Rear Heater coolant lines, can I use rubber?

[Draayer]

The metal lines that run coolant to the rear heater core are leaking on my 96 4runner. Can I replace those metal lines with some rubber lines similar to fuel line?

 

[3rzrunner]

Yes. I have done this with rubber fuel rated hose, and it has been working for years now, without a problem. :bluejump:

 

[TheDurk]

The metal lines that run coolant to the rear heater core are leaking on my 96 4runner. Can I replace those metal lines with some rubber lines similar to fuel line?

You should use flexible lines meant for coolant; fuel lines may not be able to take the temps. NAPA will have them, or any decent auto parts store. Lots of people have done this (although I am not one, my rear lines are pristine.)

 

[cj80cruiser]

Im thinking NelsonMD documented his replacement of rusty rear heater lines.

 

[Ghostrider]

Not sure if you considered it - but you can also cap them off and avoid future problems forever. You just don't get rear heat

 

[allwheeldrive]

Not sure if you considered it - but you can also cap them off and avoid future problems forever. You just don't get rear heat

That's what I did. It was a nice novelty to have rear heat.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Im thinking NelsonMD documented his replacement of rusty rear heater lines.

I used rubber hoses on mine, but I didn't really document it. To be honest, it isn't really complicated enough to need a walkthrough, though I know someone did document here in ridiculous detail.

I used fuel line and they have stood up just fine, even with them being a bit closer to the exhaust than they should be.

In all honesty, if i had to go back, I'd just ditch the rear heat and put a short bypass hose in the engine bay. I don't have people in the back of mine often enough to really warrant it. I drive half the time with the seats down anyway, so the under seat heat is blocked anyway.

 

[SweetWaterSurprise]

No problem using rubber lines, did it myself, works just fine.

 

[nevada]

I used rubber hoses on mine, but I didn't really document it. To be honest, it isn't really complicated enough to need a walkthrough, though I know someone did document here in ridiculous detail.

I used fuel line and they have stood up just fine, even with them being a bit closer to the exhaust than they should be.

In all honesty, if i had to go back, I'd just ditch the rear heat and put a short bypass hose in the engine bay. I don't have people in the back of mine often enough to really warrant it. I drive half the time with the seats down anyway, so the under seat heat is blocked anyway.

if you, or anyone else feels the need to do that, I will take your old heater unit off your hands.


I would like to try to retro fit one into my 06. ive got rear heat on my 85 and I LOVE IT. its one of the things I dislike about the 06.

im not even sure if it would fit, I need to get my hands on a heating unit, and start taking some measurements..