RE: [xj-s] Heater Core Filter

["Danvers, David W" <DANVED@Exchange.AtlantaGA.NCR.com>]

Great Idea!

So why don't those of us who are not sure what might be floating around in
the cooling system, spend the $5.00, install the system, , bring the cat up
to full operating temp, turn on our heaters full blast for five minutes and
see what we can catch?

Might be interesting...

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Kirbert [SMTP:palmk@mailer.gadcomm.net]
> Sent:	Tuesday, July 21, 1998 10:47 PM
> To:	xj-s@jag-lovers.org
> Subject:	[xj-s] Heater Core Filter
> 
> A pair of Gano radiator hose filters is on order.  However, the Gano 
> literature also offers a smaller filter assembly for protecting the 
> heater core from plugging.  My immediate reaction was "Who cares?  If 
> the heater core gets plugged, it doesn't damage the engine."
> 
> On top of this, the basic radiator hose filter is in a clear tube so 
> you can see the screen getting plugged (you can get a brass version, 
> I guess for plastic-phobes) while the filter assembly for the heater 
> hose is brass and must be disassembled if you suspect pluggage.
> 
> So, I didn't order one.  Then, today, I'm shopping for other stuff, 
> and two realizations came to me:
> 
> a)  The heater core getting plugged might not damage the engine, but 
> it'd still be no picnic to fix.
> 
> b)  I don't need to get this item from Gano; it's available in any 
> hardware store!  All it requires is a pair of fittings for a 5/8" 
> garden hose, and one of those hose washers with the built-in conical 
> screen.
> 
> FYI, garden hose fittings generally come in three flavors:  The 
> plastic crap, the slightly better "corrogated" brass (made of thin 
> brass formed to shape), and actual quality fittings machined from 
> solid brass.  This being the US, 95% of consumers are morons who buy 
> the plastic crap, and 95% of retailers are also morons who cater to 
> this stupidity rather than making the slightest efforts towards 
> educating their customers on why a better product is the wiser buy.  
> So, the solid machined brass items are a little hard to find.
> 
> I found that Home Depot carries an excellent set.  Made by Nelson, 
> item N-1558 B, "5/8" Brass Hose Repair -- Extra Heavy Duty Rod Brass" 
> contains a male fitting, a female fitting, two SS worm screw hose 
> clamps, and one rubber washer -- IOW, everything you need except that 
> you'll need to pitch the simple washer and install a screened washer 
> instead.  This set costs about $5, and the screened washers are cheap 
> -- I had some already since I use them in the lines to the washing 
> machine (the application they are typically intended for).  In fact, 
> with a little shopping you can actually find screened washers in two 
> or three different screen grid sizes (I chose the biggest holes I 
> could find; the fine ones are REALLY fine).  After screwing the 
> two fittings together with this screened washer in the middle, just 
> cut the heater hose from the engine to the heater valve and install 
> this assembly with the clamps.
> 
> An alternative method might be to simply buy a 5/8" hose intended to 
> connect a washing machine to the faucet.  These hoses are about 5 
> feet long and already have the screened washer in place.  All 
> you need to do is cut the hose in the middle somewhere, screw the 
> ends together, and install the entire hose as the line from the 
> engine to the heater valve.  It might not actually be made of 
> automotive heater hose, but these hoses are intended to carry 
> domestic hot water and be reliable enough that you can go on vacation 
> for a month and not worry about the hose bursting and flooding your 
> house while you're gone.
> 
> You'll probably need to clean it out a coupla times right off the 
> bat, since an unscreened system is probably circulating a lot of 
> crap.  Cleaning this thing should be easy, though, since you can 
> easily install this thing at the VERY highest point in the system and 
> not even have to do any draining.  Just unscrew the two hose fittings 
> from each other, clean out the crud, and reassemble.
> 
> Will the screen in the line reduce flow to the heater core?  Perhaps. 
>  Here in FL, we couldn't care less; any flow at all is enough, and 
> most of the time we'd rather have LESS flow.  But you guys who live 
> in the less habitable climates might think before installing this 
> screen.  I have this suggestion:  Install the screen assembly, and 
> then when winter approaches, unscrew the fittings and replace the 
> screened washer with a normal hose washer.  That way, you get 
> filtration in the summer, full flow in the winter.  With any luck at 
> all, the filtration in the summer will take enough of the crud out of 
> the system that there won't be any pluggage during the winter.
> 
>  -- Kirbert      |     If anything is to be accomplished,
>                  |     some rules must be broken.
>                  |          - Palm's Postulate

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