Newbie First Time Buyer Questions : Coolant

dantheman201 · Jun 7, 2015

Hi Guys,
Went to see a '99 P38a, the coolant res was 25% full, so half from min.

I checked the coolant res, no sign of oil, opened the oil cap and checked dip stick, no white residue. Checked footwell, not wet.

My questions is, what could be a reason for low coolant capacity, what should i check?

Thanks,

Dan

wammers · Jun 7, 2015

Possibly been topped up with the engine hot. May have a slight leak, get someone to throw a static tester on it and check for pressure drop.

dantheman201 · Jun 7, 2015

thanks - how can you do this test? Get an independent there to check it? Or is there some instrument a garage will show this? Or can i do it?

wammers · Jun 7, 2015

dantheman201 said:
thanks - how can you do this test? Get an independent there to check it? Or is there some instrument a garage will show this? Or can i do it?

You can if you have a static test kit. Garages should have them.

biketeacherdave · Jun 7, 2015

Head gasket possibly pull the plugs see if any are steam cleaned

dogsbody · Jun 8, 2015

dantheman201 said:
thanks - how can you do this test? Get an independent there to check it? Or is there some instrument a garage will show this? Or can i do it?

A static pressure tester is simply a replacement cap with a pump. You pump up some air pressure into the system and see if it holds. If the pressure drops it's escaping somewhere. Then all you've got to do is find the leak.

If there's no obvious leak then you suspect that it's inside the engine and take the appropriate steps. Large, fast ones in an away direction. :

Always remember that a static test on a cold engine may not show a crack that only opens under heat and pressure.

Datatek · Jun 8, 2015

If it's a V8, HGF or liners, if it's a diesel, HGF or cracked head, assuming that the expansion tank is not split, the pressure cap is OK and there are no leaks.

wammers · Jun 8, 2015

dogsbody said:
A static pressure tester is simply a replacement cap with a pump. You pump up some air pressure into the system and see if it holds. If the pressure drops it's escaping somewhere. Then all you've got to do is find the leak. If there's no obvious leak then you suspect that it's inside the engine and take the appropriate steps. Large, fast ones in an away direction. :

Always remember that a static test on a cold engine may not show a crack that only opens under heat and pressure.

That is why you continue the test by starting the engine and observing pressure build. In general a good engine at normal temp at idle should run at between 5 and 7 PSI.

dantheman201 · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks guys, been overwhelmed by the responses, thank you so much!

dantheman201 · Jun 8, 2015

Guys, i saw you can test the head gasket using a combustion gas leak detector kit, by sucking in coolant gases into it.

Would this also show up issues if there was a liner issue too?

Sorry oif obvious question!

biketeacherdave · Jun 8, 2015

dantheman201 said:
Guys, i saw you can test the head gasket using a combustion gas leak detector kit, by sucking in coolant gases into it.

Would this also show up issues if there was a liner issue too?

Sorry oif obvious question!

Didn't show mine pull the plugs n see if any are steam cleaned or do a compression test

Newbie First Time Buyer Questions : Coolant

dantheman201

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wammers

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dantheman201

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wammers

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biketeacherdave

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dogsbody

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Datatek

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wammers

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