Pressure Tester for Coolant System

[adrianvvc]

My Trophy passed the MOT yesterday, (still untaxed)
perfect apart from a slightly noisy nsr wheel bearing.

However the coolant has turned a rusty colour and a tiny bit of mayo on the didstick.
Could it be ~~~ ? No other signs of trouble yet.
Has anybody used or got a pressure tester to check for gasket problems?
Thanks

[Nick]

Good news on the MOT mate, I'd have assumed that if it passed emmisions the head gasket would be OK?
I'd be guessing at two possible issues, at water pump by the sounds of the floaty bits of rust, and condensation in the oil as it's been stood for 3 months, but I am an optimist...that or it could be the dreaded....

[Captain Slow]

Flush coolant & change oil & filter before doing anything rash...

[adrianvvc]

Thanks guys.
The cambelt and water pump were changed in November, this was the first trip.
The old water pump seemed ok.
A good run around the M25 may clear the mayo
but would a pressure test be a better idea?

[Sambomonkee]

If the mayo is just a small amount, it most likely is just condensation of the inside of the dip stick hole.

To prove, wipe clean, put the dipstick back in and out, if there is slight mayo at the top of the dipstick then condensation. (This the trick Russell showed me).

[cejsmith]

Just drive it like a hire car and get it nice and hot, that should show if there is anything wrong.

Also if it was HGF, would it have shown while the car was left ticking over for the MOT????

[adrianvvc]

Last week was good both my cars passed the MOT.
This week my computer hard drive died and the MG has HGF.

I borrowed a modified pressure cap and pump the coolant system up to 20psi, the pressure went down slowly, the coolant level had gone down by a pint and the oil level on the dipstck had increased. Hopefully as i had just rusty coloured coolant and no other problems, it should be an easy fix.
I hope to get it fixed for Stoneleigh and FRL.

ps I fixed the computer with a new hard drive.

[Sponsored content]