Manufacturer | Block Tester |
---|---|
Brand | Block Tester |
Model | BT-512 |
Item Weight | 1 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 10 x 3 x 5 inches |
Item model number | BT-500 |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Manufacturer Part Number | BT-500 |
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BT-500 Combustion Leak Test Kit - Made in USA
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Block Tester |
Item Weight | 16 ounces |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 10 x 3 x 5 inches |
About this item
- Complete Combustion Leak Test Kit - Includes Fluid - Nothing More to Buy
- When Fluid Turns From BLUE to YELLOW Combustion Leak is Present
- Tests in seconds for combustion leaks caused by: Blown Head Gasket (BHG) Cracked Head or Block Pulled Bolts or Studs Warped Sealing Surfaces
- Quality Tool Made in USA for over 45 years with Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Packaged in OEM white box
Additional Details
Frequently bought together
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Product Description
Block Tester BT-500 Combustion Leak Test Kit
Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B06VVBSFTF |
---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #2,152 in Automotive (See Top 100 in Automotive) #1 in Air Conditioning Leak Detection Tools |
Date First Available | April 2, 1971 |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the value, performance, delivery, and quality of the electric circuit testing device. They mention that it's cheap insurance, works excellent, and is reliable. Customers are also satisfied with ease of use. That said, some complain about the color.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the electric circuit testing device. They say it works excellent, is fast, and easy to use. Customers are impressed with the construction and the utility of the tool, which makes it easy to diagnose a potential head gasket leak.
"This product works well, it accurately verifies combustion into the cooling system. Great product!" Read more
"Decent bit of kit. I was impressed by the construction and utility of the tool...." Read more
"Simple and easy to use! Highly Effective!" Read more
"...CONCLUSIONThis tester is awesome. Super easy to use. I would recommend it to friend." Read more
Customers find the electric circuit testing device easy to use. They mention that the instructions are very explicit, it has a pretty easy design, and the chemical is cheap to replace. They also say it's a great kit to quickly test for yourself if you have a leak and is a nice on-hand tool for quick and accurate results.
"It was easy to use and saved me money to see if it had a head gasket. Save me money not going to a repair shop." Read more
"...Pretty easy design and comes with instructions. first picture is testing after about 3 minutes and never changed color...." Read more
"Simple and easy to use! Highly Effective!" Read more
"...CONCLUSIONThis tester is awesome. Super easy to use. I would recommend it to friend." Read more
Customers like the quality of the electric circuit testing device. They say it is well-built, reliable, and accurate. Some say it's a great tool for the DIY crowd and will last a while.
"...Great product!" Read more
"Decent bit of kit. I was impressed by the construction and utility of the tool...." Read more
"Great product!" Read more
"High quality construction. Arrived quickly on Prime.BACKGROUNDI used it to confirm (?)..." Read more
Customers like the value of the electric circuit testing device. They mention that it's worth every penny, it'd be cheap insurance, and easy and cheap diagnostics.
"It was easy to use and saved me money to see if it had a head gasket. Save me money not going to a repair shop." Read more
"...It's very easy to use and really no mess when using it. It will save you money by not having to pay someone to do it for you and to help in the..." Read more
"It's not cheap but much cheaper than going to a mechanic and risking being misdiagnosed by a dishonest one...." Read more
"Was worried I had a coolent leak in a new truck I bought. This was a fair price and easy to use." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the delivery of the electric circuit testing device. They mention that it is easy to use, the shipping was fast, and the service is good. They also appreciate the quick and inexpensive way to figure out if they have a blown fuse.
"Product received quickly, packaged well and seems to be very well made. I was pleasantly surprised at the thickness of the plastic fluid tester...." Read more
"Great product...super fast delivery....could confirm my diagnosis." Read more
"Easy to use, fast shipping, quality product. The only bad thing is it proved that I blew my head gasket! I would definitely buy it again." Read more
"Excellent product. Fast delivery" Read more
Customers are satisfied with the accuracy of the electric circuit testing device. They mention that it provides accurate results and helps ease their mind when buying used. Customers also appreciate the quick and accurate results, and the fact that it works well to accurately verify combustion into the cooling system.
"This product works well, it accurately verifies combustion into the cooling system. Great product!" Read more
"...It is a nice on-hand tool for quick and accurate results." Read more
"I used this product on 2 of my vehicles and the readings were spot on. I was recommended to use this product by a mechanic and a few people...." Read more
"...The test in super easy to perform, is non invasive, and gives you accurate results within a few short minutes." Read more
Customers are not happy with the gas. They mention that it causes combustion gas in the coolant circuit, engine overheating, and exhaust gas in their cooling system.
"...Then it told me there was still exhaust gas in my cooling system (confirmed by a mechanic: I goofed up my head gasket job)...." Read more
"...The first episode was when it overheated to the point the radiator let go...." Read more
"...head gasket but it was loosing very little coolant and no smoke from the tail pipe and still running great...." Read more
"...Photo 1 first check, positive test, combustion gas in the coolant circuit...." Read more
Customers are not satisfied with the color of the electric circuit testing device. They mention that it turns greenish-yellow and never changes color. Some reviewers also mention that the reagent turns yellow.
"...first picture is testing after about 3 minutes and never changed color...." Read more
"...did a successful test, I was still concerned that the yellow color of the reagent, which is very similar to that of Prestone antifreeze, might be..." Read more
"...Stayed blue from cooking system, immediate yellow from exhaust" Read more
"...It turned yellow meaning it was present, but there was no other evidence that there was a problem..... I replaced the thermostat housing and..." Read more
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I successfully used this tool to (unfortunately) confirm that the head gasket of my 2003 Civic was leaking.
One difficulty I had was that it was easy to accidentally draw coolant into the tube (which ruins the test). I did this twice before finally draining enough coolant from the radiator to have a successful test. The instructions advise removing enough coolant to provide a few inches of gap before beginning the test, but I found that once the car warmed up, the coolant level increased to the point that it was necessary to siphon off even more. A design change that would help here would be to provide a floating ball valve (similar to that in a wet/dry shop vacuum) to prevent liquid from entering the tube. When I finally did a successful test, I was still concerned that the yellow color of the reagent, which is very similar to that of Prestone antifreeze, might be due to contamination from coolant, but I noted that the reagent in the tube was still at its original level (at the "fill line" marked on the tube). Afterwards, I experimented with adding antifreeze directly to reagent and determined that it takes a substantial amount of antifreeze to change the color of the reagent to pure yellow. Nevertheless, a reagent that turns to a different color than antifreeze would be a useful change, if that is chemically possible.
My only other complaint is that I discovered that, while the top rubber cap is designed to be removed for cleaning, the bottom cap is not. It is attached by an adhesive, but the adhesive is too weak, and the cap can be accidentally removed without much force. After it is removed, it cannot be reattached securely without using more adhesive. This should be corrected by either making the bottom cap removable by design, or by using a strong adhesive that prevents the cap from being removed at all.
Some other info: there is enough reagent in the supplied bottle to do several tests. According to the instructions, the shelf life of the reagent is about one year. Spent reagent from a positive test (that has turned yellow) cannot be reused, but it is not clear whether there would be any negative effects from reusing the reagent from a negative test.
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
Update: I remove the cylinder head and can vouch for the accuracy of this test because the head gasket had failed but only slightly. I would describe the combustion leakage as fluttering since there was no white smoke or vapor coming out of the exhaust pipe but there was the symptom of the coolant overflow tank spewing coolant after several hundred miles in a given trip.
BACKGROUND
I used it to confirm (?) the Honda dealer's diagnosis of "coolant was two quarts low -- seeing bubbles in the radiator -- don't drive it -- must diagnose further."
After they saw bubbles, they said the opened up the engine and gave it a leakdown test. All cylinders less than 3%. Then they said they needed to do a "five-gas" test, but didn't have time that evening. They wanted to keep it overnight and do more work on it, but that didn't work for our schedule.
I kind of wondered why they didn't do that ten minute long "five-gas" test first before spending an hour tearing into the engine. And I wondered why they didn't just spend the five minutes it takes to use one of these testers. The story was a little fishy, or maybe they were just clumsy and less than highly skilled. Anyway, I didn't trust them 100% at that point, so I needed a second opinion.
ENTER THE BLOCK TESTER TOOL
Used my tester. Lots of YouTube videos available if you're not familiar. They basically follow the proper directions on the card. Lower the radiator level by 2-3 inches with a turkey baster. Fill the tester. Place tester tightly over the radiator opening and start working the bulb to draw the gases through it for ONE MINUTE.
1) I ran the engine warm. Didn't see bubbles.
2) I took it on the interstate for a while. Didn't see any bubbles.
3) I tried it from dead-cold overnight. Still didn't see any of the bubbles mentioned by the dealer.
After each visual test I ran the Block Tester with fresh fluid. Pretty much the fluid stayed imperial royal blue. Fresh fluid for each test.
After one of the tests just for fun, I waved it in the exhaust tailpipe plume -- instant translucent hot chrome yellow. So the fluid works, but it just didn't find any combustion gases in the radiator.
Also, after one of the tests I kept vigorously pumping for at least another five minutes and it went slightly off of the deep imperial royal blue (almost faintly indigo) toward being still strongly blue but having the slightest hint of aqua. I had some concern. But then I also tested with fresh fluid out in the clean air, and it took again about five minutes of vigorous (spastic?) pumping go get that slightest hint of aqua. Conclusion here, again, is there there were no combustion gases present in the coolant system.
I wonder what the Honda mechanic saw?
CONCLUSION
This tester is awesome. Super easy to use. I would recommend it to friend.