Flushing A Heater Core

Come along with Eric O. at the SMA shop as we diagnose and repair this 2013 Ram 3500 Cummins that came in with a complaint of no heat out of the dash vents. We diagnosis it as a restricted heater core and show you how we flush them out in the shop.
Dual Channel Digital Thermometer : amzn.to/2pS1VJv
Thermocouple Probe Temperature Sensor : amzn.to/2ph4Sl2
Blast-Vac Multipurpose Cleaning Gun : amzn.to/2qb0Gbm
Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun : amzn.to/2pRykC2
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair.

[@paulthomopoulos4394]

I haven’t had real heat in my truck for 2 winters now. This truck had the exact symptoms as mine so I followed the steps in this video. I now have full heat again. Thanks so much!!!

[@nate.hanlon]

@@paulthomopoulos4394 how long did it last?

[@paulthomopoulos4394]

@@nate.hanlon It’s still going!!! You know a diesel truck in our northern Canadian winters is tough for heat, at least mine anyways, but after this flush I can at least say I’m warm and my windshield doesn’t freeze up while driving. Are you having no heat issues as well???

[@nate.hanlon]

@@paulthomopoulos4394 yessir! i was told it could be something that this shop can scan and fix it from it sitting. awhile before i purchased it because the previous owner said bf put a heater core in it but im not sure.

[@DatCityBoy504]

You are the man. Man I have the 2014 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummings. Up until about 30min ago I had absolutely no heat in the truck. I was lucky enough to get it done with a garden hose with a high pressure tip on it, NO airlines at all. You should've seen the clumps of calcium that came out. I could've sworn that I was going to be pulling the dash out today. So again thank you man for saving me the time and money. I thought I was going to be knee deep into a rats nest of work. To everyone watching and reading this. I highly recommend doing this, its easy, also saves time and money. It took me about 30mins tops..Thank you

[@jamesbutler1862]

I have the same issue with my heater as well so I hope I can fix it like you did.

[@user-mz9le3qh3b]

Thanks for the heads up

[@erickieffer8440]

Who has been working on your car? Don’t let them touch it again.

[@DatCityBoy504]

Well, I totaled the 2014 Ram 2500. Now I have the 2016 Ram 3500 dually, same motor 6.7 Cummins. Hopefully I don't have the same issue anytime soon.🤞I can say this though, that mofo gets a five star crash rating from me that's for sure. Now for the new Malibu Ss, not so good damn people had to get cut out of the car.

[@BigGoucho]

A sunny Saturday evening here in Bonnie Scotland, UK. Beer and a new SMA video. *cheers*

[@SouthMainAuto]

Cheers!

[@BigGoucho]

Join us! :)

[@chomerly]

And a relaxing evening down here in the Midlands, UK, also getting my SMA fix. Cheers! 🍻

[@schigara]

A beautiful evening here in Northeast Arkansas, USA relaxing with a rum and 7, watching SMA and waiting on the main event fight between Alvarez & Chavez. Cheers all!

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Sipping Irn-Bru in the sunshine makes a change.

[@taddbitofvideos3974]

I just wanted to drop you a huge thank you. Had a heater core in a ram 2500 that was putting out 80 degree temp, this was after a recall at the dealer, they claimed it was that way when it came in, really. I dont think so, quoted me 2100 to change. Bought the otc tool, and 45 minutes later I have 151 degree coming out of vents now. Flushed entire system completely, works awesome, and I spent 28. To fix it. I thank you sir for the great video.

[@yourface3154]

2 years late, but no way you spent $28 to completely flush your system.

[@taddbitofvideos3974]

@@yourface3154 28 for the tool, not including antifreeze,

[@papaw2937]

How have I never seen a topside creeper before. That thing is BA.

[@kubeanie18]

You got to love being able to lay over the top of the motor

[@TylerDeBoy]

@@ethand3577 The British finally got something right

[@ApartmentKing66]

I'm gonna need one if I'm going to flush my Malibu's heater core. Its nipples are right in the middle of the firewall rather than at the top where you can access them easier. But that's GM for ya...they pride themselves in making a 3-day job out of a 20-minute one.

[@brianallison1913]

If I didn't know any better I would think this guy is calling me a derogatory name lol.

[@NoWr2Run]

Eric on my 97 jeep Grand 4.0 I unhooked the hoses at the thermo housing. I drained all the coolant out of heater core flushed with garden hose both ways. Then I bought a bottle of Vanish Toilet bowl cleaner, CLR works good too. I put some water in through the hose then poured about a 1/4 of a bottle of vanish in the hose. Lifted 1 hose while lowering other hose, back & forth for about 5 mins. then flushed it out with garden hose both ways CLEARED MY HEATER CORE BIG TIME.

[@janpur1417]

I live in west TX and the heater core was clogged with calciumcarbonate CaCO3. I soaked the heater core with 9% vinegar for 24 hours and flushed it, then refilled and continued for nearly a week! The outcome was great!! I get HOT air (131 F or 55 C) when the outside is 30F (or -2 C).

[@Brooklynraised68]

this guy can do anything the best on you tube loyal viewer always

[@georgeburns7344]

The thermocouple will give you a more accurate temperature reading, because the bulb is directly in the air flow and reading only the air temperature. The infrared temperature gun looks as several different parameters, like emissivity of the surrounding material and not actual air temperature. The emissivity of the material needs to be known so that it can be taken into account when determining the actual temperature.

[@frankhaegele2012]

Have a 2015 ram 3500 6.7 Cummins.Had little heat for a year.Purchased tool from Amazon and flushed.Heater is back to factory.Thanks saved a lot of time not having to pull the dashboard.

[@robertrosicki9290]

With some older stuff where the tubes from the heater core come out of the firewall right next to each other the home gamer out in the snowy driveway quick fix is just to reverse the heater hoses at the heater core . The flow reversal flushes out the crap in the heater core tubes . Next winter switch them back the other way . This really works well , might take a bit of driving for the full effect .

[@blueshirthandyman8460]

Bro I did the flush and still no cigar, I'm going to try your method, if it works I will post another comment.

[@robertrosicki9290]

@@blueshirthandyman8460 Surprised to see a reply to my five-year-old comment. The hose reversal has worked well for me over the years. I live up in northern Canada and I've done this outside at -30 when I was desperate for heat. Good luck.

[@davidweum]

Robert, I only poured bleach, I think, reversing the flow once. I let bleach clean my F150. I think I reversed a couple of times. I must've fluked it right because it worked. It wasn't quite -40°F, but it was cold. The hoses were easy to get at in the large engine bay. I only used a pair of players.

[@robertrosicki9290]

@@davidweum David , Glad you got the heat working . With one of my old work/bush trucks I'd reverse the heater hoses once late in the fall then back again after mid winter . Kept me warm .

[@hansjansen7047]

Doesn't the crap end up in the rad or engine that way ? Better to dump it on the ground so you can see what came out.

[@RyuukoGo]

Looks like they Dodged a major repair.

[@jack002tuber]

Is that like a pun?

[@RyuukoGo]

At least it wasn't rotten to the core

[@bash5995]

they almost got rammed on this one

[@RyuukoGo]

SMA had an Intrepid mechanic

[@jack002tuber]

He has no Stratus fear

[@brettperkins4643]

Found this channel almost 5 years ago with this same problem, tried many things including flushing the heater core several times. Ended up needing an HVAC box. 1500.00 later fixed. Last year solved all my Dodge/Chrysler problems and got a Tundra----- TUNDRA TIME!!

[@MrJKCampione]

No one seems to have gotten the infrared vs thermocouple problem yet, so I will take a stab at it. The magic word seems to be emissivity. It is the property objects have where they emit infrared energy. Metallic objects and dark colored objects (like the black plastic vents and ducts) have a very high emissivity compared to light colored non-metallic objects. Higher end IR guns allow you to pre-program the emissivity of the object you will be testing so that this is taken into account on the readout from the gun. Emissivity can enter the visual spectrum on some very hot objects, like when a piece of steel is heated up red hot. Hope this helps. Wikipedia has a good article on emissivity for more information.

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Yes the cheaper IR thermometers are calibrated for building materials brick, breeze block, concrete, steel but the surface finish, condition and texture makes a really huge difference . www.engineeringtoolbox.com/emissivity-coefficients-d_447.html

[@BeingInTheMessiah]

The thermocouple produces a voltage which is correlated to a temperature. The gun is measuring infrared radiation. Materials reflect, absorb, and radiate infrared radiation differently. In this case the gun is measuring the amount of infrared radiation being radiated from the plastic fins of the air duct, whereas the thermocouple has the temperature it has from being heated by the air.

[@theopinion9452]

Thank you Mr Goodwrench.

[@leocurious9919]

"Metallic objects [...] have a very high emissivity" No, they dont! Carefull! The shinier the metall, the more you are going to measure whatever is being reflected off the metall. Pretty much any organic material (so including all paints, no matter what color) will have a good (high) emissivity. Be carefull when IR can go through something or is reflected off the surface.

[@k4x4map46]

@@andrewwmacfadyen6958 Nice reference. I started using this website you posted about two years ago

[@Jeff-pf6hj]

Good video! Still doesn't come close to the extreme flushing on the Pontiac. Thank you for all that you do!

[@jack002tuber]

I paid to have a heater core replaced once, didn't know about this trick. Neat tool you cleared it with.

[@markborrmannjr]

infared thermal gun is measuring the temperature of the plastics of the heat ducts and the thermocouple is measuring air temp.... ive found the readings you get with the thermal gun right when you pull the trigger is going to be the most accurate temp

[@mrjoeyman]

Bingo. In fact if you look back at the first shot of the gun, you will see that what you said is the case. If you could stop the laser from going "through" the air to the first physical object it comes to, it would be consistent with the thermocouple.

[@EZRider1979]

The facial expression at 10:40, that's like the day after eating taco bell.

[@vulcandj]

I want to thank you for your videos. Been watching for about a year now in Southern Oregon. I have a 2011 Frontier and was having symptoms like this and was told I needed a heater core. An 1800 job. After watching this, I asked the shop to do.a flush. They did an entire coolant system flush and it seems to have worked. I can start it and put the defrosters on and the ice on the windshield melts now.

[@hatfez]

Watching all the many auto videos on YT, Eric, youer's are the best. You have the right tools, you don't replace parts first, your shop is very clean & you make it fun to watch! A true professional. Plus, where else can you hear those great middle American expressions, like "chip, chop, chip, "grins & giggles" and others I can't remember! Thanks!

[@76calidude]

Just did that to my 95 Grand Cherokee....worked like a charm! I got plenty of heat again., without having to pull the whole dash out to replace core...win win!

[@stevejohnson1397]

Yeah just wait till you add too much air pressure and you develop a heater core leak then you will be replacing it

[@clarencek3658]

drinking a cold one watching my favorite repair channel on a Saturday morning.. #Thelife

[@bobmoy3406]

I got Jack and Old No.7.

[@alexpuls8219]

I just did a heater core flush on my 2003 f150. I hooked 2 hoses to the heater core and flushed out the coolant. Then filled the heater core up with CLR and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes. Then gave her a good flush. My truck gets toasty warm now.

[@bobmoy3406]

Hey, I have the same Made in China, 2 channel temperature gauge. I use it to reflow solder for motherboards. ETCG ended up with a face full of antifreeze when he tried to unclog a heater core. I would have thought that you would have some special concoction similar to panther pee. The probe is reading the temperature of the air, while the infrared is reading the surface temperature of the vent.

[@garyr7027]

Bought a van once and the idiot previous owner dumped a bunch of stop leak in the coolant instead of actually fixing a bad hose, it plugged the heater core up pretty bad. A good flush and it worked again, I just probably got lucky it did.

[@osos231]

Hello Eric, just became a fan of your channel as a side mechanic. Went to school for Auto Mechanic but pursued other things in life. Still tinker around with cars. Love that you're a down-to-earth mechanic. If you don't know it, you admit it. But yet, you will go and methodically troubleshoot for the answer. You're very smart. You made me go out and buy a few tools from the links you post on your vids :D Please keep posting these links for tools so we know what a pro like you uses. Keep up the good work.

[@buffystclair9042]

Last year did this to a ‘16 Ram 3500 with cummins, also put a small block (cardboard) in front of rad , also a plow truck, seems to have worked fine cause didnt hear back about it. Guy is my daughters bf so I see the truck alot.Recommended flushing whole system when plow season over. He talked about trading up to new truck so we didn’t do anything , also decided to not plow again. Come September he began signing up plow contracts. First cold day and snow he said it wasnt as hot again , did the quick flush , lots of sediment but only gained about 10 degrees . All along I told him I wasn’t wanting to pull the dash, im semi-retired and no equipped to do that ( maybe could have let freon out to air) so sent it to a friends shop. He just got the truck back, 3 days it took ( tires as well ) , havent heard about the heat .

[@MJAli-lf5ms]

I discovered your show last week and have been hooked. I love how you take us along with in the troubleshooting. Thanks

[@trevormangus7832]

I’ve always noticed if you hold the button down on an IR probe the temperature always climbs or decreases based on cold or hot those are designed to be an instant read thermometer press and release when you hold the button down it continuously send a transmission and give erroneous readings

[@DirtyMan2013]

December 2022, 2016 Ram 2500. Truck was blowing what felt like A/C with the heater cranked. Wife and kids needed blankets anytime we went somewhere. Just flushed it same as the video and heater is back. I have no clue what was clogging the core or why it happened but everything seems to function 100% now. Took about 1hr bought the OTC tool you will need to supply you're own air fitting. I used 5ft 5/8 hose cut in half with 2 5/8 male to male fittings. Caps were 5/8 as well had to buy a large assortment pack to get them all in I was about $110.00 USD and it took about an hour. Way better than the dealership having the truck for a week and charging $1200.00 for a new core. Hopefully the issue does not come back but I don't know why it happened to begin with so time will tell. I will try and remember to update. Hope this helps someone good luck. Update 1-25-23 Worked for a couple weeks than slowly started cooling off. Heat is back to blowing cold air looks like I'm off to give the dealership a ridiculous amount of money.

[@TotalEclipse31]

Saturday morning at work here is Maryland. Taking a few minutes to watch SMA just makes all the stress melt away. Thank you Eric O. I definitely need one of those creepers for working on my SUV.

[@patrickmccarel]

Just did this procedure on a '13 Ram 3500 6.7L H.O. First time using the (Matco Version) of this tool. I was impressed, as was the owner of the vehicle. Great video! Always try this first before replacing the core, and check both sides for temp difference.

[@EdYoung81]

I bought the otc gun and followed your directions. It worked flawlessly! Thank you for the great video.

[@2013ebruggeman]

and welcome back to the dodge main auto channel!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@opl500]

Dodge - keeping mechanics busy.

[@richardcranium5839]

MOPAR- my old pig aint running

[@twinsonic65]

For Eric O's place - DODGE - Do or Die Garage Experiment.....

[@lucjalajas6988]

2013ebruggeman Dodge the father ram the daughter

[@TheJmich2001]

Defective on Delivery Garaged Eternally

[@uncmouse]

for air flow should use a hot wire set up,what is used here is for checking surface temps on bearings and a/c lines doing superheat and sub cooling.bit more accurate though.especially with air fow/volume.excellent work brian

[@ricky-sanchez]

The thermal coupler is reading raw air temp. The thermal gun is reading coolant temp. Don't forget your heater core has coolant passing through it. Two different tools for two different applications. The thermal coupler is more accurate for air temp. The thermal gun is used for way more different things. It can be used for air and coolant temp. In the event for diagnosing vent temps, I'd use the thermal coupler.

[@helivesonforever]

@4:44 Scotty Kilmer with a chainsaw makes a comeback on the whiteboard!

[@prototype_0xD1]

On my old Civic I used CLR. Poured it in there and let sit for an hr while I changed oil. All the minerals and rust flushed right out and avoided passing high pressure through it. Cheap and no tool needed.

[@mikeduffy9409]

Ive found it you use low air pressure to push any coolant out of the heater core then fill it with 4% white vinegar for about an hour then flush with water outlet then inlet back and forth several times that flushes them really well

[@donaldrippetoe5246]

Just wanted to send along a thank you for your video. I also ordered the OTC gun and followed the steps outlined in your video and I too have heat again! It was negative 4 here two days ago so its a good thing to have! Thank you again, deeply appreciated!

[@mike4food]

Saturday Morning. Got my coffee and a new SMA video! Great video Eric!!!

[@d.j.9961]

I am STUNNED to see by the comment's, That so many people do not know to flush their heater core? Simply amazing! It's either you flush them or, They rot out & take a leak onto the passenger side floor board & you get that sweet ethylene glycol/anti-freeze smelling interior within one's vehicle! That spray gun was cool, That I do not own & Need to get! I have a daiwoo/ Chevrolet Aveo which belongs to my Lady friend, She needs a water pump & radiator & lucky me, in the middle of winter without a garage, I am concerned about flushing the engine with water because, Unless I were to pull the freeze plugs, The engine will fill with water & if I do not complete all of the work at once & before nightfall, The temperature will fall below freezing. This will be my first water pump timing tentioner ordeal. instead of a normal timing tensioner. It requires a 41mm crows foot but, I am wondering if I can get away with using a different tool so that I am not purchasing a tool for more then likely a ONE TIME USE! At work, They sell a tool within the plumbing department which should work as long as I have enough room to maneuver it, It operates kind of like a cresent wrench, utilizing a thumb screw, I believe it is made by Irwin.

[@uggadugga8070]

Cool creeper! I never knew there was such rig...

[@SouthMainAuto]

amzn.to/2pRn8pb

[@wetlettuce4768]

Yea, I always wondered how mechanics worked on pick up trucks without screwing their backs up.

[@NickMyers1]

This reminds me of flushing heater cores on pushrod motor tortoises. People that wouldn't do the cooling system maintenance and sometimes the cars would overheat too. I just had a garden hose and dishwasher hose that fit perfectly over the heater core tubes. Just like air-conditioning repairs this fix always yield positive results for people… They were always happy to have the heat back!

[@cnchess]

Infrared sensors look at the surface you point it at; the thermal couple is looking at the air temperature surrounding the probe. There is a temperature drop from the hot surface to the ambient air which is why the inframeter reads higher than the thermocouple.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Thermocouple is measuring temp of air, the laser gun in measuring temp of Surfaces. The reading of the laser depends on the surface. So, you need to use the thermocouple in this case and leave the laser gun alone because you want to know the air temp.

[@bradleycass11]

IR guns use an average emissivity rating for most readings. Plastic, aluminum, steel etc all have different emissivity values and therefore the temperature would vary slightly. Thermocouples use two dissimilar metals to generate a current that is converted into a temperature value

[@TechnicalLee]

The IR gun is reading a false high temperature because you are heating up the IR window by keeping it in the hot air stream. This affects the reference temperature and you can see the reading gets worse and worse as the gun heats up from the airflow. IR guns need to be situated in a fairly constant temp environment to read accurately-you don't want hot or cold air blowing on them. If you take one quick reading and keep it out of the airstream then it should be accurate within a degree or two of the thermocouple. You can see this is the case in the video when he first takes the reading, it's very close to the thermocouple initially, but then drifts as the gun gets heated up by the air. Emissivity of the plastic air vents and ducts isn't the issue here since those are pretty close to ideal (0.95). I use an IR gun to measure my vent temps, it works great and is accurate if you do one quick reading and get it out of the airflow like I explained.

[@yatesyification]

You look like Aladdin, floating around on your magic Topside Creeper!!

[@unencumbered]

Ben Yates lol I thought the same

[@dave1135]

Ben Yates "🎶i can show you the world, broken dodges in pieces..🎶"

[@chungaleta1234]

Dodge Ram 2500 used to be dream truck, I'd sworn to have one someday... until I started watching repair vids on youtube LOL!!!!!!

[@mikedayitt]

You did that car that no coolant was filled with radiator seal and blew everything in your face lo...that was the first video I saw of you and am hooked ever since.

[@NebukedNezzer]

my home water pressure in over 90 psi. this is a great how to do it flushing video. that flusher would work well on the radiator as well.

[@dougfrancis6776]

I was working on a Cadillac that had a plugged heater core and I hooked up water hose to the sink faucet on the hot side and run hot water through the heater core that way it really helped then I would pinch off the hose and let loose again and give it a burst that helped a lot...

[@royalwins2030]

I wish you had showed us what came out, but thanks for the vid 😊

[@ozzykrahn806]

Everything, its a dodge, everything falls out

[@thanman3]

Infrared guns measure the wavelengths of omitted heat. the more heat the more shorter wavelengths. The red light shoots the omitting wavelengths and the light is reflected back into the gun which converts the wavelengths to temperature measurements. Since most thermocouples have a +/- 2% accuracy rating you can account for the misreading as well as the high airflow coming out of the vents being a factor.

[@Graham_Wideman]

This is not how IR temp guns work at all. For one thing the laser is only there for aiming, nothing to do with the temp measurement.

[@rubengarcia6920]

To simply the thing with the thermocouple and infrared the thermocouple gets the effect of the air temperature and infrared gets the surface temp of what it’s aimed at

[@jacobfoxworth]

Dont hold the ir gun pointed at the vent for an extended period. Just point it for a second get a reading and stop. That will be the most accurate. When you hold it there the infrared from the heater is bouncing off the gun back at the vent and back and forth the longer you hold it there causing the temperature to seem to rise. You're kind of creating an infrared mirror and thats why the temp seems to be going up. That first measurement is the most accurate, after that anything else is reflections.

[@BillSmith-ut5li]

When I flush a heater core I like to flush it reverse of flow first so that anything that's been pressured into blocking more easily be pushed out

[@johnkirkland3066]

I do that as well.

[@michaelcoode1689]

beer in hand and sma video I’ve done my mechanics today love watching eric at work

[@tlstanbro3193]

Next time you do a flush heater core could you possibly put the excess water in a 5 gallon bucket so we can see what comes out of the heater core Thanks

[@thebenthermit4067]

I didn't google it, my thought on the IR gun vs your couple is that the IR gun is picking up the heat from an object which would be your plastic whatever the hell that you're pointing it at. That's assuming that the end point of the laser/light is the reading point. The couple is suspended in the air. Try touching the couple directly to an object and then use the IR gun to see if the temps are closer.

[@waynec6059]

New vid this fast? sweet. Thermo = reading air temp, IR = reading surface temp of material you're pointing it at. No google required; just like how you can keep your face in front of a hair dryer a few inches and be comfortable, but pointing it at say a small piece of steel for a few minutes then touching it, probably not so much..

[@krtwood]

You can't touch the piece of steel because that transfers heat through conduction rather than convection. The steel isn't any hotter than the air that heated it, it can just send that heat into you faster than the air can. The heater core can conduct heat through the components that touch it and I imagine the IR probe can look through the holes in the vent and see the hotter components behind it.

[@broken1965]

Wayne C just the same as radiant heat IR wave vs forced air radiant more efficient

[@dtnel]

I'm a tall guy and I love that Topside Creeper as well. A great tool. Also picked up a Aluminum folding step stool @ Harbor Freight a month or two ago that folds up to take with when I work on stuff away from the house. Prowling tonight and will certainly find a video as my wife's car , 06 impala with no heat even when engine is warmed up. It has the manual controls but the dual zone. Trying to figure out if they have separate heat door actuators or a single one with a dampner for making one side cooler or warmer than the other.

[@jcortes3930]

Dale N topside creeper + front deflated tires

[@parkerlich5617]

IR reads the surface temp of the heater core (if it can "see"it). The temp. probe is reading the temp of the heated (cool) air that blows through the heater core fins. If the probe cold reach and touch the core it would read the same temp as the IR. Imagine the reading on an IR pointed at the red-hot nichrome ribbon in a hair dryer or heat-gun and at the same time the reading from a thermocouple probe placed in the air blowing out of the device. There would be a huge difference in the temp readings. My IR only reads to 700 deg. F and a heat-gun's coils go way above that! And, yes, the heated air will be plenty hot, but not nearly as hot as the wire coils inside the dryer/heat-gun!

[@jacobusa4727]

Good demo did same to our blazer in the driveway years ago I had put one hose in a bucket see want came out and I found this gel like gooey material come out it may have had wrong antifreeze put in it before we bought it used higher pressure water hose and air separately was fine lots of heat blazer need to burn the air out is a common problem too, good job Eric thanks SAL

[@johnlugaresi7599]

For Heat accuracy of the infrared (IR) unit it recommends 14" away and a short trigger blast (0.5 sec or 500ms); the runaway to 186 degrees is from electronics over heating and giving the run away current heating up the internal electronics. Also, air is very low # of molecules, versus the surface of the vent, so it also, could be reading a range of things. Internally it is calculating small differences of the light on an internal reference IR to another for your aim. Perhaps a piece of aluminum foil at vent, 14" away and a short blast would be a better test.

[@brentbuckingham291]

I love my Harbor Freight laser thermometer and hose wrench set for jobs like this. Maybe spent $25 for all of it. Damaging a heater core tube makes for a very bad day! I just back flush gently and use heater core cleaner with great results. Catch the flush water in a clean pail for inspection. I use clear hose from big box home stores to fit the core tubes.

[@davidweum]

Is there such a thing as Heater Core Cleaner?

[@brentbuckingham6720]

@@davidweum Good catch, I don't think so. I think I meant cooling system cleaner.

[@davidweum]

@@brentbuckingham6720 That's OK, sir. I assume it was a Prestone flush. There may be others. As you know, the heater core has a delicate "mini radiator". I did this job many years ago so I may have used another fluid along with the bleach. I just can't remember. I think the reversal of the fluid intake and outflow outlets ( I'm can't recall the correct terms) was just as important as the solution(s) I used. * Another reader suggested I reverse the hoses for a time to keep the heater core good. Today I have coolant loss that lands on the top of the block. I hope it's only a hose. I'm buying a coolant pressure tester to try and find the leak. Also my reservoir was completely dry though the radiator was full. Any thought? I have a 1986 F150XL. Thanks for your comment. Sincerely, David Weum Innisfail, Alberta.

[@brentbuckingham6720]

@@davidweum To get a better flush, flow through the core both directions. The reservoir can slowly lose fluid over a long time. If it's dry, the level isn't being checked often enough to catch leaks. I fill to full every 30k miles or so without running dry. Both vehicles where the reservoir ran dry had leaks I found and repaired, and no more dry reservoirs since then. Also important to change the fluid when due.

[@davidweum]

@@brentbuckingham6720 Do you mean reverse out going with intake hoses and drive it like that now? I get great heat now. As my brother says, " if it sint broke don't fix it"! I learned on here you can use prestone flush car and lime removal. I only use bleach and maybe cord. It was 13 years ago. I put on clear hoses on each one, poured through, reversed hoses then drained, repea. I think. Flushed both ways.

[@jamespn]

Chrysler is notorious for having plugged heater cores. In the manufacturing process the water passages in the engine block have residual amounts of casting sand that can plug up heater cores.

[@44R0Ndin]

A sensible person would think they would flush those out somehow, wouldn't you? Maybe they don't do that so they can crank them out faster. Thing's from 2013 so it's been 4 years, almost out of warranty and warranty probably doesn't cover a plugged heater core anyways, so from Chrysler's POV they didn't do anything wrong. Customer comes last, that's capitalism for you.

[@MrStradia]

Dextron coolant is also notorious for creating sand in the cores.

[@modsquadradio2898]

That would be all good if true...but seeing Chrysler does not make this engine and it is a very high standard commercial diesel you are going to have to try again..

[@konstantinestern7891]

I have a 2013 ram 5.7 gasoline. I get Luke cool AC flow. And Luke warm heat. I was told it’s a restricted hearing core. Would you agree. ?

[@k4x4map46]

accurate way to calibrate that thermo gadget is a plastic cup of ice water. 32 degrees F will, for the most part, always be 32 degrees F (or 0 degrees Celsius if you prefer). Much like SMA, pretty solid results!

[@aaronaedwards1011]

Sent to my neighbor, he's being riding all winter with no heat. LMAO. Local dealership wanted to replace it at the tune of $1200. Hope this helps him. Thanks, great video.

[@ttrevino167]

I told multiple shops I was having these symptoms and all my blend doors work, I get on the lowest fan setting but as soon as I go up on fan speed the air gets cooler. I even had one side ac on and driver side heat and it worked fine separating the two. Just not heat and everyone wants to charge me 2k for hvac care

[@Turk_2023]

If you hit that recirculated air button. It blows so much hotter and better in my liberty. Has the same exact control panel as this ram, so I am sure a lot of parts are the same. Had to replace my heater core at under 100k miles

[@drivewasher]

Eric, My infra red thermometer has settings in the menu to compensate for the type of surface or material you are testing. On say setting "A" if I point at boiling water it will read 100 deg c if I point it at the boiling stainless steel kettle it reads 35 deg c It's something to do with the way different things, even colours reflect the heat.

[@tomus1480]

Mr. O. You are a `super` smart guy. I enjoy watching your videos.

[@throttlebottle5906]

I hit them with 50 psi @150F water back-flush, reverse it a few times, blast out with air @ 100PSI, repeat process until clean flow, if the core doesn't explode good to go, probably ballooning them some, they are severely plugged with gobs of sludge and leak stop buildup (heat stop, lol), so they either start to flow or get replaced. need to get one of those flush guns of cheap enough, or just custom build out of plumbing surplus.

[@hardtruth2039]

I use a distilled white vinegar 30 minute soak to flush my heater core. Works wonderfully. Of course I throughly flush it with distilled water after the soak.

[@nelsongraber8987]

How much white vinegar in your radiator?

[@pskauto6798]

Nice video, Domestic Cooling systems suck, your flusher tool was a nice contraption to get the job done for sure. i use BG flush, unregulated shop air, and tons of water! lol I got 3 water seperation filters but no regulation lol as for the last question asked about the temp difference, The way I was told about the variant created between a laser gun and a thermocouple, a Thermocouple gets its reading from its own physical, conductance based on the disimilar metals that it contains, creating the temp reading. It is also a larger surface area (relative to the laser) to warm .The Infrared Laser reads the temp of the surface in which its reading. Which is the small surface that the laser hits, which is most likely the wall inside the Vent where you pointed it. Since I suck at explaining things, the most basic way I can say it is that one is measuring a surface temp, and one is based on the heat created by the air flowing past it? I could be wrong, but its all I know for now! lol

[@Graham_Wideman]

The laser on the gun is only for aiming, it has nothing to do with the measurement. The actual area which the gun's lens sees is within a "cone" of some number of degrees wide (like the reverse of the cone of light from a flashlight). For example I have one that has a 12 degree field of view.

[@vincedelpezzo8209]

Which direction should the Water flow through the heater core ?

[@wyattoneable]

"Thank you" for displaying my sticker. (I meant to mention that before and forgot). I always read the comments and I see a few of them liked the top side creeper. I must say I'm eyeing that myself. I have three 1 ton trucks and getting over the hoods is a pain in my back. I learned something about heater core flushes to boot!

[@johnnypena1083]

First time I see a topside creeper. What a relief on the back.

[@JLamond219]

AC button on never helps...Great Video.... it helped me with my Chevy truck.cleaning out the heater cord....Thanks again....

[@gzoie]

thanks for another great video Dr. O !! btw it was good to see u posting on your other channel again !! i know you see your kids every day but they are really growing up fast !!! and Trinity is looking more and more like Mrs O !!

[@wallyg.2409]

Excellent fix, Eric O. And thanks for the links to the Thermometer and Probe. I'm going to order that right away. Nice tool.

[@rogersweeney7071]

I did this on a 2008 Lexus. A head gasket sealer was used some time ago. I belive sludge buildup thank to the driver's side of the heater core. Passenger side had heat but the driver-side did not. So, I used a small 4-7 pounds of pressure water pump to circulate CLR from a 5 gallon bucket and back to the 5-gallon bucket. I let it run 2 hours. That fixed the heater core. Also, I would like to know where you got the nozzle sometimes that combines water hose water with are on the bottom of the handle?

[@libertygunsbeertrump8594]

Thanks for this video , it helped me out greatly. Great idea with the extra hose lengths. 👍

[@dil6969]

I'm guessing the infrared reads hotter because it's reading the surface temp of the vent vanes or the ducting behind it. Being that they're plastic, I would expect them to hold in heat fairly well. By contrast, the only thing heating the thermocouple is the air rushing past it. Nice fix!

[@Graham_Wideman]

But object A (air) can't heat object B (vents) to a temperature higher than A.

[@repomannv]

Ram 2500 heater cores are trash, mine is completely plugged up and blew one of the heater hoses this weekend. Tried flushing it a few months ago and it didn't help at all. I'm going to have to replace it.

[@TheAncientOneYT]

I think if I am not mistaken Infrared reads the surface temp of an object, the vents heat up while passing hot air over time getting hotter - while the Thermocouple reads the ambient air passing by the device before it has heated anything up.

[@jgarr9216]

I don't think the vent surface temp can be higher than the air temp. if the vent it is only being heated by the air.

[@TheAncientOneYT]

yes, but the way I am thinking is the temp is hotter down inside behind the vent where heat is being applied to the vent duct directly, but the air coming out is cooling off blowing over the sensor before the coupler gets its reading (possible, but not likely), or of course the infrared could be just out of calibration. Test it on some other objects with static heat would really uncover it (such as a valve cover bolt when the engine is warmed up).

[@scottfirman]

Wow,snow in New York.lol. We have freeze warnings here in Northern Mi. It may be the month of May,but we could still get snow. No one is safe in MI till June.

[@surendrabullets483]

Chances of breaking the pipe,,, follow the other processes,,like coolent box vent cover loose to gas release ,but carefully,, slowly slowly anti clockwise ,,,and use citric acid or vinegar with salt,,

[@nainnub1]

@23:13 I loved the way you noticed the (ac) was on, that was funny as hell!!!! (watching old vids)!

[@jorgegonzalez-bk8zn]

If with the flush doesn't work interchange the hoses that change the flow on the heater core and work perfectly

[@AP9311]

Wow, Dr O strikes again! I got notification on my KZbin. half of my day, came home, made my coffee, buttered my muffins and sausage. Roku my KZbin channel, turn on SMA channel on with my surround sound. lay back on couch and watch you do your magic!!! I love your vids Eric O. I'm even subscribed to your other channel. you and your wife and kids are the genuine kind of people. I'm staying here waiting for your next vid :)

[@miguelare3]

Josh Benney which other channel is it?

[@AP9311]

Miguel Arellano "outdoors with Eric O"

[@miguelare3]

Josh Benney ok thanks just found it!

[@michaelkane732]

what was the money light on for?

[@jameskim62]

Infrared gun reading is higher due to spot reading the heater core and temp probe is measure the air temp.

[@maxplzak2615]

i know this is a late answer but the ir gun is different than the probe because an ir thermometer only measure's surface temperature and not air temperature . I work in heating and air and have seen people refuse to use those guns because of that and use Psychrometer instead

[@leemoknows]

Infrared is measuring a surface that's hotter, possibly the plastic at the vent. The thermocouple is measuring the airflow. Infrared can't measure air correctly. it needs a surface to bounce off of back to the device.

[@bfidler288]

need to do this to my 06 Stratus...not sure why the hoses have to be in the most difficult place to reach...thanks Dodge!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

That's your problem lady Ya Heater Core was plugged Good video Eric O as Always @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC