You are correct about the expansion tank if you have a cap on your radiator. Some cars do have a pressurized expansion tank and it that is the case pulling a sample from there is your only choice.
What a nifty little device. Since it works by detecting CO2, it probably could also be used in other situations where one suspects leaking combustion gases.
Handy and inexpensive tool to have, but it does not always work. I borrowed the OEM TOOLS Engine Combustion Leak Detector from the auto parts store and tested my Dodge truck. The truck was going thru coolant and are known to have head gasket problems on that particular engine. It tested fine with no color change in the fluid. A couple weeks later on a drive home from work, my truck was spitting out white smoke like a steam engine. Pull the heads off and found cylinder #1 was leaking around the head gasket.
I have a 2017 Ford Transit van, and the radiator is buried under the front body metal, where you cannot get to it. It has no radiator cap on it. The only cap is on the big, round, heavy plastic reservoir tank, which has a screw in cap with a pressure relief seal inside, so if it gets over pressure it lifts and allows excess vapor/coolant to exit a port in the neck of the tank.
I do believe I have a minor squeak from the A/C compressor when cold. The other noise I tried my best to filter out (which made the audio a little odd) was from crickets, actual bugs this time of year. They can be annoying. Thanks for your comment!;
I put the cap back on not long at all after the test was completed. Just remember as pressure starts to build up you cannot remove it again until the engine cools off!
@@Hello_there_obi My cap is designed to work with overflow and will release if needed and pull back whenever needed. If you are unsure simply wait until it cools.
Bought 1 of these to test my Defender TD5. My only question is how long is a few mins? From old ran engine for 35 mins and it took 30 mins ish b4 colour started turning green and yellow. Guess it tool a while to get to normal operating temp. Guess need to get to normal working temp, wsit til it cools a bit so i can get the header tank cap off and try again.
It did not take over 10 minutes for me. Once you reach operating temperature it does not help to run longer if I understand it right. Are you sure the color change was not coolant getting into the test fluid? I shared in the video how easy it is to accidentally let it creep in.
A BMW doesn’t have a radiator cap only an expansion tank and they say it’s very important that you don’t open up the expansion tank when the engine is hot so on a car like a BMW you use this type of test in that type of expansion tank mainly on BMWs in some cases Mercedes
Well it could be a head gasket issue for sure so I had the fluid to verify. In my case it was the expansion of the coolant when heating up and the level was increasing so it was pushing up. I even mentioned that I had to drain just a little so it would not push into the tester. That usually would just go into the overflow tank.
@sollywan5789 I would make sure air is out of the system. This model has a vent in the back near fire wall. I have also had luck parking with the front of the car at a heavy incline and allow air trapped to hopefully come out at the radiator. That's all I would know to try without draining and vacuuming in the coolant to keep the air out? I have seen that done to some hard to purge systems.
I did exactly the same we must be blowing some serious Chernobyl gases lol or the fluid is really good and sensitive. I ran my test on my diesel for about ten minutes and stayed blue. Only thing mine didn’t do was bubble at all.
HI, It does have to be sealed well and mine only did it well if I pressed it tight. Only once did it bubble some without me holding it down tightly sealed. After getting up to operating temp some pressure should build I believe.
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You are correct about the expansion tank if you have a cap on your radiator. Some cars do have a pressurized expansion tank and it that is the case pulling a sample from there is your only choice.
Cool test. I didn't know such a kit existed. Appreciate the video
What a nifty little device. Since it works by detecting CO2, it probably could also be used in other situations where one suspects leaking combustion gases.
Handy and inexpensive tool to have, but it does not always work. I borrowed the OEM TOOLS Engine Combustion Leak Detector from the auto parts store and tested my Dodge truck. The truck was going thru coolant and are known to have head gasket problems on that particular engine. It tested fine with no color change in the fluid. A couple weeks later on a drive home from work, my truck was spitting out white smoke like a steam engine. Pull the heads off and found cylinder #1 was leaking around the head gasket.
Thanks for sharing!
Most VW's expansion tank is pressurized, there is no other coolant cap.
I have a 2017 Ford Transit van, and the radiator is buried under the front body metal, where you cannot get to it. It has no radiator cap on it. The only cap is on the big, round, heavy plastic reservoir tank, which has a screw in cap with a pressure relief seal inside, so if it gets over pressure it lifts and allows excess vapor/coolant to exit a port in the neck of the tank.
Interesting test kit.
What's the squeak when the Subaru is cold, bearing on AC or alternator?
I do believe I have a minor squeak from the A/C compressor when cold. The other noise I tried my best to filter out (which made the audio a little odd) was from crickets, actual bugs this time of year. They can be annoying. Thanks for your comment!;
Ford and Lincoln continentals and Exipeditions have pressurized overflow tanks.
Many Ford products do.
Thanks! Thrifty Have a nice trip!🚗
How long do you have to wait after turning off the engine to put the radiator cap back on?
I put the cap back on not long at all after the test was completed. Just remember as pressure starts to build up you cannot remove it again until the engine cools off!
@@ThriftyToolShed so its safe to put the cap back on straight away ie when the engine is still cooling? Wouldn’t that create a suction effect?
@@Hello_there_obi
My cap is designed to work with overflow and will release if needed and pull back whenever needed. If you are unsure simply wait until it cools.
@@ThriftyToolShed thanks man!
Bought 1 of these to test my Defender TD5. My only question is how long is a few mins? From old ran engine for 35 mins and it took 30 mins ish b4 colour started turning green and yellow. Guess it tool a while to get to normal operating temp. Guess need to get to normal working temp, wsit til it cools a bit so i can get the header tank cap off and try again.
It did not take over 10 minutes for me. Once you reach operating temperature it does not help to run longer if I understand it right. Are you sure the color change was not coolant getting into the test fluid? I shared in the video how easy it is to accidentally let it creep in.
A BMW doesn’t have a radiator cap only an expansion tank and they say it’s very important that you don’t open up the expansion tank when the engine is hot so on a car like a BMW you use this type of test in that type of expansion tank mainly on BMWs in some cases Mercedes
If not the head gasket, what was putting air in the coolant for it to bubble?
Well it could be a head gasket issue for sure so I had the fluid to verify. In my case it was the expansion of the coolant when heating up and the level was increasing so it was pushing up. I even mentioned that I had to drain just a little so it would not push into the tester. That usually would just go into the overflow tank.
How long do you idle before before the test can be inserted, nornal needle temp?
That is what I did. I did wait for the normal operating temperature and let it run a few minutes to make sure.
@ThriftyToolShed I see thank you. Sounded like engine was revving higher than idle. I guess that's how you get the needle up though. Cheers
And what is the problem you have that make this bubbles ?
If the bubbles turn the blue liquid to yellow, then your head gasket is blown.
Thanks for response, It is still blue but there is overheating problem and bubbles still going out and full the reservoir.
@sollywan5789
I would make sure air is out of the system. This model has a vent in the back near fire wall. I have also had luck parking with the front of the car at a heavy incline and allow air trapped to hopefully come out at the radiator. That's all I would know to try without draining and vacuuming in the coolant to keep the air out? I have seen that done to some hard to purge systems.
I did exactly the same we must be blowing some serious Chernobyl gases lol or the fluid is really good and sensitive. I ran my test on my diesel for about ten minutes and stayed blue. Only thing mine didn’t do was bubble at all.
HI,
It does have to be sealed well and mine only did it well if I pressed it tight. Only once did it bubble some without me holding it down tightly sealed. After getting up to operating temp some pressure should build I believe.
Detects CO2.? Interesting. First time seeing this
Nice show! Thanks.