Radiator Pressure Test Kit

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:28 pm

Just fitted a new radiator. Anyone got a pressure testing kit a la the service manual that I could scrounge for a day or two?

(grudge paying around 150 notes

for what's basically a fancy bike pump!)

Beers would be exchanged.....

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:13 pm

bertieduff wrote:Just fitted a new radiator. Anyone got a pressure testing kit a la the service manual that I could scrounge for a day or two?

(grudge paying around 150 notes for what's basically a fancy bike pump!)

Beers would be exchanged.....

Do you want it to fill the system or are you still looking for leaks?

I normally just brim the expansion tank and bleed through the various bleeders, then once the air stops coming out I drain down to the min mark and put the filler cap on. The system should bleed the air into the expansion tank, so just top it up to min when cold and that's that.

Bob has the real thing, but he's in holland

Cheers,
Robin

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:08 pm

someone posted on here that an Eezi bleed brake bleeder kit fits on the expansion tank so you can pressurise the system . I have not tried it myself though.

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:12 am

tenkfeet wrote:someone posted on here that an Eezi bleed brake bleeder kit fits on the expansion tank so you can pressurise the system . I have not tried it myself though.

It probably will fit, but you'll need to find a way to drive it from something other than a tyre because you cannot really control the pressure with the tyre - what you probably want is one of those stirrup pumps (for bicycle tyres) with a built in pressure gauge and then a long schrader valve (available from kwik-fit - just hack saw or burn the rubbery bottom bit off; attach the pump to the outside and the bleeder to the "inside", job done!

Cheers,
Robin

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:01 am

I have done it with Eezi bleed and a tyre but as Robin says there is no way to control the pressure. You just hit it with 15psi (remember to let pressure out of the tyre first, you don't want to pressurise the coolant system to 27 psi).

Lots of pumping to get the tyre back up to pressure afterwards...

I've also bled it when hot (and hence pressured) but you need asbestos fingers...

mac · Post by **mac** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:01 am

Rubber glove and a compressor - job's a donut, ain't it shug

Mac

Post by **Shug** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:52 am

mac wrote:Rubber glove and a compressor - job's a donut, ain't it shug

Mac

D1ng Dang Doo!

(Although he was talking about pressurising the cooling system, not you 'other' uses for it

)

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:33 am

Shug wrote:
mac wrote:Rubber glove and a compressor - job's a donut, ain't it shug

Mac
D1ng Dang Doo!

(Although he was talking about pressurising the cooling system, not you 'other' uses for it )

http://www.darwinawards.com/legends/legends1998-06.html

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:20 pm

Cheers guys, mine of useful information as usual....looks like I can muddle by without one, then... just to bleed the system after filling- service manual talks about using a pressure test kit, but if it ain't vital that's cool... home-made solutions are much more fun anyway

Scottish Elises

Radiator Pressure Test Kit

Radiator Pressure Test Kit

Re: Radiator Pressure Test Kit