Block tester kits

[clee]

I've got a guy dropping off a GTA tomorrow with a suspected head gasket failure .No white smoke as far as I know but pressurised pipes after 10/15 mins and overheating .
I would like to test to see if there are any gases present .
It might just be a blocked rad or chuffed pump but that wouldn't make the hoses go that hard would it ?He also says there is a lot of sludge in the water even after flushing and refilling/bleeding a a dozen or so times ...Sounds like a thorough flush is the first job and look at the rad and pump before I pull the lump
Don't really know until it gets here but I would like a test kit anyway . Are they all much the same and are they readily available from a factors ?

[J$£5GTT]

i know radiator pressure testers are about £150 odd ....
block tester would be a fair bit more in sure..
anyway woundnt it be easier to see if the block has cracks
if the lump is pulled??

[clee]

I meant one of these .Found it on Ebay .
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/snap-on-mac-Bl...3%3A1|294%3A50

[IANMM]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-BLOC...3%3A1|294%3A50

a little cheaper and local

[clee]

Thanks but I've just found this guy ....10 miles away
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ENGINE-HEAD-CO...3%3A1|294%3A50

[clee]

Sorted £28 ...This should speed things up a bit .I can even check which bank it is now as well

[diggerdog36]

What do you mean...Which bank?

(not being arsy....Im a novice!)

[Bigfoot]

What do you mean...Which bank?

(not being arsy....Im a novice!)

The engine is a V6 so you got either side

[diggerdog36]

Ah I see, but does it have 2 header tanks? How do you tell which bank has the leak?

[clee]

Take all the plugs off on one bank ,let it run for 5 mins to purge that bank of fumes.Do the test again .If it turns yellow then it must be the firing bank that is leaking

[Karlos]

http://cache.consumerist.com/assets/...UM_PACKAGE.jpg

[mr bean aka pete]

Thanks but I've just found this guy ....10 miles away
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ENGINE-HEAD-CO...3%3A1|294%3A50

thats the same 1 we use at work, get it warm so thermostat open then place it over the header tank with cap off, if there any gases in there is should change from a blue colour to a green or yelloq colour hope this helps clee

[clee]

Thanks Pete .
Yes, that is what I've done and I get no change in colour at all . Tried it a couple of times and zilch .Are they usually accurate ?

[mr bean aka pete]

yeah they are pritty good at detecting any gases tried a coolant presure check ?? if you have no change in colour cant be anything wrong

[clee]

Ahh well ...the expansion cap is fecked .
I put another one on , bled it properly and so far it is fine but the fans don't cut in .I have run it up to temp and hot wired a fan and it brings the temp down now .The smoke he mentioned is more oil , condensation and not that bad so probably stem seals .
I will whip the bumper off and look at the rad/fans tomorrow .I'm sure that's all it is .A damn good flush and see why the fans are playing up .Worst case it might be a new rad or fan I think .

[THE MASTER]

clee you got the cap correct
the v6 dont like it with no pressure cap fitted or a faulty one. also wot you realy wonna do is lightly jet wash the fins on the rad . dirt builds up and restricks air flow through the rad .

washing the outside of the rad is a recomended service job .