Warming up!! (or keeping from freezing)

We have talked many times about keeping cool and preventing over heating in hot weather.

This time of year, we want to talk about getting heat. What, with winter and Christmas special tours and chilly spring trips, we need to think about making our heaters work so we can stay warm in our “jewels.”

As a matter of fact, it wasn’t until the 1950s that heaters were standard equipment in many cars. Heaters, radios and side mirrors were optional or aftermarket dealer items. In our old LaSalles and Cadillacs, there were many styles available.

The standard heater was mounted on the inside of the firewall, and for hot water heaters, these were actually the most trouble-free. The only problem was they left the back seat with very little heat. Those ropes across the back of the front seat were actually hangers for what was called “lap robes.”

The deluxe heaters had two underseat heaters along with a smaller firewall heater that was actually a windshield defroster. Some had an outside air vent that could be closed or opened for fresh air over and above the cowl vent. (We refer to this in our old LaSalle as the “air conditioner.”)

The deluxe heaters were primarily designed to feed blown heat into the rear seat through the circular coils under the seat. They plugged easily and were prone to developing leaks. They also had a heat-controlled thermostat valve and switch that wouldn’t let the heater run until the water was hot enough to prevent it from blowing cold air onto your feet. It usually wouldn’t turn on until the water reached about 160 to 170 degrees.

In real cold weather, sometimes the car wouldn’t warm up enough to blow any heat. Those living in real cold climates would sometimes install “Southwind” heaters, which were gas and electric that got their fuel by drilling a small hole in the top of the carburetor and siphoning gasoline from it. These heaters could have your car toasty warm in about three minutes. After about five to 10 minutes on high, it could run you out of the car in subzero weather.

With the exception of the Southwind heater (of which there are very few around), the efficiency of your hot water heater is dependent on three things—good flow of coolant through the heaters, proper engine heat and the heater cores capability to transfer heat.

First of all, to keep proper flow, you should turn your heater on full a few times during the summer to allow the coolant to circulate. Some people with heating problems will turn on the heater with all windows open to help cool down the engine…it works! Also, when you change your antifreeze, get your car hot and have the heater on full before you drain it.

Flush your system with clean water, maybe a mild radiator cleaner before adding new antifreeze. If you have the deluxe heaters with the valves we mentioned above, you should cover the radiator to get it warm enough to open the valve and flush the heater cores good. If you do use a cleaner, be sure you flush real good.

The underseat heater cores are very sensitive, tend to get leaks and are virtually unrepairable. Most radiator shops will not touch these, or at best, will not guarantee them. The only way I have found to repair them is with gas tank sealer, but you do lose some of the heat transfer ability.

Proper engine heat is important, not only for heater use, but engine performance as well. In the summer, you try to get the engine to run as cool as possible, even by removing the thermostat or tying the shutters open. It is debatable just how much good this does in comparison with the harm it can do. In cold weather, you can lose a lot more including your heater use and you could cause serious engine damage.

The ability of your heaters to transfer heat depends on the good flow mentioned above as well as the electric motors and fans to blow out the warm air into the car. Of course, with the underseat heaters, you have to make sure the airflow under the seats is clear and hasn’t been blocked by carpet or other junk.

Hopefully, your heater is keeping your car good and warm; otherwise, you will just have to cuddle up close to your spouse under the lap robe. You know, that’s not that bad an idea—try it sometime.

See ya next month.

—Walt