipes and reaches the leak, permanently sealing it.
How dangerous is a leaking heater core?
A heater core often goes bad due to leaking. As the heater core uses engine coolant to generate heat, a leaking heater core will reduce the amount of coolant in the cooling system. Low coolant will cause an engine to run at a higher temperature, which can result in extensive engine damage .
How can I stop a leak in my heater core?
The most effective way to stop a leaking heater core is to use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer or Pour-N-Go. BlueDevil Pour-N-Go is a quick and easy solution to many cooling system leaks in your car or truck, including a leaking heater core.
How do you repair a heater core?
If replacing your heater core with a new unit is not an option, repairing it may be possible. This process typically involves boiling the core in a large tank for several hours, passing a rod through the tubes to clear them of blockage, and then soldering the tubes wherever a heater core leak has developed.
Do I have a bad heater core?
Signs of a bad heater core are few, but noticeable. If the radiator is full and the thermostat works but no heat comes through the vents, that’s a sign of a bad heater core. An odor of antifreeze coming from the vents when the heater or defroster is on also points to a bad heater core.