# Anyone own a leakdown tester? **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [January 23, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459 "2008-01-23T19:57:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Code\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@Code\_Blue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Code_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/1 "2008-01-23T19:57:46Z")
I would like to do a leakdown test on my civic. I think the head gasket may be blown, I plan on doing a compression test soon. if anyone has access to one, I will buy you lunch for your time and effort ! I would normally buy one but I cant see spending the money for just one test…on my beater ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/2 "2008-01-23T20:32:56Z")
I got one buddy ---
**Author:** ![Code\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@Code\_Blue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Code_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/3 "2008-01-23T21:50:37Z")
woot ---
**Author:** ![crAppAchic0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/crappachic0/32/6306_2.png) [@crAppAchic0](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/crAppAchic0)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/4 "2008-01-23T21:52:54Z")
The other thing you can try - I had to pick one up recently - is a ‘combustion leak detector’. Napa carries them- around $50. You pull air from your cooling system via the radiator filler neck, and siphon it through a chemical in a tube (with a suction bulb) that with turn a specific color if it picks up remnants of combustion gases present in the cooling system. ---
**Author:** ![Fn\_Skanks](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fn_skanks/32/6308_2.png) [@Fn\_Skanks](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fn_Skanks)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/5 "2008-01-23T23:28:34Z")
you can get a regular compression tester which will tell you if your h.g. is blown for sure. do the test dry, and depending on what it shows, a wet test with oil after. if the #'s yield higher with the wet, you can count on blown rings. i’m pretty sure harbor freight sells them for really cheap. not a bad thing to have, i just haven’t gotten around to buying one yet. ---
**Author:** ![Code\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@Code\_Blue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Code_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/6 "2008-01-24T08:46:09Z")
Ive got a matco super delux compression tester, it was just the leakdown tester I didnt have ---
**Author:** ![Shawn96VR-4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Shawn96VR-4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shawn96VR-4)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/7 "2008-01-24T09:32:31Z")
> [@crAppAchic0](#): > > The other thing you can try - I had to pick one up recently - is a ‘combustion leak detector’. Napa carries them- around $50. You pull air from your cooling system via the radiator filler neck, and siphon it through a chemical in a tube (with a suction bulb) that with turn a specific color if it picks up remnants of combustion gases present in the cooling system. Bingo. This is what was used when my head was lifting. ---
**Author:** ![SDP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SDP](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SDP)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/8 "2008-01-24T09:55:45Z")
I have one here at the shop jason, bring it by and we’ll check it out. Paul ---
**Author:** ![Code\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@Code\_Blue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Code_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/9 "2008-01-24T16:55:34Z")
sweet, I will try and make it in there early next week ---
**Author:** ![LKSi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lksi/32/6316_2.png) [@LKSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LKSi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-own-a-leakdown-tester/235459/10 "2008-01-24T20:53:49Z")
Harbor Freight’s leakdown tester is $40… just FYI.