In this video I show you how you can check for a blown head gasket in your own vehicle.
Kit used in filming -
NAPA #700-1006
Leak Detector Kit / Engine Block, Test Tools Inc
Features & Benefits
Complete combustion leak tester. No additional tools needed & no need to tap into an engine vacuum source. Tests for blown head gasket, cracked head or block, pulled bolts or studs, warped sealing surfaces.; Fluid turns from blue to yellow when a combustion leak is present. Works w/ virtually any liquid cooled internal combustion engine or generator w/ a closed cooling system.; Includes gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas & other alternative fuels. Large single chamber design provides greater accuracy & uses less test fluid.
Kit used in filming -
NAPA #700-1006
Leak Detector Kit / Engine Block, Test Tools Inc
Features & Benefits
Complete combustion leak tester. No additional tools needed & no need to tap into an engine vacuum source. Tests for blown head gasket, cracked head or block, pulled bolts or studs, warped sealing surfaces.; Fluid turns from blue to yellow when a combustion leak is present. Works w/ virtually any liquid cooled internal combustion engine or generator w/ a closed cooling system.; Includes gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas & other alternative fuels. Large single chamber design provides greater accuracy & uses less test fluid.
Hello Eric, had a Ford Transit van several years ago and it would spit out fluid from the overflow, but not all the time, and only after many hours of driving. I tested it with a kit and another shop tested it a few days later when more problems arose. We both came up with negative result. In the end another shop close to where owner lived about 800km (525 miles) away said try Rislone sealant (NZ product). I had never heard of it. At $100 AUS not cheap, but it worked. Did a whole lot of research, even talking to the tech people in NZ. Chemically Rislone sealant does nothing until it comes into contact with high temp exhaust gas and then seals the crack and even reasonable sized head gasket leaks. Can stay in the system and even if system is drained and left with no coolant, does not clog up like Chemiweld does. But result was no further problems. Looks like it may have been a very fine crack in the valve seat area or something else really difficult to diagnose. Saved a full tear down and even another cylinder head (lots of $$$$). Moral is, this combustion gas tester is not 100% foolproof. I thought it was and got caught out. But an obvious one like in your test told you and the owner that car is now suitable for junk pile only. Shame considering condition of rest of the vehicle. Retired mechanic in Land Down Under.
Can you use this test on a "closed" cooling system that has no radiator cap also? Putting it into the coolant reservoir?
Thank u, I’m running to autozone right now
The cheap easy way to find out over gas analyzers
Thanks bud. you always got the right answers lol
Hey Eric you rock man!
How about finding a head gasket that is blown cylinder to cylinder or possibly to an oil port?
A cylinder leak down test is probably best but very time consuming. Especially on the vehicles where the plugs are on the firewall and have to be accessed from underneath the vehicle. And then finding top dead center for each cylinder and taking a reading, writing it down bla bla bla.
I found a blown head gasket once with a home made cylinder leak down tester on my 2000 Ford Windstar 3.8L. The gasket was blown between #2 and #3 cylinders and burning up some coolant as well. The mini van ran absolutely terrible when I finally just had to fix it.
I was hoping there might be a way to use a smoke machine but some engines may only leak when the engine gets hot and things expand.
Love to this fkng video
Dpes this work on diesel cars?
Glad they had this kit back in the 80's.
Thanks 😊 man good job 👍
Another great video.😶🌫
That's an easy one it's a dodge the head gaskets blown obviously LOL
For a severly overheated engine with a blown head gasket does replacing the head gasket fix the issues or if there usually other issues that keep popping up down the line? I had a similar problem myswlf and I am not sure whether I want to fix it or trade in the car.
Will this procedure work with a car like a 97 Mustang GT with a coolant reservoir?
I used the AutoZone tester and I cannot get the sapphire blue to change color! Did a test multiple times over an hour just won’t change! But I did a engine flush of the system and coolant change the day before! I have White exhaust smoke tailpipe smoke for 20 minutes and then it is absolutely clear no smoke! It’s summer! Engine seems to run fine you tell me!
you can remove tester from radiator and pump bulb a few times with fresh air and fluid will change back to blue and you can reuse it 😉
Thank you so much
Thanks for the video, will do tomorrow. I bought a 01 regal couple months and started to notice a little oil in radiator. Hoping its just intake gasket. This should point me in the right direction.
If car is a no start, can you still use this test?
Even years ago you were rocking Eric O. You got the skills, shout out from Louisiana.
So I ran this test in my 02 wrx today for like 3-4 minutes starting from cold, the fluid barely changed at all, if anything at all the after fluid was just so slightly more cyan then before, but is that long enough to determine a bad head gasket? I bought it and the guy said it was on its way out, but nothing has raised any red flags as to it actually being bad
Would a bad intake manifold gasket on a gm 3800 cause the same symptoms? I keep having to fill up my coolant but there are no visible leaks I think its internal. I already changed the intake manifold gaskets and it continues to do the same thing. The weird thing is the car dont overheat.
Got a crook alternator too by the sounds of things
Looks like that one had a bunch of pressure in the rad too
Thanks!
2007 Jeep Patriot. I flushed the cooling system. my Jeep has good heat,does not over heat. is not burning coolant, no white smoke from the tail pipe. its not loosing coolant. Jeep runs fine,does not lose power.
yet when i bleed the cooling system air cant stop coming from the Radiator.
or bubbles from the cooling system.
do i have a bad head gasket ??
Like an NIK test…
Thanks
Wow thanks. I've read about these sorts of tester kits but it's just so much easier to understand when you see it in action. Great practical demonstration.
I came from "Eric O. Gets A Honda Civic" video. Great idea to film in real time when you first found the issue.
He did not show how to drain the radiator he did not show any. Drain all some nothing.
Hi all this will make me sound an idiot but here goes. I bought one of these testers of ebay and due to the fact it came to me from china and i live in Australia no fluid came with it. I ask about the fluid and was told that you can use ink and water it it diluted ink . Is this right? Nick
What if you have a radiator that does not have a cap and only a reservoir bottle ?
Awesome. Thank you Eric. Love your channel. Learn so much from all your videos. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Also thanks for the peeks behind the scenes at your shop. Priceless
Hi There.
I have an 03 Chevy Silverado 6 leader. Slow to start, But not all the time. Replaced every sensor I could think of, Cam sensor, Crank sensor, Gas filter, New fuel pump,wires&plugs, Fuel injectors. Even switched out the throttle body. Catalytic converter seems to be open. But still have a multi misfire code. Did this test and the fluid turned green but not yellow. Any thoughts would be appreciated thank you.
Also believe on your videos have been very helpful and awesome thank you for your time.marty
I noticed that every video on YouTube that deals with a cooling system leak always involves a Dodge Chrysler Jeep vehicle. That's a fact.
Would this catch an external head gasket leak? Also would it catch a leak that changes from hot to cold.
I think I have a head gasket leak in a 1.5 Ford EcoBoost, the coolant reservoir will drop about and 1" after 200 miles. The odd thing is when you release the pressure cap it will go back up a 1/2"…….any idea why that is? Thanks for sharing.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Videos are so much better now!!!!
I’m assuming this device will also work on a vehicle which uses a radiator cap on an overflow tank like some chevys
Thank You !!
This is all Satan's work.
The shape of that tester is really something lol
How would this be done if the rad cap is not on top of the radiator I have a Dodge Stratus
You rock, thank you for sharing!
Hello, I'm having a problem with my engine. Everytime I open my radiator cap pressure is coming out even if the engine is cold and not run for 24hrs the pressure stays there. I have a new radiator, new radiator cap(correct pressure rate), all hoses are good and no external coolant leak, temperature is normal. What might be the problem?. My engine is mitsubishi 4d56 diesel 2.5literr never been rebuild and have 140K miles
Sent a note to Napa recommending they sponsor South Main Auto. They responded as if the local Napa store was sponsoring the local little league team. I don’t know, maybe you can get pizza and a uniform out of them… dunderheads. Hello,
NAPA is honored by your inquiry and for thinking of us regarding this situation. NAPA Headquarters/Genuine Parts Company defers to our Regional representation as it pertains to community involvement, local sponsorships, and donations. We recommend that you contact your local NAPA store and/or Distribution Center (where our Regional Management is located) to present your request for review. You may also consider sending a written proposal directly to NAPA’s Headquarters in Atlanta at the following address: 2999 Wildwood Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. Thank you again.
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NAPA
I forget to take fluid out of the radiator at first. The first try it immediately turned green. Dumped the fluid sucked coolant out and retested and it never turned from blue. Can green coolant mixing turn it all green or do I have head gasket issues