Head gasket tester

[Bren]

Has anybody used one of those head gaskrt testers - the type that changes colour when combustion gases are detected.

 

I saw them on ebay and am wondering they are worth a punt.

[twosmoke300]

Ive never had a positive result with one that wasnt very very obvious anyway

[Stanky]

My Mk1 punto blew its HG, evidenced by the temp gauge shooting up after 5 mins running. The garage I took it to (hoping it was just a duff gauge, it wasn't) used one of the sniffer things that they put into the expansion tank and the liquid changed colour.

 

It did. I was sad. I part ex'd it for a Mk3 golf.

[cort16]

I’ve got one I used on my p6 as I was sure hgf was pressurising the cooling system . Tested it and it came back negative . It was right the radiator was shagged.

[unclecalzone]

I’d rather use a compression tester than one of these things

[Pillock]

 

 

It did. I was sad. I part ex'd it for a Mk3 golf.

Those last two facts work just as well the other way around.

[richardthestag]

useful for detecting exhaust gasses in the coolant. useful on the staaaaag because hgf rarely involves oil so no mayonnaise. pressurized cooling system and hot running can be fucked just about anything

 

 

green* = Bugger, fuckedy fucksticks, bugger, bugger, buggerations

 

the fluid doesnt last long once opened but you can buy more next time you need it.

 

tbh though, brim the coolant header tank, start up and watch for bubbles. 

 

ripping it apart was a bastard, hence needing confirmation first. ended up being a full rebuild, long story

 

 

*I have to compare the two because I get confused green and blue, like they look diffent when together like grass and sky but in isolation i kind of dont know

[Stanky]

Those last two facts work just as well the other way around.

 

It was a dark time in my life. I don't like to talk about it