Engine Block Tester

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block testerThere are lots of different ways to test the integrity of your engine block ranging from inexpensive and relatively easy, to extremely expensive and only necessary during engine rebuilds.  In this article, we’ll talk through different engine block tester equipment and how to find out what you really need to know.

There isn’t one universal engine block tester that can tell you if your engine block is structurally sound.  Due to their unique shape and function, engine blocks can hide all sorts of problems very easily.  Unless you have a high-performance car, your engine block is most likely made of cast iron.  The “cast” part means your engine was made in a large mold with molten iron poured in.  This technique allows for very intricate shapes to be created, like the cooling jacket around the pistons in your engine block.  This cast block of iron then is then machined virtually on every surface to create bearings, the deck where the head mounts to, threaded bolt holes and other shapes that are needed for the assembly of the engine.

All this intricacy makes finding a problem in your engine block extremely difficult.  Cast iron is a very hard metal, but that also makes it brittle.  Brittle metal tends to crack under stress and that is often what you find in a used engine block.  Cracks can happen between cylinders due to stress from the combustion process or cracks can happen in the cooling jacket from thermal stress or even vibrations that the engine sustains during driving.

The crack location will determine what block tester is required.  The best (and most expensive) block tester is to use a process called magnetic particle inspection.  This process works on any iron engine block but requires the block to be out of the car and stripped of all other components so it’s only used during an engine rebuild.  For more information about magnetic particle inspection, check out this article about crack detection.

If removing the engine block from your car isn’t on your agenda, you can check for cracks in a few other ways.  Many of the cavities in your engine block are designed to hold high pressure so you can often find cracks by pressurizing these cavities and waiting to see if the pressure holds steady, proving there are no leaks, or if the pressure drops showing the cavity has a leak.

If you suspect a crack in a cylinder wall, it’s best to perform a leak down test on your engine.  This process forces compressed air in through the spark plug hole and measures to see if any is leaking out.  Remember, during a leak down test, things like worn piston ring or blown head gasket can also cause pressure to drop.

If you suspect a block crack in your engine’s cooling jacket, you can perform a similar test on your cooling system.  Many auto parts stores rent tools now today and you can often rent a cooling system pressure test kit.  You will fit a small gauge where your radiator cap goes, then pressurize the system and watch the gauge to see if pressure drops.  Like the leak down test, other things can cause pressure to drop in your cooling system like a leaking water pump seal or bad cooling system hose.

If you discover a crack in your engine block using one of these block testers, consider using BlueDevil Radiator and Block Sealer to seal the crack in your engine block without having to ever pick up a wrench!

For more information about BlueDevil Radiator and Block Sealer, click on the banner below!
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You can find BlueDevil Radiator and Block Sealer at any of our partnering local auto parts stores like:

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Pictures Provided By:

block_tester.jpg – By Daseaford – Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link

BlueDevil Products can be found on Amazon.com or at AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, and other major auto parts retailers.

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