Heat exchange pod.

[jpee]

I have a lump of rusty metal hanging from under rear offside. I believe it is a heat exchange pod. However, when I looked it up heat exchange pods are only listed for air-cooleds. I have an '85 1.9 watercooled. Would this be right and if so, why do I have them on my van?

Cheers in advance
jpee

[bigherb]

It is a heat exchanger to pre heat the carburetor intake air, helps the engine run smoother when warming up and stops the jets in the carburetor icing in sub zero temperatures.
Should look like this if you still have the early exhaust.


or the later exhaust

[jpee]

Thanks Herb. Will need to wait till end of month to replace. Will whip it off for MOT as it is hanging by fragments of flexi pipe.

[kevtherev]

The engine will run fine without it.
Myself and others have fitted stainless systems with no heat pod.
There has been no detrimental effect to engine warm up/icing.

If you live on the Arctic tundra my advice would be different.

[jpee]

Cheers Kev.

All the systems I've looked at for my van don't seem to include it. Certainly helps bring the price down a bit.

[Ant-t]

Mine runs fine without one, think a PO had removed it a while back, I was advised that they aren't really required in this country.