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Pressure-Testing Heater Core


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I was about to reassemble the heater box when I realized I hadn't pressure-tested the core. I read online about cutting an inner tube, hose-clamping it onto the pipes, inflating it to 5psi (yup, low pressure -- this ain't an evaporator core), dunking it underwater, and looking for bubbles. Voila!

Plus, as a bonus, you get the "WHAT IS THAT IN THE SINK?" effect on your wife!

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The new book The Best Of The Hack Mechanic available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998950742, inscribed copies of all books available at www.robsiegel.com

1972 tii (Louie), 1973 2002 (Hampton), 1975 ti tribute (Bertha), 1972 Bavaria, 1973 3.0CSi, 1979 Euro 635CSi, 1999 Z3, 1999 M Coupe, 2003 530i sport, 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special (I know, I know...)

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My wife? No, tight as a drum.

BOOM!

Sorry.

(It did not leak. The heater core.)

The new book The Best Of The Hack Mechanic available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998950742, inscribed copies of all books available at www.robsiegel.com

1972 tii (Louie), 1973 2002 (Hampton), 1975 ti tribute (Bertha), 1972 Bavaria, 1973 3.0CSi, 1979 Euro 635CSi, 1999 Z3, 1999 M Coupe, 2003 530i sport, 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special (I know, I know...)

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Ha! That's so much quicker than the fittings I jury- rigged to do that job.

Neat!

Plus, there's a lot lower danger of accidentally pressurizing it to the 90 psi of the compressor....

...but I'd go to 15 psi, myself- I found that some cores can crack at the end

tanks, and the cracks only really leak when you're running the same

pressure as your radiator cap.

t

"I learn best through painful, expensive experience, so I feel like I've gotten my money's worth." MattL

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Toby, so 15psi is good? Things I read online at other sites said 5. I didn't think to tie it to the cap pressure, but that makes sense. Thanks!

The new book The Best Of The Hack Mechanic available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998950742, inscribed copies of all books available at www.robsiegel.com

1972 tii (Louie), 1973 2002 (Hampton), 1975 ti tribute (Bertha), 1972 Bavaria, 1973 3.0CSi, 1979 Euro 635CSi, 1999 Z3, 1999 M Coupe, 2003 530i sport, 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special (I know, I know...)

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Bet you could do the same thing to test a radiator with a length of plastic plumbing pipe, two pieces of inner tube and four hose clamps. Install the cap and pump until the cap pressure released.

mike

'69 Nevada sunroof-Wolfgang-bought new
'73 Sahara sunroof-Ludwig-since '78
'91 Brillantrot 318is sunroof-Georg Friederich 
Fiat Topolini (Benito & Luigi), Renault 4CVs (Anatole, Lucky Pierre, Brigette) & Kermit, the Bugeye Sprite

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Just be careful.

Remember - with 5 psi, the inner tube won't grow that much. With 15 psi, it will grow more. If you want to test higher than 5, I'd build something with hose that won't expand and some fittings.

I agree with the "clean then test" theory. Crud will hold a lot of pressure.

FAQ Member # 2616

"What do you mean NEXT project?"

-- My wife.

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Hack, thats what I call thinkin like a German, the longer we are at this the simpler it becomes

Happy Trails to u~ Dave Miller
76 Golf~Rhiannon~BM Mascot~*~97 328is~Silver Ghost~*~68 1600~Wisperin Beast~*~70-02~Bumble Beast~*~76 02~Beast~

Keep smilin all the way

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So how do you pump up the tube to 15 psi when a tube without constraint (ie, outside of a tire) will blow up at 15 psi?

Constrain it.

Packing tape.

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The new book The Best Of The Hack Mechanic available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998950742, inscribed copies of all books available at www.robsiegel.com

1972 tii (Louie), 1973 2002 (Hampton), 1975 ti tribute (Bertha), 1972 Bavaria, 1973 3.0CSi, 1979 Euro 635CSi, 1999 Z3, 1999 M Coupe, 2003 530i sport, 1974 Lotus Europa Twin Cam Special (I know, I know...)

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Packing tape

Yipes! Not duct tape???

I'm with Jim, that thing scares me!!!

And yeah, Rob, I found a core that had cracks in the end tank (maybe it froze?)

It held both water and air at 5 psi, but at the 13ish of the cap, the cracks would

ooze coolant.

So now I test at 15, and if it explodes, then it was never meant to be.

heh

t

"I learn best through painful, expensive experience, so I feel like I've gotten my money's worth." MattL

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