pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

[oops!]

hi i boaters...

im pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger....

i have all the in/outs blocked off as best i can....lol

i pumped the pressure to 17 lbs and let it sit for half an hour......it is slowly going down and has now lost 4 lbs......

what is considered good?.....

i know that no loss is best....but i cannot be assured that air/water is escaping from my blockages or from the pressure cap it self.....

any text book numbers for how long this thing should hold for?

thanks boaters....
the water is getting soft !

 

[Don S]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

The best way to check them is to pressureize the coolant side, remove the end caps and submerge the whole thing in water. If the tubes are leaking they will bubble. It could be your plugs or tester leaking that slow.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

If you have it off the boat put it in a tub of water. If it still drops and you see no bubbles it's inside

oops late again

 

[Bondo]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

oops late again

Ayuh,... Ditto that....

Don's got ya covered Oops...

 

[oops!]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

thanks all....

i tested the heat exchanger as described.....and all went well.....no air bubbles.

however.....now i have to figgure out where all the antifreeze is going !

it seems to evaporate right out of the exchanger !!

im hoping it was just an air lock to the heater that is up front.

but i seem to be loosing about 3 gallons i have filled it twice now.....
it will be a day or two before i can get back on it

btw....no water in the oil.....no leaks any where......temp is stable at 175 under load for 1 1/2 hours on a lake test.

thanks all

 

[Bondo]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

im hoping it was just an air lock to the heater that is up front.

but i seem to be loosing about 3 gallons i have filled it twice now.....

Ayuh,... It'd have to be a Big heater, Waaaay up front...

With it All back together, pressurize the system to about 15psi...
A leak should be quite obvious...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: pressure testing a closed cooling heat exchanger,,,,need pressure tolerances

the manifolds can leakA/F into the exaust side if there part of the system.If it`s just the engine your leaks is:
internal, head gaskets
external, core plug, intake maifold,