Heater Coolant bypass thingy

Kai · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject: Heater Coolant bypass thingy

I've used 15mm central heating pipe to make up the heater circuit. Once it was bleed this work fucking amazingly during the summer months Cool

A little too well cause the heater was on all summer.

Anyway I've now installed a heater control valve from a mk1 golf to regulate the temperature.

What I need to know, the bypass piece I've made is the same size as the rest of the coolant pipes. I can imagine that now as my heater has stopped working (had the temperature regulator arm in both positions) that the coolant is taking the path of least resistance (I say lest resistance as I think I have an air lock at the heater, something else I intend to take a look at), this avoiding the heater core.

I would say I need to reduce the size of the bypass pipe.

What size have everybody else got?

Mines about 13mm ID
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Bundy · Padawan Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Cheshire

Mines heating 15mm pipe too and my water liked to use the bypass unless you blipped the throttle.
I've now added a heating ball valve with a little tap handle to the bypass pipe....you shut the tap making the water go round the heater matrix to bleed it properly, then open it up afterwards and it seems to be working fine now.
Just makes bleeding it work properly.
Hope that helps!
Cheers
Al

Obonobo · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:42 am Post subject:

Installed this yesterday:

I hadn't hooked up my heater matrix yet. Bleeding was easy and in winter I plan to keep the valve closed, so I have maximum waterflow through the matrix.

The inner diameter of the pipes is 15mm. However, the valve inner diameter is a bit smaller, due to the valve itself.
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Bundy · Padawan Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Cheshire

There you go....almost identical to mine!!

Kai · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:43 am Post subject:

Brillant gents, I'll go to the plumbers merchant on my way home. Hope they do them in push fit connections.

EDIT:

They do,

http://www.screwfix.com/p/polyplumb-shut-off-valve-15mm/80519#product_additional_details_container

I'm also using a heater regulator valve from the early VAG days, mk1 golf some audis. My intenetion is to use my dash board vent controls to be able to regulate the coolant supply to the heater matrix. However this is inline to the heater matric and not the bypass pipe.

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/200734340700?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0

cheaper then using the mini one ( its identical) except the price tag.
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Bundy · Padawan Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 54 Location: Cheshire

I used on of these...
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/Cable_Operated_15mm_%285%7C8%22%29_Glass_Reinforced_Nylon_Heater_Valve_COHTV

It's connected to one of the heater leavers....just chopped the cable under the van and shortened it to suit. Works well Wink

Wish I'd seen those cheaper ones first! lol

Obonobo · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:23 am Post subject:

I plan to do the same.I got a Mk1 polo matrix, with the valve bolted to it from factory.

Kai, I used on of those valves you lnked to. The plastic is quite brittle, I broke on of the hose connctors while installing it, but didnt notice until I filled the system up and it started leaking all over the place.Be gentle Wink

_________________
Greetings from Sietze
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Driving a '75 Bay with a EJ22 '93 and 091 6-rib box.

And it's a long time since it looked anything like this!

Kai · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:47 am Post subject:

I've used a heater from a classic mini. It's a stand alone unit which simply requires a flow of coolant. It has built in vents and screen outlets. Also has a control panel with a fan switch. Doesn't have a variable speed fan though but I believe it's not hard to convert it to a rheostat. I was adiment that a early golf or polo heater would be easy to install into my notch as a lot of the bits from these cars are usually similiar and easy to integrate. I just couldn't find a one at a suitable price. Think I paid 20notes for the heater. That's the one thing the mini heater is missing is a bleed valve. However I'm intending to create a small vent pipe and connect this too the vent line I have running from my radiator to header tank. Should go back to self bleeding this was.

Obonobo, you must have gorilla arms!!! Those speed connections are usually pretty robust. Although I've no experience with a check valve. Thanks for the warning, ill take care.

It's snowing here today, doubt ill get into the garage much hehe
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