Aftermarket heater core?

babelfish · Post by **babelfish** » 10 Mar 2011, 17:27

Seems my heater core is leaking, so I'll be replacing it. Looks like FCP sells the OEM for $130, aftermarket for $95. Should I spend the extra $35 for OEM, or does it not really matter here?

Post by **SilverS70** » 10 Mar 2011, 17:40

I bought from FCP on ebay, an aftermarket for 70 shipped. Fit and works fine, although doesn't seem to get as hot as old core, I think it has less/thinner fins or doesn't hold as much coolant. My old one may have been partially blocked too.

Here is a link to it. Came with the o-rings to. Its an Easy DIY. Just have garbage bag ready for the coolant and disconnect it slowly so the coolant doesn't gush all over.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &viewitem=

babelfish · Post by **babelfish** » 10 Mar 2011, 19:07

Yeah, I looked up the guide I while ago. The shop I'm getting my oil cooler lines and PCV done at wanted $300 to do the heater core. I was like, "Uhhhh... no, I think I'll just do that one myself."

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 10 Mar 2011, 19:31

My mechanic told me that they've had the same issue with aftermarket cores - people's heat doesn't work nearly as well with them as OEM.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Mar 2011, 19:41

+2 on the heating efficiency. 1/4 turn up on the heat knobs used to run me out of the car and now it is more like 3/4 of a turn on the MCC to get the same results.

I did notice that the aftermarket core didn't fit as tightly into the slot and, even with the foam tape around it, I think it is letting ambient air get in around the core.

...Lee

Post by **precopster** » 11 Mar 2011, 06:34

another +1 on heating efficiency of aftermarket FCP Groton core; nowhere near as hot as before, fins are not as dense, but it seems I was (dense) to buy the aftermarket one LOL. I posted this this write-up a couple of months ago.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/2011/0 ... n-the-850/

falconbrother · Post by **falconbrother** » 11 Mar 2011, 21:46

My mechanic says that the Volvo HVAC stuff isn't good quality. I plan to use aftermarket. What's the difference? This one didn't last so, who cares if the next one last only as long as the OEM parts.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 Mar 2011, 23:26

falconbrother wrote:My mechanic says that the Volvo HVAC stuff isn't good quality. I plan to use aftermarket. What's the difference? This one didn't last so, who cares if the next one last only as long as the OEM parts.

You pays your money and you takes your chances.

My OEM Volvo heater cores have lasted a bit longer than my OEM Chevy heater cores on the Suburbans so I don't know what the standard is for life expectancy. In all cases where my cores have croaked it has been around the 150K mark but I do have a couple of Volvos with more mileage than that and they still have original cores with no problems yet.

An aftermarket from FCP that I put in last year on the '94 is showing signs of a leak again since it completely fogs the windows but it may be an O ring and not the core, I need a good weather weekend to figure out what is going on.

...Lee

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 12 Mar 2011, 05:39

falconbrother wrote:My mechanic says that the Volvo HVAC stuff isn't good quality. I plan to use aftermarket. What's the difference? This one didn't last so, who cares if the next one last only as long as the OEM parts.

Well, as noted many times here already - the aftermarket cores don't put out as much heat. Perhaps that's not much of a concern for you in NC - but up north it sure is!