Test Strips

[suprahabsfan]

Heres the story... I had cooling issues (surprise surprise). I am losing coolant out of my overflow reservoir to the tune of having to refill radiator and tank every 2 days. It would continue to come out after engine was turned off. There was no temp fluctuations, no gurgling, no overheating, no smoke, no coolant smell, no nothing, just losing coolant. So i had a professional tech (who by the way owns 4 supras!) do a HG change (HKS metal). He remarked that the HG Didnt look to be blown, head wasnt warped, no oil in coolant, no coolant in cylinders. I only ever told him to change the HG because we all have that problem and i assumed it was the case. I wanted a MHG anyways. Well I got it back and it still does it. Changed radiator caps (autozone), still does it. No heat but assume that is because there is too little coolant in the system. I have 2 questions:

1. I'm still gonna check for a BHG, will the test strips work with the coolant being in the system for that little of time?

2. Any ideas of what it could be? I was thinking a leak somewhere but i'd smell it right?

I'm really getting sick of having this problem. Any help would be great.

 

[suprahabsfan]

BTW I did search, and tried everythig suggested except the strips (radiator cap, smelling for coolant, checking for leaks etc), and that leads to question number 1.

 

[GC89]

The strips should work, if its blown the gases in your coolant system build up pretty fast. You could also do a leak down test. That will tell you if its blown and even what cylinders.

 

[Kckazdude]

The strips are only good for testing chemical stability of the antifreeze. You want to know if any exhaust gases are in your coolant. That is done with a block tester kit as found at NAPA.

 

[suprahabsfan]

I'm sorry i did mean the tester kit. not the strips. What is more definitive, the leak down test or block test? And any ideas, on what it could be if the tests come back negative?

 

[Kckazdude]

The block test will tell you if you exhaust gasses in the coolant. The leak-down test can narrow it down to which cylinder(s) is the cause. Will also test the rings valves for proper seating.

 

[GC89]

When you said test strips I automatically asumed you meant the block test kit. I personally prefer the leak down test, it takes a little longer but you learn more from it.

 

[Facime]

The way you so casually mention that your mechanic put in a MHG makes me wonder if it was done correctly. Was the block stripped down and surfaced?