Coolant system pressure test

spurs · Dec 7, 2019

hi all,

As the title suggests, I’m going to do a coolant system pressure test to try and determine a blown head gasket.
Now this Amy welll be a daft question, but do I need to take the glow plugs out when doing this test?

Kyle

kermit_rr · Dec 7, 2019

I don't see why.
If you have a coolant related head gasket problem, either coolant is being lost or coolant is being pressurised

lynall · Dec 7, 2019

It can be real hard to confirm a blown head gasket.
Well worth carrying out the pressure test cold and hot, but even then it may not be conclusive.

What engine is it?

No need to rmeove glow plugs or anything else for that matter.

rob1miles · Dec 7, 2019

I doubt it will tell you anything. Head gaskets often blow between cylinders and not into the water jacket and they can blow into an oil way as well. Even if the blow is into a waterway there's a good chance it will hold the 10-12 psi you can put into the coolant and not the 400psi peak you could get in the cylinder. The only test worth doing is a compression test as it will check the head gasket, rings and valves.

Turboman · Dec 7, 2019

lynall said:
It can be real hard to confirm a blown head gasket.
Well worth carrying out the pressure test cold and hot, but even then it may not be conclusive.

What engine is it?

No need to rmeove glow plugs or anything else for that matter.

He says it is a 2.5NA on his page.

Never seem one of those blow a gasket into the water. Most likely into the push rod chambers.

Turboman · Dec 7, 2019

rob1miles said:
I doubt it will tell you anything. Head gaskets often blow between cylinders and not into the water jacket and they can blow into an oil way as well. Even if the blow is into a waterway there's a good chance it will hold the 10-12 psi you can put into the coolant and not the 400psi peak you could get in the cylinder. The only test worth doing is a compression test as it will check the head gasket, rings and valves.

If he pulls the rocker box cap off, he will probably be able to tell if the head gasket has blown.

It would be helpful if he would say why he thinks the head gasket has gone.

Scooby22 · Dec 7, 2019

You could go to a garage that has MOT emissions test gear and ask them to do a hydrocarbon sniff test in the header tank. If hydrocarbons present there is a head gasket leak.

lynall · Dec 8, 2019

Scooby22 said:
You could go to a garage that has MOT emissions test gear and ask them to do a hydrocarbon sniff test in the header tank. If hydrocarbons present there is a head gasket leak.

Have heard more than once that doesnt always work.
Anyway the op appears to have vamoosed!

Coolant system pressure test

spurs

Active Member

kermit_rr

Very

lynall

Well-Known Member

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

Turboman

Mab An Gov

Turboman

Mab An Gov

Scooby22

Well-Known Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

Similar threads