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Date:         Sat, 8 Sep 2012 20:00:05 -0400
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: San Diego area: pressure tank or cap test adapters?
Comments: To: Travis Newhouse <travisnewhouse@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAA9AikVoFgU_AUf_djiHbxxN3y0YuMYUa6qGHkJCm1jW6wN21Q@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

You should always save those old coolant pressure caps. An old cap which lets air go thru the nipple both ways easily is the key part in pressure testing. The other things you need are: some hose to fit the nipple on the cap (maybe 1/4"), a pressure gauge with a hose barb of similar size, a tire valve stem with all the rubber removed leaving only the brass, and a tee to connect the hoses which lead to the three main components. Connect the gauge, the coolant cap and the valve stem to the tee and secure with small screw type hose clamps all around. Now you can attach a bicycle pump or other source of air pressure to the valve stem and pump the coolant system up to 15 or 20 psi and watch the gauge to see what happens. A couple of tips: Be sure your testing equipment doesn't leak. Use soap suds to check. Let the cooling system cool to a steady temperature overnite before testing. Any change in temperature while you are monitoring will lead to misleading results.

Good luck. Larry A.

On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 12:45 PM, Travis Newhouse <travisnewhouse@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Ken, > > Thanks for the tip. Are you talking about the tapered, cone-shaped > adapter for air mattresses? I can see how that could pump up the > system with pressure. How do you monitor the pressure and watch for > leakdown? > > Thanks, > Travis > > > On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 8:11 AM, Tom Carchrae <tom@carchrae.net> wrote: >> The test that I have been more interested in is the ability for the >> cap to release pressure. Not holding pressure is the least explosive >> of possible outcomes. I guess you can test the cap that way by >> pushing it past 14 psi and see if it goes back to 14? Or is this >> risky to your cooling system? >> >> Tom >> >> >> >> On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 3:36 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) >> <kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote: >>> You can easily and cheaply make your own. Just buy a hand bicycle pump >>> from Walmart with a gauge on it. Be sure it has the adapter needed to blow >>> up air mattresses. Now use this adapter with a short piece of hose to the >>> nipple on your pressure cap. Pump up the coolant system to 14 psi for the >>> test. The cap has a check valve in it that should allow you to pump up the >>> pressure. If it won't hold any pressure then replace the cap with a new >>> "blau" brand one. Other brands are junk even when new. Now you have a >>> pressure tester for probably $10 or less. Have fun. >>> >>> Ken Wilford >>> John 3:16 >>> www.vanagain.com >>> On Sep 7, 2012 2:35 PM, "Travis Newhouse" <travisnewhouse@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi. Does anyone in the San Diego area have a coolant pressure tank or >>>> pressure cap adapters to use with a pressure tester? I'd be happy to >>>> rent them from someone for a couple days. Please let me know. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Travis Newhouse >>>> Encinitas, CA >>>>


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