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Pressure testing water jacket

Posted: 31 May 2015, 18:57
by dec
Once I get the liners,cylinder head and all the correct seals in place (thanks for the advice on which sealant to use) and everything is correctly torqued up can I do a pressure test on the water jacket (before I put the engine back in )

If I block all the water exit points and apply a pressure test (whats the normal pressure when the engine and radiator is up to working temperature?)approx. 15psi! and do a hold test, say overnight - to check the pressure hasn't dropped. Initially using compressed air.

Can anybody see any reason against this idea ( apart from that if I apply to much pressure it might blow the liner o rings, or rubber head to block gasket)

Id rather have an indication that everything is ok ( to a certain extent ie it wont be a 'Hot' test) before I go to all the trouble of replacing all the ancillaries.


Daft idea or not ?

Thanks dec

Re: Pressure testing water jacket

Posted: 31 May 2015, 19:05
by kevtherev
seems ott for me
If I did that it would be with water not air.

Re: Pressure testing water jacket

Posted: 01 Jun 2015, 13:30
by ghost123uk
Agree re water rather than air. Dyed water even, that would make it easier to spot a leak. It might be tricky and time consuming to block off satisfactorily the coolant entry and exit points.

Thinking about it, other than the water-pump, I think the only place that might result in a "fail" is the actual rubber gasket between head and case and if you have done the job carefully, and it sounds as if you have, then that is unlikely to be a problem.

Nah, just fit it back in, there are more likely issues waiting to bite you....