Radiator Pressure Test Kit

[Guest]

I've been browsing the net to see what's available, but I'm worried that I might buy something that hasn't got a cap/adaptor to fit the Stag. Can anyone recommend a kit that has the bit in it fits the Stag expansion tank (and a MGB as well). Some of the suppliers have multi adaptors and list all the cars that it will fit, but they don't include oldies.

Like some of the other posters, I have a very small water leak. I only discovered it whilst underneath finding/cleaning up/tightening oil leaks. There was a tiny drip of coolant on the bottom of the left side of the bell housing and I'm blowed if I can see where it is coming from. I wiped it away and next day there it was again. So I thought I would get myself a simple test kit.

[martin]

Hi Don, I can't help with the kit, but it sounds very much as if the sealing on the n/s transfer housing, at the back of the head is letting go. Get the old girl hot, then let it cool and stick your hand down there. (oooh err Mrs) Martin.

[StagnJag]

I used a tyre foot pump with a pressure gauge attached to the expansion tank hose. I pressurised it to just over the 20psi cap pressure and could hear the air hissing out in a couple of places. A bit belt and braces, but it worked! It doesn't take very much to build up the pressure though so go easy!

Water on the bottom left of the bell housing is normally where anything that flows into the Vee ends up. Have a look in there at the back of the engine and see if you have a pool of coolant there. Lots of sources for water to get in there though!

Rgds

Dave

[Mark S]

A bottle of K Seal is the best remedy for such leaks.

[Guest]

Had a wee lookie tonight and another drip is there. Traced it as far as a bolt on the starter, but then the trail goes cold. Nothing in the Vee, so I assume it is the transfer housing (didn't know what that was until tonight) or the head gasket. I have never heard of K Seal, but had a good Google on it and have ordered some from UK. It is available in France, all the info is there, but I could not find anyone selling it online. I'll give K Seal a go, as it is a lot easier than the other options, plus the bumf says that it does not block up the bits that it should not. I hope that is true.

[Stagdad]

Don ,if you don't mind sacrificing a top hose you can rig up something like this. Its cheap if you know a plumber its expensive if you go to B&Q.you can use it for flushing or turn off the ball valves to leave the system under pressure,cut the top hose in half and insert one piece in each bit of top hose that is left.
resized pressure kit.jpg



Cheers Steve

[Guest]

Steve, I do indeed have a friend who is a dab hand at soldering. I have copied your pic to file. Thanks

Incidentally, copper fittings here do not have the ring of solder like in Blighty - you have to do it the old fashioned way.

[Stagdad]

Shame as the sold ring is almost needed to get a good seal because the 28mm fittings are a tad small.btw when flushing take out the statCheers steve

[Guest]

P1000712.jpg

Stagdad,

This is the French equivalent of your excellent idea. I was made up yesterday by the plumber in the village, so I have not tried it yet. DIYers here use solder, but the Pros braze everything and sometimes the work does not look too pretty. They even braze the radiator isolation valves on to the pipes. They have oxyacetelyne gear in their vans and drag long hoses all round your house to wherever the job is. When they wish to fit a tee piece, they do not use fittings and simply burn a hole in the pipe and braze the tee pipe on to it. Reducers are out too. For example, the big pipe which will go on to the split top hose is 32 mm (fits like a glove) and to get it down to fit the valve, he fitted 3 ever smaller pipes inside it, brazing each one as he went along. I showed him your photo of the ringed solder fittings and he had never seen that before.

He hasn't told me how much it cost yet, but he did take delivery last week of a brand new Audi TT, so, I am not expecting a cheap deal!

Don

[Stagdad]

Excellent job Don, looks like it will do nicely,interesting how the French do their plumbing,If they dont like copper fittings I wonder what they would make of speedfit plastic stuff,as someone who is used to copper i am quickly coming round to the benafits of plastic in certain situations but it still looks like a dogs dinner most of the time.

Cheers Steve

[peterrc]

Hi Don, I missed your first post otherwise I might have saved you contributing twards the plumbers Audi. It is more than likely that theTemperature Transmitter is leaking where it joins the transfer housing. You should be able to tweek it about a quarter of a turn. All is not wasted as you can use your new kit on the MG.
Peter, Cupar

[Guest]

Thanks, I'll have a wee lookie.

I will still use the kit on the Stag to flush out the cooling system.