Swedish Car Parts Heater Core: Plastic inside?

[theWIFES_S70]

I bought this heater core when when I first purchased our car, figuring I'd have to replace it one day. (Oh how we hoard parts...) Anyhow, it seems like my brother can finally use it in his V70. I went to check it out and noticed this piece of plastic inside of it. When I pulled it out, oh boy, what a large piece of plastic? Did I ruin the heater core? Or is this just a piece of the casting and molding of the piece that remains stuck inside of it? I know these things aren't super expensive so I'm not against ordering him another one. But is it safe to use?

swedishcarparts_heatercore.jpg (66.97 KiB) Viewed 6023 times

[abscate]

I think that plastic swirls the flow in the core to help heat transfer.

[BEJinFbk]

I think that plastic swirls the flow in the core to help heat transfer.

I suspect the same.
In boilers they're called "Turbulators".

Add "Twin Turbo CC" to your sig!

[rspi]

I usually leave that in there. Not an issue being visible. Should still be ok to use.

[theWIFES_S70]

Oh wow, I didn't think that this plastic could serve a purpose. It seemed to me to be almost the same shape as the heater line holes so I figured it was just a manufacturing oversight... It looked to me like it would restrict flow... I knew I should have consulted on here before pulling it out.

Do the Valeos and the Behr heater cores have this same piece of plastic?

[kekec01]

I recently replace a heater core in my ´99 V70 and I put Nissens brand. It also has this plastic inside and luckily I didn´t manage to pull it out.

[abscate]

Oh wow, I didn't think that this plastic could serve a purpose. It seemed to me to be almost the same shape as the heater line holes so I figured it was just a manufacturing oversight... It looked to me like it would restrict flow... I knew I should have consulted on here before pulling it out.

Do the Valeos and the Behr heater cores have this same piece of plastic?

Always consult here...is there anyone in family who knows about communications, Dr,?

[BeachWagon]

I used the same core you're using. Can't say I saw this inside the core but I can't say I scrutinized it too much either.

From the sound of things, it is probably fine without it.

[cn90]

Put the plastic thingy back inside and install the heater core.

That plastic thingy, as others have said, is designed to create a "spiral flow" of fluid.
During the heat exchange process, the heat is extracted from the "outer" diameter of the fluid column, and the "inner" core is still hot. By using this thingy, the "inner" core fluid is pushed to the outside ---> better heat exchange efficiency.

Even without one of these things, I think yours will be fine too. Just put it back inside and install it.

[kaneelschep]

I used a nissens not long ago and never saw that. Otherwise probably would pulled it out too