Just had a sniff test done..
04 August 2014, 03:46 PM
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Just had a sniff test done..
I had a sniff test done today at local garage, and tbh i am a bit confused.
I was expecting that kit type thing you see which has dye in it and changes colour.
Instead he had it rigged up to a machine that gave a reading of the amount of hydrocarbons present. Anyway so he does it and it come back that is all ok, but he didnt even have the car running
I had just driven it about 10 mins and straight in, but i always thought car had to be running?
I was expecting that kit type thing you see which has dye in it and changes colour.
Instead he had it rigged up to a machine that gave a reading of the amount of hydrocarbons present. Anyway so he does it and it come back that is all ok, but he didnt even have the car running
I had just driven it about 10 mins and straight in, but i always thought car had to be running?
he tested on both expansion tank and header tank too
04 August 2014, 06:12 PM
#4
Hmmm, he's done it half right IMO.
We do use teh exhaust gas analyser. Same one as for MOTs, as that measure hydrocarbons down to 1ppm which is as accurate as you can get to be frank.
BUT
We have the engine RUNNING. Probe in the header tank (not immersed) and a loose seal. Sometimes a engine has to revved to allow coolant to circulate a bit more for it to pick up any combustion gasses, as when idling or off, the gases can settle elsewhere in the engine rather than the header tank. Also when you remove the cap you can allow the gases to escape.
However if its a specific tester designed to test the coolant (liquid) itself, then yes, that can be done with the engine off. Although the ones I've seen are more akin to a tester kit for swimming pool water (anyone who manages a swimming pool will know what I mean
).
We do use teh exhaust gas analyser. Same one as for MOTs, as that measure hydrocarbons down to 1ppm which is as accurate as you can get to be frank.
BUT
We have the engine RUNNING. Probe in the header tank (not immersed) and a loose seal. Sometimes a engine has to revved to allow coolant to circulate a bit more for it to pick up any combustion gasses, as when idling or off, the gases can settle elsewhere in the engine rather than the header tank. Also when you remove the cap you can allow the gases to escape.
However if its a specific tester designed to test the coolant (liquid) itself, then yes, that can be done with the engine off. Although the ones I've seen are more akin to a tester kit for swimming pool water (anyone who manages a swimming pool will know what I mean
).
Last edited by ALi-B; 04 August 2014 at 06:14 PM.
04 August 2014, 06:26 PM
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Ah right I see. Yer it was the mot emissions test probe thingy he used. He didn't submerge it but I guess if the gasses have escaped then it could give false reading. He did seal it tho. The result came up zero on both header and expansion tank. Hopefully it's ok. Will buy one of those kits and have engine running to be sure
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04 August 2014, 11:53 PM
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You can get them from eBay for about £30. It has a tube which sucks the air in and has a dye inside. If the dye changes colour there's exhaust gases in coolant. If you search 'head gasket test kit' on ebay you'll see them
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