OK, I know they don't have the best reputation for great tools, but I do buy a bit from them on one time type stuff, plus the hand tools a lifetime.
This weekend they have a 25% off and I am chasing a small leak on the XK8 and this could be the perfect time to get the pressure testing kit. It should end up near $70, with tax, plus if the green one works for Jags I think one of the others works on BMW, which I help some friends with.
So what do you think, waste of money, or maybe???
I can always take it back.


Wayne

 

I bought one a year ago and have used it a couple of times. No complaints. I found a pinhole leak in a XKR hose that was not evident by visual inspection with the engine running.

 

Harbor freight tools is an ok place to buy items like this. It's the tools where you need a specific tolerance, like machining tools that would be questionable. I'm a furniture maker on the side and the only issue I have ever had with any of their tools is how LOUD their hand sanders are (now I buy Porter Cable for those). So, unless you're anything other than a hobbyist, their tools are fine

 

Wayne,

As you said, you can always take it back if you're not satisfied. Is this a new leak, or have you known about it for awhile?

 

While I have had occasions to need a pressure tester several times they are real conveniently for 'rent' at most auto parts stores. That set of tools has not yet risen to the top of the birthday present list.

 

I have one, it's works perfectly. BTW it's the green adapter for your Jag. I bought mine 3 years ago when it was on sale and used it 5-6 times with success on several cars.

 

Thanks all, I will pick it up Sunday, as that is the only 25% day.
Glad to know there has been success with it.
Jon, this has been something I could smell on occasion and thought I had it fixed with new clamps around the TB a year or so ago. It has risen it's ugly head again, but nothing has a drip after cooling off and too damn hot other wise, hence, the pressure tester.
Wayne

 

How old is your coolant expansion tank? Could be a hairline crack in one of the black plastic hose nipples, or even a faulty tank cap. The coolant leak can be so small that the tiny amount of coolant that escapes gets instantly vaporized by the heat inside the engine bay so you never see it even though you can smell it. Jan's tank cap failed last year. I knew it was the cap rather than the tank because the cap became harder and harder to unscrew in just a few passing weeks, eventually requiring me to use a jar lid remover rubber pad (even with my huge hands). A new cap did the trick. I talked the local dealership parts guy into selling me one for less than either SNG Barratt or Welsh were selling them for (plus no shipping charges)....

 

I highly recommend this particular kit from HF. Used it to find the leak in our XK8 as well as our Suburban.

Note the rental loaner versions have a nice pump but no adapters to work on any car with a screw on radiator cap (which is most all cars nowadays). The adapter for the Jag can cost as much as this entire kit.

 

Thanks Jon, that is what I'm thinking, so this kit should tell all and I won't get burnt. It has to be small, as I have crawled all over the engine bay with no luck.
Doug, good information and like you I need it for BMW's as well as other cars.
Wayne

 

The HF tool kit as well as all three of my local AP stores' kits have an 'universal' adapter that works just fine with the Jaguar reservoir.

Free is free.

Tight Wad Tom

 

Tom, You are correct and at 75 time in a car in search of a good kit, as most rentals I get are not complete or have striped threads on the pullers, is not the way to complete all this bucket list.
Plus Jon might need it, we tend to work together on our problems.


Wayne

 

Here is their latest flyer for anyone thats interested:

 

Now that's funny, thanks.
The chain saw would be my choice.


Wayne

 

I've seen this flyer several times over the past few years and I still laugh until I cry whenever I take the time to read through it. I've never seen another business spoof as on-target as this one is. Kudos to the guys who wrote the ad copy and drew the illustrations. If Mad Magazine is still around, they could both get jobs there....

 

OK Guys, the rest of the story.
Got honey do's out of the way and picked up the tester. Green is the one and was impressed with all the versatility of the kit.
Pumped it to 10 PSI just for a start and "nutin honey", so 14 PSI and after a few minutes the needle moved very slightly. I was convinced it was under the TB and spent a good 5 minutes feeling around. Nothing there, so please don't be the valley hoses as they were replaced when I got the car. Found a trickle running from the bottom of the thermostat housing in the rear drivers side. I have a crow foot 8MM I had made for replacing a friends and got a quarter of a turn out of it. A the moment it is holding at 15 PSI, but that all might change with running temperatures.
At least I know where to start looking, it's hard to see that area after the engine has been running, you could get sunburn peering down that hole.
I ended up paying $72 after taxes for the $89.99 kit and would do it again, for now I know. No wonder I could smell it, boiling like a kettle on top of the engine.


Thanks for the interest. Wayne

 

Keep us posted on whether tightening the bolts turns out to be all it needs for the time being....

 

Test drive today and no smell or puddle under the housing, so will have to say "That" problem is solved for the time being. What next coach?


Wayne

 

I too bought this kit and am pleased with it. I had a small leak that I could smell but could not see. The kit verified that there was a leak but I still could not visually find it. At the same time I was getting Low Coolant Level messages, even though the coolant level in the expansion tank was not low. I ended up replacing the expansion tank and that fixed the erroneous Low Coolant Level messages as well as the "smell".