HOW TO TEST HEATER CORE FOR LEAKS???

Killer50stang

New Member

May 11, 2004

632

0

0

Apr 29, 2007

#1

• Apr 29, 2007

• #1

I have coolant running onto my passenger side floor. I pulled the heater core but can't seem to find any hole. Is there a better way of testing this?

Jason

 

trbkrb

Founding Member

Jun 4, 2001

1,976

4

39

Houston, TX

Apr 29, 2007

#2

• Apr 29, 2007

• #2

I saw one guy that clamped an old bicycle tube onto the outlets and filled the core with air while it was under water. He tested his new one after installing a prior new one that was bad. Any hole, and the air would bubble right out.

But most likely, 99% of the time, if you have coolant inside the car, it is the core. That is the only place coolant circulates besides under the hood.

 

Aryan15

Member

Sep 22, 2003

236

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17

CA

Apr 29, 2007

#3

• Apr 29, 2007

• #3

I would replace it and get the new one pressure tested at a radiator shop.

 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet

Sep 17, 2005

2,867

2

58

Port Elgin, Ontario

Apr 29, 2007

#4

• Apr 29, 2007

• #4

use a flow restrictor with the new one in the inlet side

 

AnthonyR23

Member

Sep 8, 2006

661

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16

Ontario

Apr 30, 2007

#5

• Apr 30, 2007

• #5

can't you just fill it with water and see if it leaks??

 

TRWXXA

Member

Jan 18, 2003

190

1

19

RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!... Made you look.

Apr 30, 2007

#6

• Apr 30, 2007

• #6

AnthonyR23 said:

can't you just fill it with water and see if it leaks??

Click to expand...

Nope. Most leaks are small, and water will only come out when it is under pressure.

I like the bicycle inner tube idea.