I've seen a few people mention that they have removed their heater control valve. Just wondering what this does? I'm guessing that it won't lock hot water in the heater matrix?


RMK

 

TTT

I'd like to remove this to clean up my engine bay also. with the LT1 intake I have coolant hoses running everywhere.

 

Well, you can either have coolant running through your heater core all the time, or never. Or you can leave it in and have coolant flow only when it's needed. Simple as that.

 

I removed it on both of my cars. In the summer my GTA runs a little hot, but I don't think it's due to removing the diverter valve. In my IROC it's also gone, and the car runs as cool as a cucumber.

 

It won't make any effect on your cars cooling. With the valve in, coolant goes to the valve, and if it's open, coolant goes through the heater core and then dumps out into your waterpump, or right side radiator tank (depends on year/engine combo). If the valve is closed, it skips your heater core, and dumps out to (again) the water pump or radiator end tank.

Keeping the valve in will make your AC run a little better, but that's about the only benefit.

I can tell you the plastic they're made of gets brittle with age, and when it breaks (mine did 2years ago), your car will puke all it's coolant out that hose in 2 minutes flat.

I would keep it in, or replace it if it's bad, but it's really a matter of personal opinion. If memory serves me correctly, it's a $20 piece of stupid little plastic