Product Description
Oh No! Your aluminum heater core in your 2002-2006 Jeep Wrangler failed again because of electrolysis. We were asked to make the core of copper due to the repeated failures of the aluminum and the aggravation and high labor cost to replace it.
Most heater cores perform well at 11 fins per inch. Jeep guys wanted more heat so we added a 15FPI and then a 20FPI. We noticed some Jeepers bought the lower price heater core and then went on forums to complain. They spoke, we listened. We now only offer a 20FPI and we are now offer an oversized 2-5/8" thick core in the box.
There is a lot of forum chatter about heater core design and heat exchange.
Turbulators serve to introduce hot coolant to a round tube wall because absent them, most of the fluid would touch fluid and not exchange heat. Turbulators are not used in a highly efficient "flat" tubes due to the superior geometric shape which allows significantly more wall contact.
We do not make the tubes or fins of aluminum. Copper conducts heat faster.
Baffles route the fluid flow within the tank.
Some cooling system heat exchangers restrict flow for pressure and core longevity. Whenever the aggregate tube array is greater than outlet, there is a flow restriction.
The Jeep's engine was intended to run at temperatures of ~210 degrees. Changing a thermostat, adding a high flow water pump, putting in a larger radiator will ultimately reduce the system operating temperature and this may affect the heater core's heat output. Additionally, Jeep heater cores can become clogged with "sludge", mice love living in vents and snacking on wire coating and blend doors do fail. We make a more efficient core with the limited space provided and try to help people understand their heater core's design better. Some listen to us and some hang out on forums.
tube shape
tube count
Vol in quarts
Major OD
tube wall thickness
tube wall area
OE
round
7
.19
0.3
0.028
0.40
BW
elliptical
11
.58
0.75
0.007
0.49
157%
305%
250%
25%
122.5%
fin material
thermal conductivity
fins per inch
agg. area
Cu. Area
net area
OE
AL
205W/m K
21
1,459
4.38
1,458
BW 2r
Cu
385W/m K
20
1,464
4.32
1,461
BW 3r
Cu
385W/m K
20
2,121
6.26
2,083
The heater cores are made to order so please allow adequate time when ordering.
