Heating?

[benveedub]

hey earlybayers,

i'm trying to sort out a heating source for the van, the exchangers have been replaced with j tubes, i've been looking for something to use as an alternatitve heat source.
i've seen the propex kits (christ they're expensive)!! cost more than i payed for the van! :lol:
is there anything out there other than those? maybe something i could run off the battery when driving?

any suggestions?

 

[rickyrooo1]

running summat off the battery while driving is a no no, you just can't get the power required to put back in to the battery what is taken out and also the wiring needed from the rear to the front would need to be substantial, trust me i've been through all this - my van came with no heat and j- tubes, it's taken me 2 years to finally get it all back to normal and fit a propex, your cheapest option is a lorry night heater or summat like that, (e-bay) they run off diesel and you can use a jerry can as the fuel tank - i've even known people use the washer bottle as a tank..... trouble is diesel in the van is a no no for me, the smell if you spill a drop is terrible.... if i were you i'd either save up for the bits/buy a propex 2nd hand?/do the night heater/or get a big coat,gloves hat.3 pairs of socks........ but don't try and make a 12v heater work- it's as useful as a candle in a cathederal.

 

[Bigbear]

Sorry for being wet behind the ears, I'm new to Vw campers and I'm yet to get my hands dirty on mine as I'm so busy. But did people reace the heat exchàngers with j tubes as a cheaper option or something? I'm guessing that most vans imported from hotter climates would have had the exchangers replaced?

 

[benveedub]

it is cheaper....by far think they're £25 for a pair!

but as my old man was saying last night the heaters on his old vans took agas to warm up and were un reliable any leak from the rear to the front would result in luke warm air coming through, the worst thing is if the heat excjangers arent working properly you're breathing in toxic fumes!!

he replaced his heating system with an alternitive sure he said it was a propex system....

he also said when he had j tubes on the wan felt more responsive??? dont know if its true??

I'm going to start a propex saving fund with the bank tomoz!! £20 a week should mean by winter this year i should have enough to buy one and use the rest to complete the van!! 8)

 

[Bigbear]

When I drove my van home after buying it the heating was useless, you could barely feel a thing! I've been meaning to check it all over but just haven't had time lately, I've always thought that if I had to replace to much of the original heating set up I'd might aswell buy a propex. Anyone on here running original heating that actually works effectively?

 

[rickyrooo1]

as i say, i replaced all mine with genuine vw exchangers, - i had j tubes on mine when i got it and all of the pipes front to rear had been removed, the only thing left was the totem in the cab and the y section above the rear axle, don't let anyone tell you vw heating is crap, if it's sealed and fitted right it's lovely and warm - the only thing i don't have fitted is the auxillary fan (i'm type 4) so if ticking over there isn't much airflow to the cab but it's ok when moving, i bypassed the rear seat and walkthrough ports and just send it all to the totem, i fitted the propex to camp with when not on hook up - not to use while driving. i certainly see no difference in power with exchangers over j-tubes, i think the price puts people off renewing them if they rot out and that's why they go j-tubes.... supprisingly mine came from california so i guess it never got cold enough to worry but i have no idea why my heating was removed - i just shopped about and bided my time and managed to swap and buy bits here and there and reckon i did it for less than £200.

 

[GIZ59]

As rickyroo says AND buy a hot water bottle ! note >tough it out man, its part of the total experience ! i,m staying in mine at mo , snow 3"deep and boy is it cold (thou character building! )its a bus thing !

 

[sparkywig]

Anyone on here running original heating that actually works effectively?

Yes, gets too hot sometimes as I've wired the heat exchangers open. :lol:

 

[Toad]

Anyone on here running original heating that actually works effectively?

Yes, gets too hot sometimes as I've wired the heat exchangers open. :lol:

Yes...If all the connections are ok and you ideally have a pair of genuine heat exchangers the heating works just fine. I run a standard set up in my bay (as I have for the last 12 years) and its great. As long as its all set up as VW intended there should be no need for any extra heating (and no smell of fumes either!)

 

[Irishpete]

I too have no heat exchangers... Does anyone run only a propex unit? How much does that heat things up whilst driving? We just did a 220 mile trip to Cornwall yesterday and although the van ran perfectly it was bloody cold!

 

[VeeDubMan]

Your Dad could be right. J-tubes may improve the performance a little if they are a wider bore than the pipework inside the heat-exchangers. Bigger bore means exhaust gases can escape quicker.

 

[bigdeano]

Ive got a propex, my original heating doesn't seem to work!, when i put it on within 3 minutes the bus is nice and warm, driver & passenger are fine on full,(when driving), those sitting in the back its too much so a catch 22, mind you ive not used the bus below 5 degees!

 

[69billy]

ran ours today ,we only have a propex and our other car said 1 degree outside temp, but a few mins in its a balmy 16 degrees with the thermometer out of our fridge for a reading( in the vw van), but did feel a lot warmer so think temp gizmo is no good. so anyway warm on the move thats the story.

 

[dub boy]

Anyone on here running original heating that actually works effectively?

Yes, gets too hot sometimes as I've wired the heat exchangers open. :lol:

Yes...If all the connections are ok and you ideally have a pair of genuine heat exchangers the heating works just fine. I run a standard set up in my bay (as I have for the last 12 years) and its great. As long as its all set up as VW intended there should be no need for any extra heating (and no smell of fumes either!)

whs ^^^ ,the year before i took the bus off the road i went over the heat system as it was so cold it was unpleasent to drive ,i thought it was in good nick ,with the van up on ramps i used a plumbers smoke pellet under the bus and shocked was not the word :lol: :lol: :lol: it came out everywere and just luke warm up front so temp repaiered best i could wired the exchanger flaps open and toastie was the word .so why i am doing a complete resto i will be putting a fair bit of time into revamping all the heating works on rebuild ,stock is best

 

[Irishpete]

Ive got a propex, my original heating doesn't seem to work!, when i put it on within 3 minutes the bus is nice and warm, driver & passenger are fine on full,(when driving), those sitting in the back its too much so a catch 22, mind you ive not used the bus below 5 degees!

ran ours today ,we only have a propex and our other car said 1 degree outside temp, but a few mins in its a balmy 16 degrees with the thermometer out of our fridge for a reading( in the vw van), but did feel a lot warmer so think temp gizmo is no good. so anyway warm on the move thats the story.

Thanks guys - this really helped. Propex it is!

 

[justcruzin]

Anyone on here running original heating that actually works effectively?

Yes, gets too hot sometimes as I've wired the heat exchangers open. :lol:

Yes...If all the connections are ok and you ideally have a pair of genuine heat exchangers the heating works just fine. I run a standard set up in my bay (as I have for the last 12 years) and its great. As long as its all set up as VW intended there should be no need for any extra heating (and no smell of fumes either!)

Yep, me too. I fixed my stock heater set up and it works great now. When the weather is in let's say 40 or 50s, I actually have to turn it down. But I will admit, the one time I drove it home and it was in the mid 30's, I was comfortable, but not toasty warm like in my newer car. I am however reinlisting my buddy heater just for the purpose of 'quick' warmth when I first leave for or from work. Once going down the road I am good to go.

 

[Humphrey]

Ive got a propex, my original heating doesn't seem to work!, when i put it on within 3 minutes the bus is nice and warm, driver & passenger are fine on full,(when driving), those sitting in the back its too much so a catch 22, mind you ive not used the bus below 5 degees!

ran ours today ,we only have a propex and our other car said 1 degree outside temp, but a few mins in its a balmy 16 degrees with the thermometer out of our fridge for a reading( in the vw van), but did feel a lot warmer so think temp gizmo is no good. so anyway warm on the move thats the story.

Thanks guys - this really helped. Propex it is!

Yep, I'm running the propex only, with the bigger engines heat exchangers are next to useless so I didn't bother. The propex works lovely. The other advantage is the engine doesn't have to be running so it's great when camping, have to say one of the best things I've done.

 

[Shorty]

Having removed J-tubes and installed heat exchangers (wired open) onto my westy when I had it, I can honestly say I was mildly peeved at how bad they were after all the trouble and expense.... Sure, I'm not expecting modern day heating standards, but it would be nice to be able to drive without my coat and gloves on!

On my current project, the J-Tubes are going on and I'm going Propex, the one with the 240V option too so when I'm on hook up I can keep my bus toastie warm!

just my 10p worth...

 

[sparkywig]

Having removed J-tubes and installed heat exchangers (wired open) onto my westy when I had it, I can honestly say I was mildly peeved at how bad they were after all the trouble and expense.... Sure, I'm not expecting modern day heating standards, but it would be nice to be able to drive without my coat and gloves on!

If that's the case you hadn't refitted it back to original spec.

 

[the_troupster]

Just did some digging and found stock heat exchangers weigh around 5.5kg. Will put my spares on the scales tonight and see what I've got.

The weight is very indicative of their efficiency at putting heat to the front of the 'van.

Mine is all sealed up tight now except for double checking the bellows underneath. It's very good at demisting the windscreen but only really takes the chill out of the air, even on a long journey. Again, i need to really see what 'exchangers I've got in there to see if any more 'performance' can be gotten out of it.

If all else fails I'll continue seeking some refurb parts for my BN4.

Jim