TR2/3/3A TR3 Heater Question

[RedTR3]

Since I live in CA and never use my heater, I am thinking of disconnecting it to avoid potential leak points. My question is, though, does the heater provide any extra cooling capacity for the already marginal cooling system and if I disconnect it, will my engine run hotter overall?

 

[Andrew Mace]

IMO, a <span style="font-style: italic">clean and properly set up</span> TR cooling system is not really marginal at all, so disconnecting the heater would have no effect.

 

[Geo Hahn]

In any case, you only get a cooling assist from it by having the heat on -- presumably on a hot day.

I drove for years w/o mine (just ran a hose from one inner firewall connector to the other but finally wimped out and added one as those early morning winter desert drives can be chilly.

 

[luke44]

Awesome picture!!!!

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha,

I've had two TR3s here in Hawaii. The first had a heater that I removed, the second did not have one installed. In both cars I didn't have an engine over heating problem after I did some work. I agree with Andy that the cooling system does work if the engine block is kept clean and the radiator has good thermally efficiency. Sediment tend to collect in the engine block at the rear where the block drain petcock is. Radiator fins need to have good contact with the tubes running between the upper and lower tanks in addition to being capable of holding coolant at operating pressure. The fiberboard radiator ducting is also important to force most of the air entering the grille to pass through the radiator.

The heater can be used as an auxiliary radiator, but as Geo points out the heat is going to the cockpit. Even with the heater valve closed on the engine block, my heater would get hot which is why I removed it. Probably the valve leaked by a bit. In my case the engine did not run any hotter with out a heater. I used brass pipe plugs to block the holes for the heater control valve and on the water pump housing where the heater pipe attached.

 

[angelfj1]

Awesome picture!!!!

Is that ice on George's glasses?

 

[martx-5]

Awesome picture!!!!

Is that ice on George's glasses?

On his beard also... :laugh:

 

[Geo Hahn]

The look is not original with me...

 

[MDCanaday]

The disconnect of the heater will have no effect on cooling.But IMHO the heater is better preserved by being full of the proper coolant.I have it on good accord that oxygen causes corrosion (gasp!)This will in time be the death of this fragile unit if left empty....
MD(mad dog)