Coolant Pressure Testers

[dragonle87]

What are some recommended coolant pressure testers that covers most vehicles?

I heard Redline is good. Dont know about the rest.

 

[cundifc]

I just had my head gaskets blow on my 6.0 ps and they ford garage used some kind of snap on gauge set. Worked well for my truck. I don't know the part number sorry.

 

[LWaite]

I'm not sure who makes cornwells version but I've had it for a few years and it's worked great not to many cars I couldnt test.

 

[rockchucker]

I own this kit and it works for most rigs I have worked on.


Here...


http://www.sears.com/craftsman-cooling-system-pressure-tester/p-00946342000P


If I have the time after Cooling System issues I seal everything up and leave the system pressurized overnight to test. Works great.

 

[tonydanzah]

I own this kit and it works for most rigs I have worked on.


Here...


http://www.sears.com/craftsman-cooling-system-pressure-tester/p-00946342000P


If I have the time after Cooling System issues I seal everything up and leave the system pressurized overnight to test. Works great.

this is an excellent set. having the ballon means it works on anything. but you can find it cheaper under the kd tools name i think

edit, i dont see the kd tool set listed on tooltopia anymore

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Hand pump style is good enough for me.

 

[smalltruck]

Matco mpt5001-1 uses shop air to pressurize system through a regulator. fastest and easiest ever

 

[blacK20]

Those pressure testers that hook to shop air is great when they're new. One day the regulator is going to go haywire and it'll shoot 90+ psi into the cooling system. wooops!

 

[Danglerb]

If you do a lot of different cars, think hard about the cost of the adapter, and buying used can get real smart.

I bought the basic Stantz kit from tooltopia and filled in a couple adapters using coupons and sale at Advanced Auto Parts for a total of around $125 iirc.

Don't buy the HF set or the same looking one from anybody else, despite what it says it doesn't have any domestic adapters.

 

[csargents1546]

Stant makes a good pressure tester. The adpaters do get pricey. Between 25 -35 dollars apiece.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Stant makes a good pressure tester. The adpaters do get pricey. Between 25 -35 dollars apiece.

You think that's bad? Try Leitenberger/LTR, i paid £92 for an adapter for 1st generation Sprinter vans.

(Between the base kit i bought, and 2 or 3 extra adapter its run me over £400.. )

 

[Farmrod]

I use the mac shop air version for big vehicles and I use the cornwell hand pump for small stuff I have been buying adapters as needed and its getting expensive

 

[tonydanzah]

you dont need adatoprs for the radiatorv with the ballon style

 

[dragonle87]

nobody have tried Matco, SnapOn, or Redline?
on the Matco truck, they were promoting this Redling SmartFit Coolant Pressure Tester & stated he sold quite a few & so far no complains on incompatibly
http://www.redlinedetection.com/p-46-smartfit-universal-cooling-system-test-kit.aspx

just want to see more feedbacks if anybody have used it

 

[Kurn]

Speaking of which,I have a Stant pressure tester that's been sitting about 4 yrs,and doesn't work anymore.Someone said to oil it,others say it's junk.Any opinions?

 

[diesel research]

We use a snap on hand pump type. It is nothing special and works just the same as the stant I used before.

I may end up making my own since I don't like the hand pump types (I am mainly servicing 15L engines with large cooling systems)

As far as regulators not working, I am not too concerned. Every regulator in the shop is used daily in some fashion, and have been in service for years.

Since a coolant pressure tester is only used a few times a month for me, it will be no big deal. Not to mention, with a ball valve it WILL stop at whatever pressure I deem necessary, or within a few psi of it.

Not like you would leave straight compressed air to it anyways. Kind of defeats the purpose of being able to watch how much it bleeds down once air is cut off.

 

[jim_rush51]

i use the snap on. It has most domestic and asian adaptors for $200.00! As for the euros your screwed without additional adaptors. Most Stant adapters will work with the snap on/mac/macto ones as well as vice versa.

 

[jamesemery728]

Anybody ever tried the Mityvac 4505 Universal Adapter. It kind of looks like a POS but just would like to know if anyone has used it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Speaking of which,I have a Stant pressure tester that's been sitting about 4 yrs,and doesn't work anymore.Someone said to oil it,others say it's junk.Any opinions?

Clean it. If the flat seals get any gunk in them, they leak (Just like many "bad" radiator caps. they have to be clean to work right...). This is a not difficult, but often ignored detail. If the seals are damaged, then they are gone.

 

[scott37300]

Speaking of which,I have a Stant pressure tester that's been sitting about 4 yrs,and doesn't work anymore.Someone said to oil it,others say it's junk.Any opinions?

I bought a used one off ebay once and it was junk, the inside was all corrodid and it didn't work at all. They are easy to take apart and see what's going on. There is a leather cup inside that can be oiled if that is the problem. Take it apart and see what's going on.

We use a snap on hand pump type. It is nothing special and works just the same as the stant I used before.

I may end up making my own since I don't like the hand pump types (I am mainly servicing 15L engines with large cooling systems)

As far as regulators not working, I am not too concerned. Every regulator in the shop is used daily in some fashion, and have been in service for years.

Since a coolant pressure tester is only used a few times a month for me, it will be no big deal. Not to mention, with a ball valve it WILL stop at whatever pressure I deem necessary, or within a few psi of it.

Not like you would leave straight compressed air to it anyways. Kind of defeats the purpose of being able to watch how much it bleeds down once air is cut off.

I made one and posted it on here a while ago. I've used it a couple of times but since I don't work on big systems much I usually just grab the stant when needed. If I worked on big systems I could see it being VERY handy. Really easy to make if you can get your hands on the hose/adaptor part from a tester.

Anybody ever tried the Mityvac 4505 Universal Adapter. It kind of looks like a POS but just would like to know if anyone has used it.

I had one and it was pretty nice but after a few years the rubber cracked and it didnt' work anymore. I tried to email mityvac and ask if this was normal for the thing to fall apart or not and never got a response from them. I won't buy another one since they cost about 50 bucks and only lasted about 3-4 years. Now I just buy the metal adaptors as I need them and figure they will last forever.

 

[njride]

I just bought a used older snap on(1993) on ebay for 88 shipped, came with the case and a honda specific adaptor, plus the original adapters it came with. Looking on the snap on site now they come stock with the honda adapter. Not too bad I don't think and I've needed one forever.

Does anyone know what adapter I will need to test honda/acura radiator caps? Mostly 88-01 models, I tried looking on the snappy website but that site ***** bad.

 

[scott37300]

I just bought a used older snap on(1993) on ebay for 88 shipped, came with the case and a honda specific adaptor, plus the original adapters it came with. Looking on the snap on site now they come stock with the honda adapter. Not too bad I don't think and I've needed one forever.

Does anyone know what adapter I will need to test honda/acura radiator caps? Mostly 88-01 models, I tried looking on the snappy website but that site ***** bad.

I emailed snap on and they emailed me a pdf of all the caps and adaptors. I copied and pasted the honda/acura parts for you. The last number for each vehicle is the cap tester.

HONDA
Accord
1990- SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29
1994- TA38B/TA38C TA39A
(1994 and later, adapter depends on Accord options)
Civic
1988-1991 SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29
1992- TA38B/TA38C TA39A
CR-V
1997- TA38B/TA38C TA39A

ACURA
Integra
1990-1993 SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29
1994-2001 TA38B/TA38C TA39A
Legend
1991-1995 TA38B/TA38C TA39A
CL
1997-2003 TA38B/TA38C TA39A
TL
1995-1998 5 cylinder SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29
1996- 6 cylinder TA38B/TA38C TA39A
RL
1996- TA38B/TA38C TA39A
NSX
1991-1999, 2002-2006 SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29
2000-2001 TA38B/TA38C TA39A
MDX
2001- TA38B/TA38C TA39A
RSX
2002-2006 TA38B/TA38C TA39A
SLX
1996-1999 SVT262-28/28A SVT262-29

 

[Greatbear]

I'm using two sets of KD pressure testers that use an inflatable bladder/balloon seal in conjunction with adaptors to fit everything I've used them on so far, and recommend highly.

 

[njride]

I emailed snap on and they emailed me a pdf of all the caps and adaptors. I copied and pasted the honda/acura parts for you. The last number for each vehicle is the cap tester.

Thank you. After googling the part # on your list I found the snap on pdf file listing what adapters for all makes and models, may help some other folks in the thread so here it ishttp://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/40600/40542.PDF

Snap on sells the TA39A adapter I need for $70(ouch). I'm gonna wait till I get the kit and go from there, if need be I'll buy it from snap on. I'm gonna keep an eye out on ebay for a used assortment of adapters with that one included.

 

[Danglerb]

Snapon and stant aren't much different, but stant adapters are between half and a third of the price of the Snapon adapters. Be careful buying a used pump, old ones had a lower pressure limit and some newer cars need to be tested at a higher pressure.

How do you test a cap with the balloon type?