Are heat exchangers necessary?

[Waynerrr]

I've got a 2.0l air cooled motor with two ruined heat exchangers. As I understand it, their purpose is to transfer heat from the engine to the cab but also to cool the engine in the process. Can they be removed completely?

[CovKid]

In a word, yes. They can be removed. Obviously you'll still need an exhaust pipe for each. Oh, and a wooly hat, scarf and window scraper in winter. If you have a Propex that would mitigate the winter chill significantly but otherwise you could run into probs with windscreen icing up constantly on the move.

[Plasticman]

i remember those days with the fondness that comes with the passing of time
mm

[CovKid]

The voices of experience.

To be fair, I do sympathise. 2.0l heat exchangers are NOT cheap. I had the same engine in a DOKA and almost choked at the price of exchangers even back then (mid-90s). In the end I threw the engine out and plonked in a bored-up bug engine simply because parts were cheaper for type 1 engines. You can't do that in a straight T25 - no head clearance for fan housing. If it were me I'd use 'J' pipes or get some made up somehow and hunt for a Propex before winter.

[Plasticman]

was going to add that rest my pipes were in verygood order and i made some,
not rocket science, just have to be aware of leaky exhausts is all
oh and how much are new nowadays
mm

[BOXY]

The price is just under £200 per side, and another £50-60 per side for the pods and then cables etc. etc. Luckily my exchangers are ok, and I've replaced the rest of the metal risers with silicone ducting (also not cheap) so I can +60' out of the windscreen vents in the winter.

[Tobyt25]

I survived the winter without them, I've not got any on my bus. I decided the van was not used enough in the winter to justify the cost. We just put our coats on to get into the bus and not just as we get out.

[Waynerrr]

Thanks. The main reason for not wanting to replace them is the cost but surely fitting an alternative exhaust is just as expensive? I'm not likely to use the van in the winter but wet people in the cabin soon steams up the windows.

[Tobyt25]

The exhaust is separate to the exchangers. I used a window vac to suck any condensation off the windows. Kept them clean and dry for whole journey.

[jason k]

So your hovering your window with that whilst driving?


Fix the system! Heat exchangers do come up for decent money and they give off a lovely heat

[CovKid]

....and the passenger chewing hot chillies and breathing on the windscreen.