Heater core bypass - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

black1lt · 07-23-2016, 12:22 AM

Hi all, I've been a member for quite a while but never really have a reason to post, except for now. Like all of us, I love my car very much. Because of a busy schedule and only driving my car in the summer (I literally have a hard time burning one tank of gas a year...!) I've been reading all the posts about the nightmares of replacing the heater core. Since mine is used very little and only in the summer, I would like to just bypass the heater core at the water pump. Naturally, I would flush out the core so it just sits there as an empty shell. My question is this: if I bypass it at the water pump, will I throw any codes? That is the only thing stopping me at this point. I searched the site and found nothing specific on the bypass issue except that there is a "U" shaped hose that makes this very easy to do, but again, will any codes be thrown? Thank you in advance. Rob

JCunningham · 07-23-2016, 01:26 AM

is it bad? I beleave you have to put a u section in it not just cap it off but not sure. 1 tank of gas. you must live in the city. ill do a tank every other time I take it out and im in western ny. no rain no salt.

christianchevell · 07-23-2016, 08:55 AM

Stop scaring yourself and eat your oatmeal.

black1lt · 07-23-2016, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianchevell

Stop scaring yourself and eat your oatmeal.

.......I do love oatmeal......

.....now, about those codes?

Midnight Rat · 07-23-2016, 11:15 AM

No codes will be thrown, all the water will be doing is a loop just like if it was going to the heater core.

Scalded Dog · 07-23-2016, 11:19 AM

I've done this on OTHER Chevies, and had no problems... but I've never done it on a Camaro.

My recommendation, if you do not get an answer on this forum, is to simply try it. It's not a difficult or time consuming job, and if it DOES throw a code, simply undo the job, clear the code... and let us know!

irwires · 07-23-2016, 01:36 PM

While that's not a bad idea you have to look into the possibility of corrosion beginning in the core after you drain it. GM'S antifreeze contains anti-corrosion inhibitors to help prevent this. Always use distilled water with anti-freeze so you don't introduce minerals into the system which can cause corrosion. I have a 40 year old vehicle with original core, always followed this method and no problems. If a core seam is defective from the manufacture draining it will not prevent a problem. Some day when you need it, it might be bad. Better that it goes sooner so that it's covered under warranty

JCunningham · 07-23-2016, 02:35 PM

there's no reason to do this if it's not bad.

black1lt · 07-23-2016, 05:04 PM

Thanks for the replies. They all make sense. Scalded Dog, I will go that route. I can always return it and clear the codes. With the car sitting a lot and only driven in warm weather I don't have a need for heat. Plus I'm Norwegian...lol we love the cold..

ron123 · 07-23-2016, 06:13 PM

The Camaro is the first car I've owned that did not have a bypass/shut-off valve on the the inlet side going in to the heater core. Other vehicles I've owned, when the a/c was on max or the heat was off a valve would close completely which stopped water from entering the heater core. It seems that most manufacturers are tending to now omit the valves.

In summer noticed that even with my heat off the heater core would still get hot - that is how I'd figured out there is no shut-off valve. And opened a thread a while back about this. Was thinking about installing a valve.
Ron

hootie · 01-06-2018, 11:52 PM

where do you find this u shape hose to by pass the heater core.

hammdo · 01-06-2018, 11:55 PM

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Bypass...+heater+bypass

-Don

07-23-2016, 12:22 AM	#1
black1lt Step Child Camaro Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Red Jewel Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York Posts: 148	Heater core bypass Hi all, I've been a member for quite a while but never really have a reason to post, except for now. Like all of us, I love my car very much. Because of a busy schedule and only driving my car in the summer (I literally have a hard time burning one tank of gas a year...!) I've been reading all the posts about the nightmares of replacing the heater core. Since mine is used very little and only in the summer, I would like to just bypass the heater core at the water pump. Naturally, I would flush out the core so it just sits there as an empty shell. My question is this: if I bypass it at the water pump, will I throw any codes? That is the only thing stopping me at this point. I searched the site and found nothing specific on the bypass issue except that there is a "U" shaped hose that makes this very easy to do, but again, will any codes be thrown? Thank you in advance. Rob __________________ 2010 Camaro SS/RS Red Jewel (slowly working on mods) Thank you GREEDY Dodge dealers for sending me to the GM dealer!!! I won't be back. 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible 426 HEMI clone 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda hardtop 426 HEMI clone

07-23-2016, 01:26 AM	#2
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	is it bad? I beleave you have to put a u section in it not just cap it off but not sure. 1 tank of gas. you must live in the city. ill do a tank every other time I take it out and im in western ny. no rain no salt. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

07-23-2016, 08:55 AM	#3
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	Stop scaring yourself and eat your oatmeal. __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

07-23-2016, 02:35 PM	#8
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,069	there's no reason to do this if it's not bad. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

07-23-2016, 05:04 PM	#9
black1lt Step Child Camaro Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Red Jewel Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York Posts: 148	Thanks for the replies. They all make sense. Scalded Dog, I will go that route. I can always return it and clear the codes. With the car sitting a lot and only driven in warm weather I don't have a need for heat. Plus I'm Norwegian...lol we love the cold.. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS/RS Red Jewel (slowly working on mods) Thank you GREEDY Dodge dealers for sending me to the GM dealer!!! I won't be back. 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible 426 HEMI clone 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda hardtop 426 HEMI clone

07-23-2016, 11:15 AM	#5
Midnight Rat Drives: SS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 1,829	No codes will be thrown, all the water will be doing is a loop just like if it was going to the heater core.

07-23-2016, 11:19 AM	#6
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	I've done this on OTHER Chevies, and had no problems... but I've never done it on a Camaro. My recommendation, if you do not get an answer on this forum, is to simply try it. It's not a difficult or time consuming job, and if it DOES throw a code, simply undo the job, clear the code... and let us know!

07-23-2016, 01:36 PM	#7
irwires Drives: 2014 SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: ILL Posts: 15	While that's not a bad idea you have to look into the possibility of corrosion beginning in the core after you drain it. GM'S antifreeze contains anti-corrosion inhibitors to help prevent this. Always use distilled water with anti-freeze so you don't introduce minerals into the system which can cause corrosion. I have a 40 year old vehicle with original core, always followed this method and no problems. If a core seam is defective from the manufacture draining it will not prevent a problem. Some day when you need it, it might be bad. Better that it goes sooner so that it's covered under warranty

07-23-2016, 06:13 PM	#10
ron123 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,053	The Camaro is the first car I've owned that did not have a bypass/shut-off valve on the the inlet side going in to the heater core. Other vehicles I've owned, when the a/c was on max or the heat was off a valve would close completely which stopped water from entering the heater core. It seems that most manufacturers are tending to now omit the valves. In summer noticed that even with my heat off the heater core would still get hot - that is how I'd figured out there is no shut-off valve. And opened a thread a while back about this. Was thinking about installing a valve. Ron __________________ 2014 2SS/RS, Z28 CAI and High Wing Spoiler, ZL1 5.1:1 Ratio Short-Throw Shifter, ZL1 Pedals, ZL1 splash guards, NPP Dual-mode quad tip exhaust, Z28 strut tower brace, Camaro LED Cup-holders with footwell Lighting option, Leather visors, and Leather E-brake boot. Chevy dealer sponsored 67 retro SS nose stripe package.

01-06-2018, 11:52 PM	#11
hootie Drives: 2010 yellow rs V6 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waynesville,N.C. Posts: 14	where do you find this u shape hose to by pass the heater core.

01-06-2018, 11:55 PM	#12
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,709 View My Garage	Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Bypass...+heater+bypass -Don __________________ 747 RWHP 794 RWTQ "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races." - Enzo Ferrari See My Build: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385577