Chasing down coolant leaks with a Mityvac Kit. Love it.

[HoosierBuddy]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V9L05G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I bought that a year or so ago after my son's Subaru developed a small coolant leak that I just couldn't find. With that kit I found the issue, a pinhole in the radiator, in about 5 minutes...with the system cold...making it a lot more comfortable job.

Then a couple of days ago I noticed coolant under my old mustang. Fortunately the kit comes with adapters for different style radiator caps, so in about 2 minutes I had the right adapter on and was pumping up the system.

This time it took me more like 10 minutes to find the problem. It was a loose hose clamp on the thermostat bypass...the bottom one where it hooks to the water pump, that is tough to get to and hard to see.

I remember before I had this thing I would have to run the engine until the coolant was hot to pressurize the system. Then dig around under the hood with a hot engine and scalding coolant trying to find a leak.

This is just so much better. I should have bought it years ago. The other good thing is, when you finish, you know you're DONE...because you can put 15 PSI or so on the system and let it sit for 20 minutes or so and make sure it doesn't bleed off. Without this...you might fix a coolant leak, but you never knew for sure if you fixed the ONLY coolant leak or even the WORST coolant leak...you just knew you had fixed something.

Anyway...this is the second time I've used this thing...and if I never use it again it's been more than worth the $38 price.

Phil

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Nice set for a nice price.

 

[gungatim]

I have that kit and use it all the time. only thing I don't like about it is having to unscrew and disconnect the hose everytime I use it and put it away. I do grab for it more often than my stant.

 

[nh_yota]

Did you try using a black light? Sometimes the coolant glows enough without needed to add the UV dye.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Did you try using a black light? Sometimes the coolant glows enough without needed to add the UV dye.

I just used a penlight and fussed around until I saw a drop of coolant running down the water pump. Then I traced that back to the source.

My engine is pretty clean with black paint. Green coolant running down black paint isn't that hard to find....but it's A LOT easier when everything's cold and the engine's not running...which was my original point.

Phil

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have that kit and use it all the time. only thing I don't like about it is having to unscrew and disconnect the hose everytime I use it and put it away. I do grab for it more often than my stant.

Interesting ! The Stant pressure tester is the usual "gold standard" (it is re-branded and sold for a lot more on all most all of the "tool trucks"). The down side of the Stant, is all the (overpriced) adapters that you have to buy.

Note that the Stant now goes to 30 PSI. The do make a retro fit kit for the older model.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Did you try using a black light? Sometimes the coolant glows enough without needed to add the UV dye.

I don't think the dye is in the original "factory fill". You can buy some at any auto parts store.

 

[Pwaley]

Mityvac makes good products (been using their oil extractor for years) and this sounds like something I could use for future work.

 

[firebirdparts]

That does look like a bargain. I made one (I'm cheap) but that looks well worth it.

 

[Falcon67]

I do this all the time before I put a motor back in the car - seal off the cooling and pressurize. Especially a small Ford V8 because of the wet intake and thermostat housing on the front of the intake. Lots of places for leaks to occur.

 

[gungatim]

Interesting ! The Stant pressure tester is the usual "gold standard" (it is re-branded and sold for a lot more on all most all of the "tool trucks"). The down side of the Stant, is all the (overpriced) adapters that you have to buy.

Note that the Stant now goes to 30 PSI. The do make a retro fit kit for the older model.

I know it is, but I don't have adapters for the screw tanks, and it sometimes leaks with certain radiators where the overflow is so close to the neck you can't get it on tight.

 

[unslow1]

If anyone doesn't want to spend the money to own one they are loaner tools at auto parts stores. Those have many more adapters. The one I got from Advance Auto even had a cap tester.

 

[theoldwizard1]

If anyone doesn't want to spend the money to own one they are loaner tools at auto parts stores. Those have many more adapters. The one I got from Advance Auto even had a cap tester.

Likely a Stant or a a rebranded Stant.

 

[jumbojak]

I have the same pressure tester. It works great on vehicles with a radiator cap but takes a while for vehicles that use the overflow. The tiny piston doesn't move much air per pump. The cap tester that comes with it is a nice touch.

I do wish that the pump could be used for vacuum too. I've been thinking about upgrading the pump to one of their "reversible" models and keeping the original as a spare. I've been eyeing a bicycle pump for overflow systems too.

 

[apollo11]

Interesting ! The Stant pressure tester is the usual "gold standard" (it is re-branded and sold for a lot more on all most all of the "tool trucks"). The down side of the Stant, is all the (overpriced) adapters that you have to buy.

Note that the Stant now goes to 30 PSI. The do make a retro fit kit for the older model.

it' costs more because they last
mines 30 years old
I have bought adapters as needed over the years

 

[unslow1]

Likely a Stant or a a rebranded Stant.

This is it I'm pretty sure.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Powerbuilt-22-Piece-Cooling-System-Pressure-Testing-Kit-940427/203117071

 

[Falcon67]

I use an older Stant that I found on eBay - works good. If you want something that is hell to get the air out of the cooling system, get a dragster.

 

[matt_i]

If you had another rad or tank cap and a way to adapt an airline/pipe fitting to it and a low pressure regulator you could also use your air compressor to apply a continuous 15psi to the cooling system. This might be more work but could potentially be lower cost.

 

[apollo11]

This is it I'm pretty sure.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Powerbuilt-22-Piece-Cooling-System-Pressure-Testing-Kit-940427/203117071

That is sweet.