Are you also wondering what does a heater core do in a car? Well, a heater core is an essential part of your car’s cooling system. You should ensure that this is working correctly during winter.
Essentially it is the partner of your radiator, and it is responsible for moving the coolant. Without a heater, your car cannot supply you with the heat you need during a cold day.
Aside from heating, this will also help in defrosting your windows. Please keep reading to know the heater core, understand how it works, and the signs indicating that it is going bad or leaking coolant. We will discuss all of that below!
The Heater Core In A Car
This is a compact radiator that is warming the cabin of the car. To do that, it uses the hot coolant that comes from the car engine. The coolant is circulating through the core, engine, and large radiator at the back of the car’s grille via the cooling system’s hoses. If the heater core is faulty, you will see some liquid in the footwells. There will also be some steam from the vents, or the inside window will fog excessively. Another indication of failure is the sweet odor of the coolant. The cost of replacement will depend on the labor and the difficulty of removing the core.
What Does A Heater Core Do In Your Car?
So, what does a heater core do in a car? You already know that the car’s engine is heating so much as it runs. Through that process, excess heat is dispersed, and the air is moved through the radiator from the car engine by the coolant. But the process is different during winter when you turn the heat on. In this case, the air moves towards the core, which will filter and heat the air to provide you warmth. The coolant in the cooling system allows the process to be seamless. But through time, as the coolant gets older, it will corrode those components. If contaminated or dirty coolant is not replaced, the system will leak.
What Will Happen If The Heater Core Fail?
If the heater core leaks, the coolant level will decrease, causing the engine to overheat or damage it. This will also happen if your heater core is clogged. It will obstruct the flow of the coolant leading to overheating.
Signs Of A Coolant Leak In The Heater Core
Some signs that can indicate a leak in the heater core include sweet or syrup smell in the car, cloudy windows, cold air even if the heater is on, coolant puddles around the vehicle, and overheating the car engine indicated by the hot reading of the gauge. Your heater core does not need that much maintenance, provided that you are monitoring the coolant adequately. Ensure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when flushing or changing the coolant.
5 Signs Of A Faulty Heater Core
You need to ensure that the heater core is not going bad before winter comes around. This is responsible for warming the air as you turn on the heat in the car. Furthermore, it keeps the air in the defroster warm so that the visibility and the windshield are clear. Below are the signs indicating that the core is faulty.
#1. Sweet smell
There might be a sweet smell in the car, and you don’t know where it is coming from. Possibly, it is due to your heater core. If it is leaking, you will notice the smell of the engine coolant blown through the air vents. The coolant has a sweet smell that is almost musty. Some say it smells like maple syrup, fruit, or candy.
#2. Fog inside the car
If there is a fog inside the car, two things might happen. For one thing, your heater core is malfunctioning, so the defrosters are not working. Another thing is the core blowing smoke or fog into the car’s cabin. Either way, it is terrible, and you need to have your heater core checked immediately.
#3. Constant coolant loss
A coolant loss is another sign that your heater core is malfunctioning. Usually, it happens due to the leak of coolant in the core. Try opening the coolant, and you will find that it is low. This will cause overheating of the engine or damage it, so it is crucial to have it fixed immediately.
#4. Hot engine/cold cabin
The cold air is blown through the air vents, but the engine overheats, so there is a problem with the coolant, which is also associated with the heater core. Probably, it is starving or leaking the coolant or engine.
#5. Cold air inside the cabin
There are tubes in the core responsible for circulating the hot coolant through the core back to the large radiator. The coolant will warm the air before pushing it towards the vents. Suppose the air is not hot, then there is a tube leak. You may also want to read about how to make your car heater hotter.
It’s A Wrap!
Now that you what does a heater core do in a car? know you surely recognize its crucial role in heating your vehicle. Ensure that it is not faulty. Otherwise, cold air will be blown even if you turn the heat on. You may want to read related articles; know why is my car heater not working and what is a heater core in a car.