Re: Possible Head gasket leak or worse

["62-65-mail-list-club-Gary-H" <62-65-mail-list-club@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The H-Freight tester must "sniff" for hydrocarbons by drawing air from the cap opening on the radiator? 
(That is  similar testing approach that emissions (tailpipe) sniffers use.)  That is pretty accurate, afaik.
If you nose-test the antifreeze in the radiator with the engine running, sometimes you can get a small sense of exhaust gas, indicating a possible head gasket failure. That is the same idea as the tool, just less precise. 

You can also do a similar test again by putting your hand on the exhaust pipe with the engine running and the the smell your hand to see if you detect antifreeze.   

A coolant system pressure tester is another tool to try, often available to rent for free at auto parts stores. 

Could the "wisps of vapor coming from both tail pipes" have been condensation?  

Thanks,
Gary H. 

>  -------Original Message-------
 
>  
>  We followed my 64 Sport Fury to a car show on Sunday and I noticed
>  what I took to be the telltale odor of antifreeze coming from exhaust.
>  When I shut it off in my garage later. there were wisps of vapor
>  coming from both tail pipes. Smelled them.....smelled like antifreeze.
>  We drove the car daily in Reno for Hot August Nights and I had to add
>  maybe quart of liquid to the radiator after 4 days in the heat.
>  I got a Harbor Freight antifreeze hydrocarbon tester, followed the
>  instructions carefully; motor at temperature, radiator liquid flowing
>  as it should with the thermostat open. The liquid in the tube never
>  changed color. A problem I had though was that the action of the bulb
>  being squeezed would create a vacuum in the radiator every 30 squeezes
>  or so.
>  
>  How sensitive are these hydrocarbon antifreeze tests? At this point
>  I'm thinking the leak isn't big enough yet or I'm chasing ghosts.
>  
>  If there is a leak, I am "assuming" (yes, I know) that it's either a
>  head gasket or a cracked head. Any other possibilities?
>  
>  Any tips or advice really appreciated. Thanks/Butch --
>  --
>  - 

-- 
-- 
--
Please address private email -- email of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. That is, email your parts/car transactions and negotiations, as well as other personal messages, only to the intended recipient. Do not just press "reply" and send your email to everyone using the general '62-'65 Clubhouse public email address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine-tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!

1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The 1962 to 1965 Mopar Mail List Clubhouse" group.
http://groups.google.com/group/1962to1965mopars?hl=en.
--- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The 1962 to 1965 Mopar Mail List Clubhouse" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to 1962to1965mopars+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/1962to1965mopars/20220820004959.4880.qmail%40server309.com.