How to pressurize a rad?

[biff]

I have a small leak in one of my loops, lost ~1/2" of coolant in my micro-res over about 4 months so not a major issue. I'm confident the leak is in the rad, last time I had it out I tried a few methods to see where it is so I could give it a touch of solder to seal it up but I didn't find anything. I'm going to be doing some work on this system in the near future and am going to take another crack at finding it and I want to pressurize the rad and look for air bubbles, I'm assuming it will be a very slow forming bubble.

Anyway, Anybody seen any nifty adapters that I can use on 1/2" tubing that has a standard air valve on it so I can add pressure with a bicycle pump? or am I going to have to Macgyver one?

[Squeetard]

just use 2 rubber bungs, cut a small hole in one. it will hold enough pressure to test for leaks.

[sswilson]

Get a bicyle tire, cut out the valve leaving a fair bit of extra rubber, glue the valve onto the end of a scrap piece of tubing using the extra rubber to create a seal.

[Soultribunal]

I think you are getting typical Coolant Evaporation common in most types of W/C Tubing.
Unless you are using the really High Grade stuff, you usually will experience some coolant loss over time, be it 2 months or 10 months.
I wouldn't suspect a Leak right off the Hop in my opinion anyways.

What type of tubes do you use?

Regards,
ST

[3 of 7]

I just tested a heater core for my truck with a bike tube, I cut a couple of feet out of it that had the valve in it, and clamped the ends onto the inlet and outlet tubes... Give er a couple of pumps of air and Bob's your uncle.

[biff]

Good ideas.

Squeetard, whats a rubber bung?

Soultribunal, I have two loops running side by side, one has lost fluid one hasnt. Also when I was testing when I was leak testing the system months ago I noticed Some wetness on the rads and a little bit if fluid on the table underneath it. Never did find the source. I'm assuming now that the airflow through the rads is evaporating the coolant before a drop can accumulate. I'm using Clearflex BTW.

[edit]

Originally Posted by 3 of 7

II cut a couple of feet out of it that had the valve in it, and clamped the ends onto the inlet and outlet tubes... Give er a couple of pumps of air and Bob's your uncle.

Genius!
[edit]

[Squeetard]

lol, don't whatever you do, image search that on google!

[Squeetard]

30f7 has the best idea. Smrat.

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by biff

Good ideas.

Squeetard, whats a rubber bung?

Soultribunal, I have two loops running side by side, one has lost fluid one hasnt. Also when I was testing when I was leak testing the system months ago I noticed Some wetness on the rads and a little bit if fluid on the table underneath it. Never did find the source. I'm assuming now that the airflow through the rads is evaporating the coolant before a drop can accumulate. I'm using Clearflex BTW.

[edit]


Genius!
[edit]

Ah ha, okay see that is info I would have needed first time around before I went diagnosing lol!
Take the Rad off the Loop that you suspect, keep its fittings and tubing on, submerge it in a bucket/sink of water. Plug one Tube with your Thumb , put the other in your mouth and blow.
If it has a small hole, you'll see the bubbles.
This route doesn't cost you anything, and other than having to take the Rad out, should be fairly quick to accomplish.

Regards,
ST

[biff]

Yeah I tried that the last time and no results. I think the leak is small enough that I'd have to keep pressure on it longer than I'm able to without breathing. It really drove me nuts the last time trying to find the leak especially since I'm 99% certain it's in the rad. Hopefully I will have better luck this time through, though it's a slow enough leak that giving it a little squirt of coolant every couple of months is no big deal.