Asbestos in heater mufflers in VWs

I have heard stories about asbestos being in the black heater mufflers [noise reducers] above the rear axles in beetles etc...
I'm not sure when these plastic heater mufflers came out on beetles etc... My 68 beetle has them..

I was going to install Mine a few weeks ago after installing the engine [again...]

so I pulled the metal ends off and found round pieces of asbetsos..
holding the centre pice in place were two more pieces of asbestos... and wrapped around the metal centre is
fibreglass... like pink bats...

Now, I don't like to breath asbestos or pink bats...
so, I've used silver fresh air convoluted hose...
[painted red - naturally]

BUT- I can hear mechanical noises from the engine...
not muffler noise...
so, those plastic mufflers do work...

but I'm not breathing in Asbestos OR pink bats...

so, I'm trying to think of a heater hot air muffler I can make without using pink bats or asbestos...

but until then, the convoluted hose will do.... lol

LEE

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

well there you go. Do you think there could be health issues with these?

Lee,

I think the primary purpose is not to muffle sound but to insulate, keeping the hot air hot until it gets into the heater channels, that's why they used asbestos. The reduction in engine bay noise transfer is just a happy accident. In a northern hemisphere winter you would lose heat very quickly from there if it were not heavily insulated.

I hope you were wearing a good quality mask, cleaned up & disposed of everything carefully (& safely) when you pulled the tubes apart. Don't forget to pay special attention to the clothes you were wearing.

Asbestos is usually not a problem...... until you disturb it.

Regards,

Matt.

i'm planning on scrapping the heater channel and tube on my '71 (love the brisbane weather!). i'll have to keep this in mind when removing. i have trouble pronouncing asbestios, let alone living with it!

I think there may be more asbestos as a gasket under the screw on part on the top of the filler tube for the old fuel tanks pre 68. The part where the fuel cap screws onto?

does that mean I have to stop licking the fuel cap ?.....dam !😵

Matt Ryan wrote:Lee,
I hope you were wearing a good quality mask, cleaned up & disposed of everything carefully (& safely) when you pulled the tubes apart. Don't forget to pay special attention to the clothes you were wearing.

Asbestos is usually not a problem...... until you disturb it.
Regards,
Matt.

I didn't have any masks etc...
I suppose i should have..
but I didn't really disturb the asbestos..
the end pieces came out easily... I didn't break them etc
and the 2 pieces that held the inside piece in place had a sort of shiny texture and i didn't break those either...
so no dust so far as i could see..

You may be correct with the heat transfer, as VW owners in Europe and top of north america complain that the VW heaters don't work too well..
but they have a good reputation in Australia...
and mine work fine, it only takes a few minutes at 2C
for them to warm up..
I haven't tried them in really cold weather yet [below 0C]

but I suppose that is different to -10 C or colder...
plus We don't have weather that cold ALL day...

Lee

I thought it was inside those metal sections that go under the backseats? is this true?
or is it in those black tubes as well? which I didn't realiize!!

I have been quite obessed with asbestos lately especially with our investment property renovation, been driving the removalists nuts!!!! even reported them to trades halls as I was not satified with their job!!!

phatratpat wrote:does that mean I have to stop licking the fuel cap ?.....dam !😵

No its ok if you keep licking it, just don't breathe in while you are doing it🤘
You can ingest all you want it wont hurt you if you eat it

stevosky wrote:

phatratpat wrote:does that mean I have to stop licking the fuel cap ?.....dam !😵

No its ok if you keep licking it, just don't breathe in while you are doing it🤘
You can ingest all you want it wont hurt you if you eat it

best to freeze it then lick, it like an alcopop!

h wrote:

stevosky wrote:

phatratpat wrote:does that mean I have to stop licking the fuel cap ?.....dam !😵

No its ok if you keep licking it, just don't breathe in while you are doing it🤘
You can ingest all you want it wont hurt you if you eat it

best to freeze it then lick, it like an alcopop!

thanks guys ! you have put my mind at rest !

Hi

The plates that fit around intake manifold preheat have an asbestos lining, up until recently the exhaust rings for the muffler & tail pipe were made from asbestos as well as the flange gaskets.

Its a worry having it in the airflow.

The mufflers under the seats really cut-down on fan noise.

Steve

Its fine untill it's cracked or broken.........