Using coolant pressure tester without making a !@#$ mess!

[IsaacJ]

At work we have a shared coolant pressure tester. It is a cheapo from the auto parts store. It works fine, but..... when I go to release the pressure, I normally get a fountain of coolant from the cap/sealing area. It doesn't do this with pressurized overflow tanks (fords, chevy pickups) just with standard radiators with the pressure cap on the radiator or upper hose.

Is there a trick to these testers? Maybe drain some coolant from the radiator to do the test? Is there a better tool for this? I hate getting a big pile of coolant on the floor when I do a pressure test.

Thanks

 

[malibu101]

In for the same question.
I have a HF tester. It works fine.
I've gotten to holding a towel around it when pushing the pressure release, that just makes the mess smaller though.

 

[JJThrasher]

Release the pressure slowly and a bit of air gap helps.

 

[Karl_B]

I have a Matco tester that I believe is a rebranded Stant. I just release the pressure VERY slowly and only for a second at a time until it is all released. There might be a better way to do it, but it seems to work for me.

 

[IsaacJ]

I'll try some different things, I've released the pressure slowly before, but it just makes a big mess more slowly. Maybe short, slow bursts is the key....

 

[Greg85mcss]

We had a steelman kit at my old shop that was similar to the hf design. Used the pressure release & never had a problem


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[Jeeper]

I think it's impossible to work on a cooling system without spilling at least a half a bucket on the floor.

Just impossible...

 

[redmondjp]

What is needed is a pressure relief hose that can be directed into a container. That way, the mess is contained. Similar to the cooling system evacuator tools.

 

[rhandwor]

Mine has a schrader valve on it like pushing on a valve stem leave out the air pressure.

 

[theoldwizard1]

It doesn't do this with pressurized overflow tanks (fords, chevy pickups) ...

That is not an "overflow tank" it is a remote reservoir. Ford has been using that design on all of their cars and trucks for 15, 20, 25(?) years. Love it !

 

[Chevy-SS]

I have a Matco tester that I believe is a rebranded Stant. I just release the pressure VERY slowly and only for a second at a time until it is all released. There might be a better way to do it, but it seems to work for me.

Yes, me too with this system. I have Stant tester that I have been using for over 30 years, and it still works great!

 

[Rookie2]

On the stant I always grab and bend the hose at the cap and release the pressure first.

 

[Jim Diesel]

The one we use has a small pressure relief valve built in, along with a bit of an air gap we have no dramas releasing the pressure slowly.