Heater Maintenance
 

I was wondering if some one could give me a quick rundown on how to Clean/service/inspect my Heater. With it being cold now I run it pretty much constantly. Unlike every other XJ out there mine seems to be a bit drafty. ;)
Is there anything I can do to service it or clean it. I noticed a funky smell if I run it for about 30-40 minutes. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks:sweatdrop:

Removing the heater hoses an flushing the core in both directions with the garden hose may help, by getting any debris out of it....Hoses look OK ?
Engine temp gauge reading normal temp ?

Ok Thank you. Yes everything looks ok. I do not have any problems with temp, just thinking about it and I have never serviced my Heating system, and figured I should.

Inspection of the heatercore would require a bit of work to get to it.
Just flush both ways through the heater hoses sevral times. Will likely flush out some crud, depending how long it has been.
THe 'funky smell' sometimes can be treated by spraying air cleaner/desinfectant into the inlet with the fan on high.

All that's needed is what I've been doing for the last 50+ yrs.. When you clean and flush your engine and radiator just make sure the heater is on and the temp is on high so the heater is flowing fully is all that is needed.

That way everything is cleaned/flushed at the same time as it should be. My father taught me this when I was 12 yrs. old and helping him on his annual clean/flush/fill. I'm really surprised at how few know to do this simple step in the process and neglect the heater core.

^^^^^^Yep thats the way Ive been doing it..Works like a charm.

One thing u may want to consider is, removing/eliminating the heater control valve, if u haven't already. '96 down have the HCV, '97 up the Factory eliminated it.

During the warm months, with a HCV, (temp lever/knob never moved off cold) coolant sits and stagnates inside the heater core.....there's no fresh coolant/corrosion protection circulation thru the heater core. With the HCV removed/eliminated, coolant/corrosion protection flows thru the heater core constantly when the motor is running, regardless of where the temp lever/knob is set . With HCV eliminated, u don't have to remember to turn/slide the heat lever/knob when flushing/re-filling the cooling system....coolant is flowing to/thru the heater core when the motor is running and the HCV is absent. Be sure to plug/cap the small vacuum hose when eliminating the HCV.

Thank you Fred! I will be sure to do this. This is the reason I asked the question, I did not find a whole lot of step by step info on this. even after an advanced search of the forum. Everyone says to just flush the system with a hose, I wouldn't have thought about putting the heater on high. Good info. I commend you sir for your knowledge.
DBJ That is a very interesting point. I this is definitely an option I will look into and makes total sense. Thank you for the help.
Everyone that posted a reply I appreciate the help.

It's the lack of information transfer through the generations nowadays ;)

Or the lack of FSM,where it is stated to be done when refilling the radiator with new coolant, IIRC...or that might just be me recalling this to be done, thought by a wise(r) old man, once...

The HCV default position is "open" when the motor is off (no vacuum applied to the HCV). With the motor off and both heater hoses removed at the water pump and t-stat cover, a garden hose can be inserted in either heater hose to flush the heater core. When the temp selector knob/lever is moved from the full left (cold) position, vacuum is cut to the HCV, and it should fully open thus allowing coolant flow to/thru the heater core.

I would think during warm weather months it would be a good idea to turn/slide the temp selector knob/lever once a week or so (motor running) just to allow stagnant coolant in the heater core to be flushed out and replaced with fresh coolant. Remember, the HCV is controlled by the temp selector knob/lever, not the vent selector knob/lever.

No HCV.....no need to move the temp selector knob/lever.

Excellent explanation and suggestion.

Thank you, thank you very much...................Elvis might be in the house.:lol:

I hope you saved that post for future use....

Now u tell me.:lol:

Here ya go:

One thing u may want to consider, is removing/eliminating the heater control valve, if you haven't already. '96 down have the HCV, '97 up the Factory eliminated it.

During the warm months, with a HCV, (temp lever/knob never moved off cold) coolant sits and stagnates inside the heater core.....There's no fresh coolant/corrosion protection circulation through the heater core.

With the HCV removed/eliminated, coolant/corrosion protection flows through the heater core constantly when the motor is running, regardless of where the temp lever/knob is set.

Also, you don't have to remember to turn/slide the heat lever/knob when flushing/re-filling the cooling system because coolant is flowing to/through the heater core when the motor is running and the HCV is absent.

Be sure to plug/cap the small vacuum hose when eliminating the HCV.