Suggestions on leak down tester???

E

EBENZER

Cadet
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
26
Guys,

I have read about leak down test being a valuable tool when trying to find out the health of an unknown engine. I see testers (like harbor freight sells) only has like 10 to 15 psi before the leakage gauge hits zero. Is this adequate or do i need a tester that can read around 100psi. I have heard the lower pressure gauges work just as good. Im a little confused on which way to go on this..Any advice?
 
C

CharlieB

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
5,617
Re: Suggestions on leak down tester???

My Sears compression tester is two piece, using a standard air chuck and nipple. I remove the shrader vale from the spark plug fitting and screw the hose/fitting into the cyl.

I have a small air pressure regulator with a guage, a chuck on the outlet and a nipple to connect to any air supplly of at least 100 PSI.

Chuck the regulator to the supply and adjust the regulator to 100 PSI.

Chuck the compression tester hose to the regulator and read the pressure, making sure that the piston is AT TDC, or the motor will spin.

Using a regulator set at 100 it is a simple % reading, 95 psi indicates a 5 psi loss which is a 5%.
 
E

EBENZER

Cadet
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
26
Re: Suggestions on leak down tester???

thanks for reply. So you guys think the harbor freight gauge that only uses 15 psi to do a leak down test is inadequate. I was reading about this earlier and the response was this 15 psi gauge would work and also keep the pistons from moving better than 100psi gauges
 
J

jeffersondodson561

Ensign
Joined
Oct 28, 2010
Messages
923
Re: Suggestions on leak down tester???

Here's the thing with HF, you have know how to read between the lines with what you buy. I have bought a fuel gauge from them and tested it with a bicycle air pump and it measure accurate. So I assume that when measuring fuel pressure I will get an accurate reading. But to answer your Q, no 15psi will not be enough to measure 100+ psi.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top