# Testing testing! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 9, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992 "2011-08-09T23:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/1 "2011-08-09T23:12:05Z")
How is a pressure test done and for how long should the system be pressurized ! ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/2 "2011-08-10T00:34:19Z")
Pressure test on what? Cooling system? Cylinder compression? You have to provide more detail. You haven’t given us much to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/3 "2011-08-10T10:36:21Z")
Cooling please… ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/4 "2011-08-10T16:25:49Z")
It’s kinda like taking your blood pressure. You get a pressure tester, remove the radiator cap (only when the engine is COLD and the car has not been driven for several hours), put the pressure test cap on instead, pump it to whatever the manufacturer spec for your system is (if you can’t find that, just do 10psi or so), and then wait to see if the pressure drops. If it loses more than a couple of psi over 2-3 minutes you probably have a leak. Repressurize it and inspect all the hoses, radiator, etc, for leaking fluid. ---
**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/5 "2011-08-10T18:33:03Z")
Um, I’m still not sure if Kbear60 wants the _engine_ cooling system checked, or the _passenger_ cooling system (i.e. the AC) checked. Kbear60, what sort of problems are you having? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/6 "2011-08-10T20:08:29Z")
Oh, yes, I assumed engine cooling system. The air conditioning pressure - - if you have to ask how to do it, take it to a shop. ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/7 "2011-08-10T22:25:37Z")
For the engine cooling system, I usually pump it to the maximum pressure listed on an underhood sticker or, if that is not available, 15 psi. If you can watch the needle on the gauge drop, you have a significant leak and should start looking. These devices can be your best friend for finding elusive coolant leaks. Ideally, you should never lose any pressure if the system is leak-free, but I consider a pressure loss of less than a pound in ten minutes to be negligible. ---
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/8 "2011-08-11T13:54:43Z")
I was looking for coolant system… Ok … If the is small should it take over night to find out it leaks? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/9 "2011-08-11T14:21:39Z")
No. Are you having a specific problem we could help you with, or is this theoretical? ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/10 "2011-08-11T15:06:11Z")
If the cooling system pressure test passes I replace the radiator cap with a new one. That’s where a lot of pressure leaks come from anyway. It’s cheap insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/11 "2011-08-11T15:21:00Z")
My prolbem was my system was overheating Just on certain days… When it was hot… 4 tests later fund it was a head gasket leak… ---
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/12 "2011-08-11T15:22:02Z")
Is that normal? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/13 "2011-08-11T16:49:21Z")
**_One Of The Censequences Of Over Heating, Particularly If It Continues Beyond One Episode, Is Head Gasket Failure. What Starts Out As One Part Of The Cooling System That Fails, Or Low Coolant Level, Can Turn Into A Head Gasket Failure._** CSA ---
**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/14 "2011-08-12T01:48:12Z")
With a special adapter you can also check the cap. They commonly fail unable to hold the recommended pressure. transman ---
**Author:** ![Kbear60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Kbear60](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kbear60)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/testing-testing/66992/15 "2011-08-18T12:29:12Z")
Thanks for the help…