Is the heater-core and associated lines required for flow?

[mspiegle]

I'm removing all the HVAC stuff in the car and was curious if flow through the heater-core is necessary for normal coolant flow. I'd like to just remove it all and block it off at the engine so I never have to worry about it again. Thanks!

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

geez living it rough in your E30 eh?

I would end myself if I didn't have AC/Heat in my car

[mspiegle]

geez living it rough in your E30 eh?

I would end myself if I didn't have AC/Heat in my car

dude, you kidding me? this is socal. all I need is a pile of blankets in the passenger seats and i'm good to go :)


actually, it's for my track car. I know you can connect the coolant lines together to bypass the heater, but if I can just cut a couple block-off plates and seal the whole thing *permanently*, i'd be much happier.

[Jon325i]

It can (and has) been done. IIRC, there's two passages through the firewall - one in and one out - for the heatercore. Some kind of U-shaped tube or hose can be fab'd up to close the loop. So long as your radiator, fan & H2O pump are in good working order, there shouldn't be a problem.

Jon

P.S. When you get all that stuff ripped out, weigh it and post what you got. Track junkies with inquiring minds want to know :hitler:

[jlevie]

You can remove and plug the hoses that pass through the heater core. That won't affect engine operation. But I'd argue that having a working defroster can be a plus on a track car. May not be much of an issue in SoCal, but if you are ever out on the track in the wet and have the windshield fog up you'll really wish the defroster was operable.

[mspiegle]

You can remove and plug the hoses that pass through the heater core. That won't affect engine operation. But I'd argue that having a working defroster can be a plus on a track car. May not be much of an issue in SoCal, but if you are ever out on the track in the wet and have the windshield fog up you'll really wish the defroster was operable.

Sweet, that's what I was hoping for. You make a good point on the defroster...

[xLibelle]

just in case you didnt pick this up, the line that comes out of the back of the head and goes to the heater core, you MUST have that continue back to the tstat. That line is key to moving coolant through your engine.

you can purchase smaller heater cores for the purpose of defrosting windows but thats a case in which you should decide. I removed mine and havent had any problems yet, but i will curse the day when i need it.