How Do You Change a Heater Core?

Changing a heater core is usually a complicated job.  Even on older vehicles, it is often difficult just to gain access to and remove the old heater core.

What is a car heater core?

The heater core is essentially a radiator.  Coolant gets pushed through it by your water pump, just like the radiator on the front of your vehicle, but the heater core is usually located somewhere under your dashboard.  Your vehicle’s ventilation system fan pushes air through the heater core and into the cabin of your car or truck to heat it.  The heater core is connected to your engine’s cooling system usually by two hoses that pass through your firewall, often on the passenger side.

The heater core is usually made of thin copper or aluminum so it can easily transfer heat from the coolant to the cabin air for heating, but this also make it easily susceptible to cracks, breaks and holes.

How do you change a car heater core?

Replacing a heater core usually involves the removal of a significant amount of interior paneling and duct work.  It can be difficult to do yourself, or it can be very expensive to pay a mechanic to do given the large amount of time required to remove the necessary components to gain access to the heater core.  Simply allowing your heater core to continue to leak is a poor option as it will allow hot engine coolant to flow into the cabin of your vehicle.  This can cause unpleasant odors, wet carpets and possibly danger to your passengers because of the high temperatures.  Also, as more coolant leaks out, you risk overheating your engine.

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.  BlueDevil Pour-N-Go is an easy to use product that you simply add to your engine coolant and will work to seal your leak as you drive.  For larger leaks, or vehicles with large cooling systems, use BlueDevil Head Gasket Sealer after a complete system flush with BlueDevil Radiator Flush.