Sounds really great.  What about the thermostat -- trying to understand the
complete circuit, but would the thermostat interfere with this approach?
Pardon my ignorance.  Thanks, mcneely

On Thu, May 21, 2020 at 4:31 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>  Listmember Alex had some great advice here.  So today, I tried it.
> Called my nearest Autozone, asked if they had the Pressure Test kit for
> finding leaks in automotive coolant systems.  They did.  Headed over.
> Basically, you "buy" a used kit in this case $249.99 but then can use it
> and return it within 90 days for a full refund on your credit card.
>
> The kit has a myriad of fittings to connect to radiators of all breeds, or
> in my Vanagon case the coolant pressure bottle.  Easy peasy.  An air pump
> (with release valve) is included.  I didn't quite know what pressure to
> pump it up to....I used 10 PSI to start with...since most radiator caps let
> go at 15 PSI.
> Pumped up....waited about 10 minutes....sure enough...started losing
> pressure.  Some flashlight work and crawling around....Hey...there is the
> leak!
> The beauty of this kit is that you are inducing leaks with cold coolant.
> Minor hot coolant leaks just steams away...you'll never see it, just as
> Alex describes.  Your nose is a good detective tool as well....smelling
> something sweet.
> So I will fix Leak Number 1, and then try again.  For me as a hack
> mechanic, this system is a miracle!  And kudos to Autozone.  And Alex.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
>     On Monday, May 18, 2020, 2:31:58 PM PDT, Alex MeVay <alex@mevay.org>
> wrote:
>
>  Just wanted to share a tip for tracking slow coolant leaks...  Often,
> the heat from running the van will evaporate small leaks without a
> trace, but if you get a cooling system pressure test kit (Autozone
> loan-a-tool, etc.), you can keep the system pressurized while cold
> (say for a few hours), and those small leaks will stay visible.
>
> -Alex (who sees some stainless cooling tubes and an upgrade to a
> late-model radiator in his future)
>
>