14 replies to this topic

[Steve-O 2014]

How hot does the mini heater get? Ours just seems to stay slightly warm it never seems to get Hot. Is this normal or do I have a problem? Both pipes are getting hot

Thanks

[nicklouse]

as hot as the engine.

[rally1380]

They get bloomin warm.....as Nick says ^^^^  as hot as an engine......which is warm!!!!!

 

You've probably got an airlock or sludge in the matrix.

[smurfomatic]

Don't expect the sort of heat you'd get in a modern car! Flushing out the matrix with a hose is probably going to help.

[hhhh]

Make sure your coolant level is up and you have a sensible thermostat like 88C for winter.

[Steve-O 2014]

Yea I have the hottest thermostat from minispares fitted it just seems to have always been like this. The water pipes under the steering column going into the heater feel very hot but the air blowing out just feels warm. Maybe the matrix is blocked and its not flowing fast enough through it to stay hot

[CityEPete]

Mine gets really warm, toasty toes, that's with a new matrix and a nice clean cooling system with plenty of blue antifreeze in it.

[pusb]

I have a twin speed one from an MPI. It gets very warm. On the slow setting, even on a cold day, I can't have it on for long as it gets too hot in the car.

[maccers]

I've got a replacement all metal matrix, my old one with the plastic bits broke. Also re-assembled the system with new silicon pipes but forgot to put the on/off valve back so coolant is always flowing, I just put the lever into the off position when not needed. Its really toasty though when on, dont need the blower on even on cold days if i need to use the car. 

[greenmini1275]

Wish I could get my car properly toasty, mine just barely luke warms up.

[Spider]

As well as making sure the coolant circuit through the matrix is clean and free flowing, as many of the other guys have already said, be sure the Fins are clear and not blocked up with Hair and crud from the Carpet. If the Air can't free flow through the Matrix, it's effectively just another pipe and not a heat exchanger.

 

Many I've stripped down is pretty blocked up in this way.

[MikeRotherham]

Very toasty as others have said.

 

No need for the fan either when on the move the ram effect is enough.

[Mini Manannán]

Takes about 15 minutes for it to really get working (there's a whole lot of cast iron in the engine to heat-soak into) but then it's lovely.

[tiger99]

I always found them to be at least adequate, even at -5C outside. As the Minis are all very old now, the problems that we frequently see here are probably age related and as stated by several posts above will respond to flushing, cleaning the matrix, fixing collapsed hoses, bleeding air etc. 99 times out of 100, that should be all that is needed.

The valve itself may fail. Beware, there has been a faulty batch of those which burst under pressure. The really old brass one with the underbonnet lever is known for its reliability, if you can find one.

I have seen suggestions about using a VW Golf valve, but don't know which model of Golf. It fits in line and you would have a simple stub pipe on the head. Only if the existing valve is the problem, of course.

[roblightbody]

Don't expect the sort of heat you'd get in a modern car! Flushing out the matrix with a hose is probably going to help.

 

In my experience, classic Mini heaters go much hotter than a modern car!  However the fan is far weaker than any modern car.