Cold - Bloody freezing

[slobbo]

Well I've discovered that the front of my bus is a cold place to be at 70mph on the motorway in -10. Went down to work in Blackpool (from Dunfermline Scotland) and back and discovered that either the VR6 runs too cool or the heater is pants because at best the heat coming out of the vents was about as warm as am excited perverts breath.

When your dotting about town the heat is fine (not roasting) it is only at motorway speeds and when the temperature is mega low.

I have had the Webasto running in the back to try to compensate but I have also discovered that there must be the odd unplugged hole in the panel at the front that delivers an arctic blast right on my feet further adding to my misery. I managed to plug the worst one with a bit of chewing gum. Ended up driving up the road with a blanket over my legs.

Any body else discovered this joy?

[The BCE]

That sounds nasty! The heating has gone in Cait's car (and I'm trying to avoid buying the part needed) ... she went off to work today with gloves and a hat.

[eatcustard]

Thermostat playing up?

[Zebedee]

My passat is doing the same thing. I'd check the thermostat isn't stuck open.

[ghost123uk]

On most engines there is a pipe in the cooling system known as a "bypass" pipe.

It's job is to allow coolant to flow around the block when the thermostat is closed (cold engine) and the heater is in the OFF position. There was a cooling circuit diagram posted on here recently and I bet that shows where it is on a standard setup.

This link = http://tinyurl.com/ycjbnco" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; shows a mod (for scooby engined vans) for an automatic heater bypass valve that stops the flow around the bypass circuit when the heater is turned on.

I had a Hillman imp once.
It's heater was rubbish.
I discovered that if I blocked this bypass hose up (with a simple clamp) it forced much more hot water around the heater and made it very effective.

I mention all this because I wonder that, if on an engine converted T25, a bypass hose is not allowing enough flow to the heater.

I would suggest identifying the bypass hose and try clamping it off.
Obviously it is important to make sure it is the bypass hose you are clamping or you might damage the normal flow around the engine.

Also make sure if you do this, that you NEVER turn the heater OFF or you will not have any circulation around the engine when it is cold (=thermostat not open).

Deffo worth looking into I would think.

.

[syncropaddy]

I had steam out of my screen vents this morning in minus 7. The heater rad had frozen up as my anti freeze mix was too weak. Sorted now. I also had trouble last night in much colder temps with the diesel.

I added 3 litres of petrol to about 35 litres of diesel and it didnt gel up like it did yesterday

[caveman]

I have been reading alot on this site the last few days to see how everybody is coping. I'm trying not to be smug because you all really did get a good blast of winter, but i digress...
I notice that if the defrost is on, i.e knob to right, cold air comes into the cab. Once your windows have defrosted, move the knob more to the left, just enough to keep the windscreen clean. This is beside the usual making sure your thermostat is operating properly, a-freeze strength is right, and the cable is opening the valve all the way. etc

[Yozza]

Cold - Bloody freezing - I can confirm!
Check your coolant mix has enough anti freeze! Mine didn't and I learnt the cold way. Had to wait 5 hours for recovery, if I didn't have all of the camping gear in the back (sleeping bag, blanket, stove, bottle to pee in) I would of been frozen and smelling of pee! As a result I got plenty of the pink stuff in now and spashed out on a anti-freeze tester. Lesson learned!

[jester1467]

Think yourself lucky you have a syncro and heating!

Before I had my Syncro I had two bays, neither had a heater. I remember one particular November having to go 70 miles in the freezing cold with the windows open so as not to mist up the windscreen. Usual bay camper stuff, drive every where wearing fleece scarf and wooly hat or maybe 2! But thats the joy of VW campers!

Having a heater is a definite bonus

[paul1275s]

Think yourself lucky you have a syncro and heating!

Before I had my Syncro I had two bays, neither had a heater. I remember one particular November having to go 70 miles in the freezing cold with the windows open so as not to mist up the windscreen. Usual bay camper stuff, drive every where wearing fleece scarf and wooly hat or maybe 2! But thats the joy of VW campers!

Having a heater is a definite bonus

where's the joy in that! Jeez, I remember being very smug in my old Syncro and ripping the pi$$ out of my mate in his bay when driving over Dartmoor one year..

[PC52]

Not had a problem with cab temps. It has been well below freezing.
Drove the bus home on a long motorway run through a snow storm both heaters going and it was red hot inside - engine temp was well below normal temps..
Doka just one heater fitted and it heats up very well and keeps us well toasty.
Only difference probaly from ours to yours is we have an automatic thermostat fitted.

Still running both vans without the heater plugs, minus 8 (local weather station), first turn and off they go - the beauty of MTDI

[syncrosimon]

I got the same problem Rob. Slow speeds and hot air, high speeds and the air out of the vents goes like warm. Luckily I have a rear heater which provides most of the heat. Syncroswedes van also has the rear heater and he gets hot air at the front all the time, so there is something wrong.

I have checked the thermostat, and it is fine, the pipes are hot themselves. You can feel them by removing the center dash panel where the diff lock switches are and make sure that hot water is circulating.

Next is to check that you have no restriction on the cheap plastic on-off valve awkwardly placed up underneath behind the radiator fan. Some Americans have moded this valve with a domestic hot water one, and placed it inside the cab. I checked that mine was fully flowing, and it was.

Next is unfortunately to take out the heater box, two things can happen, and I suspect both on mine. 1. the outside fins of the heater matrix becomes clogged with dirt and dust, so limited air will be heated. 2. the inside of the matrix furrs up like a kettle and the heat cant get out.

I know my rear heater which is a German Webasto heater matrix is slightly furred up, I can see scale deposit inside the pipes, and that doesnt give out as much heat as I think it should, but thankfully enough to get by on.#

Just another job to do!!

The samba were discussing this problem, and they most usually replace the matrix.

Simon.