plugged heater core

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samsdad02

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first pic is using the air/water gun to blast crud out. second is what the circulator pump pushed out. I reversed direction with both methods a few times. I lost some of the crud in the first pic blasting.

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nlambert182

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Claiming it was mixing/using the wrong coolant was just a way to avoid having to pay the piper.

An improper production process is what caused this. Likely too expensive to fix to the bean counters and not frequent enough to warrant a recall, so they just ignored it.
 

nlambert182

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Actually recalls can also be for non-safety related issues as well. TSBs will address intermittent issues if the manufacturer doesn't feel that a recall is warranted, but a non-safety recall can be initiated at the manufacturer's discretion. A safety-related recall is either mandated by the NHTSA or voluntarily.

If a manufacturer sees enough of a problem during the warranty period they may issue a recall as it is cheaper to make an update/repair of that one component than it would be to replace the components that fail because of it. IE.... replacing a failing radiator versus replacing an overheated engine.
 

CRB357

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I flushed my radiator/entire system about 20 times before I stopped getting sand/crap out. Took a week. I would drive it 30 mins every 3rd flush. Used cleaning agent 3 times. Then went and did heater core again. Everything good now.
 

GeneM

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I flushed my radiator/entire system about 20 times before I stopped getting sand/crap out. Took a week. I would drive it 30 mins every 3rd flush. Used cleaning agent 3 times. Then went and did heater core again. Everything good now.
Holy cow how big of an issue is this with these trucks...... ugh :(
 

Octane

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Holy cow how big of an issue is this with these trucks...... ugh :(
Sometimes you can flush it till the core leaks and it still wont unclog it. Mine did. Replaced core and 1.5 years later I have to flush it every few months to keep heater working half as__. Awhile back I ran approx 75 gal thru core. Needed to do it again in just a few months
 

Flip-er

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First time I had core flushed and back flushed it lasted 2 years then started to lose heat again, just had a new rad, installed because of a leak and a water pump, if i lose heat again i will have core replaced.
My truck is a 2013 with 5.7 hemi and 150,*** miles.
right now cost ro replace core is at 18xx.xx dollars
 

GeneM

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Sometimes you can flush it till the core leaks and it still wont unclog it. Mine did. Replaced core and 1.5 years later I have to flush it every few months to keep heater working half as__. Awhile back I ran approx 75 gal thru core. Needed to do it again in just a few months
Where is all the material coming from that's plugging it up?
 

GTyankee

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I have to wonder ................

Is the sand coming from the Radiator or the Heater Core

Has anyone cut the Heater Core into quarters, after they bought a new one.
Is the core a simple Cross Flow or what
 

Octane

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Where is all the material coming from that's plugging it up?
Truck at 111k when purchased.Looked to be clean coolant. That fall had weak heating. Flushed,and again next spring then in summer. Core started leaking and replaced it.Mechanic flushed before installing new core.I made it thru one winter good heat. Flushed it again,lasted few months and low heat again. Never seemed to get any contaminates from the system that we could see. On a warm day maybe soon I'll flush again and see if I can make it rest of winter with good heat. Needless to say I'll never buy another vehicle from this carmaker.(It will always heat good on passenger side).
 

Octane

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I have to wonder ................

Is the sand coming from the Radiator or the Heater Core

Has anyone cut the Heater Core into quarters, after they bought a new one.
Is the core a simple Cross Flow or what
I've been told the cores lay at a approx 40° angle and contaminates settle in one half of core. I reversed hoses to try to back flush several times.Drove it maybe 500+ Doesn't seem to make any difference.I've flushed core separate from engine,then flushed engine numerous times with either no results or results that doesn't last long,even with new core. I'll not ever replace core again even if I have to go without heat at all.It always does heat on passenger side. But I'll use another truck for good heat on very cold days instead. Sad,sad quality from Ram
 

GeneM

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This is another one of those very bizarre things. As I go through this forum, I've seen several cases or discussions on this topic. The underlying theme seems to be there. Some concern in the casting of the block. I guess, I don't know? Though is that if this is in fact the case then why is it not happening to every truck?
Additionally, it seems this is an issue with both the 5.7 hemi and the 6.4 hemi, but I don't know if that's true?
Yeah I've only had my current 2016 2500 for a few weeks now and had I have done a little more research before buying this. I probably wouldn't have. That said, I think any vehicle. If you do enough research on via web forums, you would never buy said vehicle.
I don't know though. Maybe there are some that are definitely less problematic overall. Though I may be completely fine with the one I have or it could be a complete **** I don't know yet.
 

Octane

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This is another one of those very bizarre things. As I go through this forum, I've seen several cases or discussions on this topic. The underlying theme seems to be there. Some concern in the casting of the block. I guess, I don't know? Though is that if this is in fact the case then why is it not happening to every truck?
Additionally, it seems this is an issue with both the 5.7 hemi and the 6.4 hemi, but I don't know if that's true?
Yeah I've only had my current 2016 2500 for a few weeks now and had I have done a little more research before buying this. I probably wouldn't have. That said, I think any vehicle. If you do enough research on via web forums, you would never buy said vehicle.
I don't know though. Maybe there are some that are definitely less problematic overall. Though I may be completely fine with the one I have or it could be a complete **** I don't know yet.
Mine is a 2013 and runs great otherwise @ 235k now. There is no excuse for issues such as this core problem for sure.
 

Wild one

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Mine is a 2013 and runs great otherwise @ 235k now. There is no excuse for issues such as this core problem for sure.
If you knew it had an issue,why didn't you add a coolant filter to it.Seems to me that'd be the common sense way to do things,but common sense seems to be a rare commodity these days,i guess it's easier to get on a forum and yell and throw a temper tantrum then actually use common sense to fix an ongoing issue ;)
 

Octane

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If you knew it had an issue,why didn't you add a coolant filter to it.Seems to me that'd be the common sense way to do things,but common sense seems to be a rare commodity these days,i guess it's easier to get on a forum and yell and throw a temper tantrum then actually use common sense to fix an ongoing issue ;)
If I was aware of that possibility I would have. Do they make them? But even then how much sand can still be in a system? I believe more than likely its just crappy core design and crappy coolant design. I'll drive it till I dont need it and scrap the whole pos anyway. I'm not "throwing a fit". But the fanboys may get their panties in a *** by my posts. Too bad.
 

Wild one

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If I was aware of that possibility I would have. Do they make them? But even then how much sand can still be in a system? I believe more than likely its just crappy core design and crappy coolant design. I'll drive it till I dont need it and scrap the whole pos anyway. I'm not "throwing a fit". But the fanboys may get their panties in a *** by my posts. Too bad.
You've been a member since June 2019 and you have 1565 posts,so don't try and pull that one bud,you've seen this thread several times,so don't try and play the dumb card,it ain't working ;) Like i said common sense is a rare commodity these days,even with-out a thread on the issue,you should have be able to figure out a coolant filter would be a benefit.Some guys make me shake my head,and you're doing that today :rolleyes:

 
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Octane

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You've been a member since June 2019 and you have 1565 posts,so don't try and pull that one bud,you've seen this thread several times,so don't try and play the dumb card,it ain't working ;)

I know nothing about a coolant filter for the Ram trucks. If it makes you have a better day I can maybe install an oil filter inline.
 
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