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Coolant system pressure test

Discussion in '308/328' started by millsj, May 18, 2015.

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  1. millsj

    millsj Karting

    Oct 17, 2011
    214
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #1 millsj, May 18, 2015
    I have been replacing a number of heater/coolant lines and have the car back together. What is the appropriate psi to pressure test the system? It has held 9 psi for 24 hours, but I wasn't sure if that is the correct pressure to test. I used 9 psi since I figured it would be a safe starting point. The radiator cap is 1.1 bar or about 16 psi. Should I pump the system up to 16 psi and see how it goes or use a different pressure?
     
  2. snowsports1

    snowsports1 Formula Junior

    Jan 31, 2013
    918
    UK
    Full Name:
    Brian
    #2 snowsports1, May 18, 2015
    hi, i bought a dino from Charleston south Carolina! I don't know the answer to your question however I am also interested to understand the working pressure of the coolant system. While driving yesterday my radiator top hose burst sending the contents of the radiator on the windscreen! Quite a shock when doing 70mph. I had inspected the radiator hoses prior to this and they were reinforced and appeared in good condition.
     
  3. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    #3 2NA, May 18, 2015
    The radiator cap is a pressure relief valve, designed to prevent pressures from becoming too high should overheating occur and coolant start boiling. The system is expected to operate just fine at the rated pressure, 1.1 bar in this case. Part of the pressure test should be to test the cap to make sure it holds the rated pressure.
     
  4. Ehamilton

    Ehamilton F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 13, 2010
    2,633
    Durham, NC; USA
    Full Name:
    Eric Hamilton
    #4 Ehamilton, May 18, 2015
    If it holds 9 psi forever you have no slow leaks - and considering that the 308 cooling system has about 6,561,397 different potential leak sites that's your primary objective.

    Now that you're sure you have that under control, you can pump it up to a level that opens the reservor cap. Of course it won't hold pressue above that level as the cap bleeds it off, but you're looking for major new flows that appear elsewhere under that pressure. Chances are you won't find any, which is good.
     

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