toddah

Have any of you pressure tested your cooling system? I have a tester but I cannot find any way to connect it to the filler necks on my RX-7.
I can test the caps but I had a MAJOR coolant blowoff when I took the car out of storage. It started right up and I ran it for about 20 minutes in the driveway fluid levels were fine. I took it out for a little slow paced breakin drive like I do every year and went about 10 blocks of normal neighborhood driving than about a block from home I smelled Antifreeze so I rolled it into the driveway and shut it off. WHile I was getting out to open the hood I could hear a surging like the pressure cap was venting and then closing again. I looked and the damn overflow line had blown off the nipple on the plastic bottle mounted the intercooler so I had antifreeze all over the inside of the engine compartment. I washed it down with water and put it in the shop up on stands. I pulled the belly pan and the radiator shrouding but on close inspection I could not see any evidence of leaks.
I got a new thermostat and installed it but before I put it all back together I wanted to pressure test to be sure ther are no hoses or whatever leaking and for the life of me I cannot figure out a way to attach it to the RX-7 filler cap. Is there some super secret filler cap adapter or a Mazda $700.00 special tool to test it with?
I am eyeing the hexplug in the top of the Thermostat housing and thinking I can adapt it to fit the hose on my pressure tester. any suggestions?

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

You will probably need a pressure tester cap adapter. You can get them from the big automotive tool supply stores, although they are like $40 for a little plastic part.

If you have an aluminum AST I'm pretty sure you won't need an adapter since that's built to a more customary size.

Dave

car hugger

iTrader: (1)

I know that NAPA sells a coolant pressure tester and even though the kit come with 2 or 3 adapters you will have to order the one for mazda. The tester I used also required the install of a few o-rings in the neck to help seal it.

There are about fifteen coolant hoses on these cars. Ray at Malloy Mazda sells a hose kit that includes all the coolant hoses. Believe me you should replace as many as you can, if not all, because once one goes you can be sure that the rest are all of simular age and fatigue.

rx7will

iTrader: (6)

The pressure tester fits standard american radiator caps. You need an adapter to do the Rx-7 or any import. Depending on the brand you buy, its around $50 for the adapter.