Leak Down Tester reviews needed!

[madison069]

Folks,

I figured I would check with the folks here before I order a leak down tester kit.

I will need to do a test on a 3.0L V6 Ranger motor and I would also like to have the ability to check other motors with this kit also.

If you use a leak down tester or have one, what is your experience with it and do you recommend it or not?

Thanks!

 

[tvfd911]

Bought a harbor freight for a project a few years ago. Gets used once or twice a year and still works fine.

 

[rlitman]

Had an HF. The regulator and gauges on it were so crappy that it read all over the place.
Bought a Mac at a pawn shop for the same price as the HF. That one works great.

 

[619DioFan]

Bought the otc leak down tester. not much more than the HF version. have no complaints with the otc leak down tester. read to many bad reviews on the HF version. amazon is were I bought mine.

 

[signcrafter]

HF seems to be hit or miss. I also have been looking for one and will end up getting a star, http://www.tooltopia.com/star-clt-2pb.aspx or http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J88GTU/?tag=atomicindus08-20. A little more then others but as far as I know still made in the US.

 

[madison069]

I'm a little leery of harbor freight at this time as testing equipments are not something I want to cut corners.

Seems folks compare the OTC one to the one that Mac sells.

Stars looks to be good also, but it's not all made in USA.

Any other folks with inputs?

 

[GTA Matt]

I have the OTC one as well. Works excellent, no problems. Only complaint is the hoses are a little short for some applications, but the longer hoses from my Mac compression tester (otc rebrand) fit it as well, just have to pull the valve core out.

 

[Mxjr12]

I have a snap on one and use it a few times a month and works great

 

[Plombob]

A friend had the HF model and it was a POS. Couldn't connect if to my air lines, had to get an adapter. Broke part way through the first test.

I bought the OTC one and it works well. No adapter needed.

 

[91bronc300]

I've never needed one, a compression tester has been good enough for me. But you can make a leak down tester yourself if you want to. They seem to just be a 40 thou restriction after the regulator and a gauge to compare cylinder pressure to regulator pressure. You could probably make a nice one for 20 bucks.

 

[madison069]

I went ahead and got the OTC one off Amazon.

Thanks everyone for their review! I'll update with what I think about the OTC when I get it and use it on the ranger.

 

[raceman6135]

For anyone else interested in leak down testers, I've used Moroso and Powerhouse gauges and like both:

http://moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?CatCode=27031

and

http://moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?CatCode=28960

and also

http://www.powerhouseproducts.com/ph/dual-gauge-leakdown-testerhtml/