So...as I posted a few days ago, I had a mechanic here flush my heater core and then reported to me that I needed a new heater core. Of course that means tearing out the dash and the cost was going to be between $1000 and $2100 depending on the shop and other variables.

So I took it to another mechanic here - he's a two-man shop. He looked at it and said "I really doubt it needs a new heater core, but I'll check it out."

Two days later he called and said "Your LR3 is ready and you can now cook eggs in it." What he did was flush it repeatedly over 2 days, using sulfuric acid from Wal-Mart. It was $180 for his trouble. He said he works on a ton of heater cores, and it is only very rare that one cannot be brought back to life.

So the moral of the story is, don't be so quick to trust a mechanic who says he has to tear your car apart. That heater core might need a good working over with some sulfuric acid!

 

I hope you are wrong on the acid he used, sulfuric dissolves aluminum which will weaken the core. Nitric acid is ideal. But at least you have your heat again!

 

Good to know. He said he uses it all of the time with no issues - hopefully it will be fine!

 

Probably depends on the level of concentration

 

I use Vinegar usually.

 

I live in Georgia not 100% sure I have a heater in my truck