Does anyone have any information on asbestos components with the original heating system. I am currently refurbishing a a pair of original type 4 exchangers and have split the tins to reveal the inner liner. The construction of this inner liner is an outer wire mesh coated on the inside with a white-ish substance and a foil inner part. The inner foil part has perished and the white (woven) material is delaminating from the mesh, indeed a lot of it has gone! One can only assume blown into the heating duct and into the van. Does anyone have any information on what this is as this is possibly the worst case scenario if this is asbestos, ie starnds/particles blown into the air and force fed into the vehicle. I shall look at what to replace this with in time but although I wouldnt wish to scaremonger there is a great deal of discusion on whether Original exchangers are best and indeed a premium is paid for these items. I think the risk, if this is harmful needs to be addressed. As I say any info greatfully recieved!!
Take a chunk of it in a plastic bag to an asbestos removal firm, they would no doubt be able to tell from just looking at it but at worst it will cost to get it tested & if it is I wouldn't want to be playing around with it for sure! You also raise a valid point about particles or fibers being blown inside the van, although I am surprised this has not been brought up by someone & investigated in the past, you maybe the first to discover this Dicky... If it is indeed asbestos they may link it to thousands of cases and name it after you, something like Dickysvanbestosi or Dickyvanatitus...
From a quick internet trawl it would seem that this is, indeed asbestos. I wont be replacing it so will need to identify a suitable replacement. Shouldnt owners clubs be pubicising this? Im thinking T2OC, VWOC etc. Shouldnt suppliers be telling us? Indeed shouldnt someone actually be manufacturing decent after market parts that work to replace them with. Somewhat gutted that I may have unwittingly damaged my children by not knowing this! Asbestosis isnt plaeasant ant takes a long time to present itself. Also the cuffs on the bellows to the van, if original, are asbestos but arent necessarily in the airstream like this stuff is.
mine's only just been attached (sept) and it's blown in lots of rusty bits into the cab... wonder what else too can the system be disengaged and just use a propex?
According to this its ok http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/archive/index.php/o-t--t-163247--.html Asbestos is all around us it has been used in artex ceilings, toilet seats, the black pad under the sink and downpipes and garages right up to the 80s its fine as long as long as its not damaged by breaking it or drilling holes in it if you find it and are unsure wet it down with water as this will stop the fibres being realised. I use to work with a guy who use to install the blue asbestos, they use to mix it by hand and have snowball fights with it and hes in his 70s and in fine health. Yes it is dangerous and don't mess with it but don't get too paranoid As a extra they recon MDF dust could be a bigger killer
Thanks mate Im sure you mean well but asbestos is a killer. It is inhaled when fibres are released into the air. It is beyond any reasonable doubt that blown into your face when carried by your heating system it will be inhaled. It then the luck of the draw and current thinking is that the greater the xposure the greater the likelyhood of contracting an asbestos related illness resulting in premature death will occur. This could be 20 to 30 years following exposure. And yes there are other sources of course but having 30 year old decayingasbestos parts on your bust and then that being blown into your face is obviously an issue. I appreciate you are trying to reasuure me. I will be removing the asbestos, bagging it and getting shut appropriately. Now onto what I can use to replace it but spose thats a tech question.
Incidentally - I know of 2 cases of abestosis at my works and have a retired friend who worked in a workshop with 2 other guys both who dies of asbestos realted illnesses. Hes been fine so far but knows he will be lucky if he doesnt suffer the same fate.
Yes MDF dust is very fine and god knows what chemicals hold it together. The last place a demolished had asbestos so in just put it in the bottom of the skip. Them so called proper firms charge to much.
If its post 90 s parts it should be OK. Other week I took my bellows off and got a face full. Bagged up and the clothes I was wearing too. Disposed of properly
If its post 90 s parts it should be OK. Other week I took my bellows off and got a face full. Bagged up and the clothes I was wearing too. Disposed of properly
I was just putting it in context I still haven't seen any info that the material is in the heat exchanger in addition to the above link http://www.justkampers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=166143 where there is a reply from vw This is a reply I received from VW , concerning asbestos. Thank you for your most recent email I have spoken to our Technical Department and they have informed me that the Pre 1961 Type 1 vehicles generally had a convoluted flexible metal pipe between the heat exchanger and the cabin. Early 1960's to 1971 model year (late 1970) used the same metal flexible type pipe between heat exchanger and cabin. However, it had an insulating material around it and a flexible plastic weatherproof material around that. Although the insulating material between metal and plastic is light in colour, it is not of an asbestos basis as it is neither required for insulation and not to withstand any protection against heat, nor is it in the flow of warm air to the cabin. From 1971 MY onwards flexible plastic tubing was used with internal woollen material type insulation. The 1973 and 1974 MY type 2, use same principal as Type 1 1971 onwards, even though different heat exchanger type are available depending on engine type. During the 1960s, an asbestos ring was fitted on the front of the heat exchanger where the heat transfer pipe connected. This generally broke and fell off early on in the vehicle's life when disturbed and wasn't replaced (During first engine removal or heat exchanger replacement). When in place it's purpose was to separate the flexible plastic outer weatherproof sleeve of the heat transfer pipe from making direct contact with heat exchanger, not affecting the warm air transfer metal section, it was not in the flow of warm air for the cabin. Replacement parts were supplied from a rubber material. Additionally, as with all vehicles, asbestos was used in some exhaust gaskets to cylinder head connections (front and rear) as was the "O" ring at heat exchanger / exhaust connection. I trust this information proves useful. Thank you for contacting Volkswagen UK. Yours sincerely Sarah Brotherton-Ratcliffe Customer Service Advisor Volkswagen Customer Service fiddler Posts: 375 Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 9:18 am Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
VW did use a small amount of white asbestos (similar the the bonded stuff your shed roof's made out of) in the 70s for stuff like heater cuff seals. It's really not going to do you any harm - it's the blue stuff that's the killer. Take it out and bin it. It's really not going to kill you. PS No point in telling the T2OC, as they're all out buying cardigans.
Yep seen that but Im referring to the sytuff in the exchangers ie the stuff in my picture thats impregnated with oil and is black one end and then goes to a tan colour. Same infor plus a bit here: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=754140&highlight=asbestos
I can find more info for it not, than there is but the only way for sure is to test it. £36 to get it tested http://www.asbestostesting.co.uk/ Asbestos is dangerous but the different types have different levels of risk
Yep you right but mines bagged up and good to go now. Moved on to what to replace it with. Thanks for the debate chaps. Im certain enough that it is what i think it is to just say - take caution and tbh Id get shut if I already hadnt. Also going to clean my ductwork whan I can.
