Anyone Have a Leak Down Tester I Can Borrow? (1 Viewer)

[Von Hayek]

My coolant keeps disappearing and I'm afraid the only possible reason that has not been eliminated is a blown head gasket. It makes sense as I overheated the truck a few times when I first bought it and the cooling system was in shambles.

Anyone have a leak down tester I can borrow? Just want to verify.

 

[John Smith]

You don't need a leak down tester. If you aren't leaking the coolant externally, and it isn't migrating to the oil pan, you're burning it. Simple as that. If you pull the head alone, be careful, it is a heavy SOB.

 

[jcj_78FJ40]

Bart,


Check to see if you have air bubbles coming from the hose in the coolant overflow while idling at normal operating temperature.
If you do then your head gasket is probably leaking.

 

[Von Hayek]

You don't need a leak down tester. If you aren't leaking the coolant externally, and it isn't migrating to the oil pan, you're burning it. Simple as that. If you pull the head alone, be careful, it is a heavy SOB.

Makes sense, unfortunately.

Check to see if you have air bubbles coming from the hose in the coolant overflow while idling at normal operating temperature.
If you do then your head gasket is probably leaking.

Good idea. Never thought of that.

 

[kulangot]

You could use a leak down down tester for this but a better tool would be a radiator pressure tester. If you do have a cracked head or a blown head gasket, you will see a build up of pressure and or needle movement that shows combustion pressure getting into the sytem. Looks like a bicyle pump that fits onto your radiator where the cap goes.

If you used a leak down tester for the same task, you'd see bubbles in the coolant and you could hear air coming out of the dip stick and oil filler.

I used to have one, sold it when I moved.

You might be able to borrow one from Autozone.

Sometimes these types of leaks are obviouse and you see obviouse signs but other times they are not.

I have used this tool to find minor leaks in the system and fixed a lot of overheating problems with it.

 

[Von Hayek]

You could use a leak down down tester for this but a better tool would be a radiator pressure tester. If you do have a cracked head or a blown head gasket, you will see a build up of pressure and or needle movement that shows combustion pressure getting into the sytem. Looks like a bicyle pump that fits onto your radiator where the cap goes.

If you used a leak down tester for the same task, you'd see bubbles in the coolant and you could hear air coming out of the dip stick and oil filler.

I used to have one, sold it when I moved.

You might be able to borrow one from Autozone.

Sometimes these types of leaks are obviouse and you see obviouse signs but other times they are not.

I have used this tool to find minor leaks in the system and fixed a lot of overheating problems with it.

Are you talking about hooking up the pressure tester with the car running to observe a pressure buildup?

 

[kulangot]

Yes, put in on there and start it up cold. Observe.

If you have a combustion leak, you will see that in the needle.

If you have a coolant leak, you can pump it up cold and look for the leak. If no leak is found, then you start the truck and look for the leak.

Comes with great instructions...RTFM...read the F'ing manual

Often leaks high in the sytem leak more steam than coolant.

 

[Von Hayek]

Damn. My "manual" is a sticker on the plastic case. It says if it drops rapidly, look for a hose leak. If it drops slowly with no discernible hose leak, you may have a head gasket leak. I have no slow leak. This is all without the engine running. I'll try your method my first chance.

 

[kulangot]

go here: Stant

 

[Von Hayek]

Sweet.

 

[Devilmans Hand]

John has all the answers. Can I subscribe to your newsletter?

 

[Skrewball]

I'm assuming your talkin about the 80?

if it isn't gettin in the oil, and it is getting in to one of the cylinders, you could pull the plugs and look for a clean one(assuming your plugs aren't brand new)

if you haven't already looked, check the rear heat lines for leaks. if you have a fancy driveway you would notice, but if you park in gravel or public parking it wouldn't be as easy to see.

if you come to the conclusion that the head gasket is leaking, don't drive the truck if you can help it. if it is leaking into one of the cylinders slowly now, it will only get worse and usually quick.

 

[Von Hayek]

I'm assuming your talkin about the 80?

if it isn't gettin in the oil, and it is getting in to one of the cylinders, you could pull the plugs and look for a clean one(assuming your plugs aren't brand new)

if you haven't already looked, check the rear heat lines for leaks. if you have a fancy driveway you would notice, but if you park in gravel or public parking it wouldn't be as easy to see.

if you come to the conclusion that the head gasket is leaking, don't drive the truck if you can help it. if it is leaking into one of the cylinders slowly now, it will only get worse and usually quick.

No, this is actually the 62. I have replaced all of the coolant hoses and don't see any leaks anywhere. I don't notice anything in the oil. But it loses coolant a fairly rapid clip. An overflow bottle per week I would say.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Bart, let us know how the plugs look.

 

[Von Hayek]

OK guys, here are my plugs. I don't see any evidence of a head gasket leak. Where on earth is my coolant going?

 

[John Smith]

Hmm, Perhaps a bottle a week is not enough to clean a plug? An entire overflow bottle of coolant a week has to be going somewhere though.

 

[76FJ40]

Does the carpet squish when you step in the truck?

 

[Von Hayek]

Does the carpet squish when you step in the truck?

Not a bit. Don't smell coolant in the cabin either.

 

[Thornton]

It's the 62 fluid gremlins, thery're sucking the fluids out of yours and Chris's trucks. Watch out Steve yours may be next. I think if you put a ring of garlic around your 62 they'll leave it alone.

 

[bkfj40]

I know that you are going through a bottle a week, but how many miles are you putting on it?