Heater core back-flush fixed heat on 2011

[Hogges]

I was about to hack into the dash to install a new heater core, as per the many YouTube videos illustrating how to do it. But I tried a back flush of the heater core first, combined with all new coolant. I used a combination of water from the garden hose and my air compressor, alternating between the two. I flushed in both directions but started from the back side, hoping to clear jammed debris in this way.
It worked! There is still a little bit less heat on the far left vent compared to the others, but a far cry from the ice cold air we had before. I am glad that I tried this less invasive method first.

 

[Chris]

Awesome, I'm happy it worked for you!

 

[Hogges]

Awesome, I'm happy it worked for you!

It’s a good thing, too, as it’s 12F here today. If the outside air gets heated like that when passing through the heater core I figure it works pretty good.

 

[tJKrider]

I was about to hack into the dash to install a new heater core, as per the many YouTube videos illustrating how to do it. But I tried a back flush of the heater core first, combined with all new coolant. I used a combination of water from the garden hose and my air compressor, alternating between the two. I flushed in both directions but started from the back side, hoping to clear jammed debris in this way.
It worked! There is still a little bit less heat on the far left vent compared to the others, but a far cry from the ice cold air we had before. I am glad that I tried this less invasive method first.

Good job @Hogges ! Sometimes it pays to try to simple fix first!!

 

[pc1p]

Before I drop the Hemi in for the final time, I'm absolutely going to do this...

I actually took a measurement of the heatcore hose (16mm btw) so I can get some clear tubing. My plan is to use some CLR to help dissolve any sediments that have built up in there, then use water and compressed air to "flush" it out like you mentioned.

 

[Hogges]

Before I drop the Hemi in for the final time, I'm absolutely going to do this...

I actually took a measurement of the heatcore hose (16mm btw) so I can get some clear tubing. My plan is to use some CLR to help dissolve any sediments that have built up in there, then use water and compressed air to "flush" it out like you mentioned.

There are tools dedicated to coolant flushing. Some look like pressure washer guns, where you hook up the water hose to one terminal and the air compressor to another. Since none of these was available for purchase locally and I needed to take advantage of the one day above freezing, I simply stuck the brass sprayer end of the water hose into the heater hose and then alternated with my air compressor blow gun, which also fit pretty well with the hose inside diameter. If I had to do it again, I might spend the $35 or so for one of these in hopes of getting an even more thorough flush.
My daughter used the Jeep in the past few days with temperatures around 10F and reports that her heat works great.

 

[pc1p]

There are tools dedicated to coolant flushing. Some look like pressure washer guns, where you hook up the water hose to one terminal and the air compressor to another. Since none of these was available for purchase locally and I needed to take advantage of the one day above freezing, I simply stuck the brass sprayer end of the water hose into the heater hose and then alternated with my air compressor blow gun, which also fit pretty well with the hose inside diameter. If I had to do it again, I might spend the $35 or so for one of these in hopes of getting an even more thorough flush.
My daughter used the Jeep in the past few days with temperatures around 10F and reports that her heat works great.

Interesting - can't say I've seen them before. I had noted a forum or maybe a Facebook post from a while ago where someone mentioned that they did exactly as I described above (using CLR to dissolve and then use air/water to flush everything out). Two people in that same thread said they did the same and they have perfectly functioning heat.

Those "flushing guns" look fairly straight foward. Here's the one I found on Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...pLD2ypwwimuNDTS2SHpgDOVnabY5QiewaAmRhEALw_wcB

I may order this and have it ready, since I have the Jeep in the garage and a hot water hose connection nearby...

 

[Hogges]

Interesting - can't say I've seen them before. I had noted a forum or maybe a Facebook post from a while ago where someone mentioned that they did exactly as I described above (using CLR to dissolve and then use air/water to flush everything out). Two people in that same thread said they did the same and they have perfectly functioning heat.

Those "flushing guns" look fairly straight foward. Here's the one I found on Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...pLD2ypwwimuNDTS2SHpgDOVnabY5QiewaAmRhEALw_wcB

I may order this and have it ready, since I have the Jeep in the garage and a hot water hose connection nearby...

I love Summit Racing, good quality products.

Here’s the one I saw on Amazon that looks similar to one I saw featured in a Wrangler YouTube video:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHPGS7P1?tag=wranglerorg-20