I'm wondering if anyone knows who might sell an inexpensive block test fluid kit. It's the kit to test if combustion chamber gases is present in your coolant. My local Napa wants $90 for the kit and I thought he was joking! It's a fluid you pour into your radiator then you suck it up into the supplied syringe. The blue fluid changes color if gases are present in the coolant. I don't think I'll use the kit all the time so I'm wondering if someone sells a cheaper one-time use version. thanks

 

[:@] while ive never used the kits you speek of because ive always had a four gas analyser to use id recommend finding a local shop with one of these machines and have them test the radiator for hydrocarbons. maybe try to befriend a mechanic at a local small shop and you may even get it done for free. a four gas test should be cheaper than $90 even if you have to pay a going rate of some kind, smaller shops are your best bet for a cheap sampling kurt

 

Those kits work fine. Napa though is the only major place I have ever seen them at. Never at an autozone or CSK. But that just might be the local area. Maybe check Summit or Jegs or post a wanted on craigs in your area.

 

just curious. does this kit or procedure help determine a problem with the head gasket or something more serious? thanks

 

If combustion gases are detected in the coolant it indicates that there is a sealing problem in the engine. It could be a bad head gasket, a cracked head, or even a cracked cylinder wall. Whatever the cause, it won't get better, and the engine will have to be taken apart. A sealant may work for a while, but it is not good fix.

 

This vehicle is actually is a friend of mine at it's a non-chevy vehicle. He's loned me the car for almost 2 months now and we've checked compression several times and the oil isn't milk shake. It doesn't even run hot. It's just that there isalways pressure in the coolant system. Even when cold you can crack the cap and there's pressure. Right after you relieve the pressure you canrun it for 30 seconds and there will be pressure when you re-open the rad cap.
Now this is when the engine is cold. There is no bubbles in the rad. I'm actually hoping that something blows so I can get a bad compression reading. Even the plugs look normal. Thanks for the input guys.