Radiator won't hold pressure, but no visual leaks... any suggestions?

[adrianfromthecastle]

Well, basically, I did a compression test on my radiator, and for some reason, it won't hold a constant psi... it slowly slowly goes down like .5 psi every 10 seconds, yet I don't see any coolant under my car or anything. Sometimes when the engine is running warm, I'll pop the hood, and I can smell coolant, yet I don't see any leaks or smoke or whatever... and yes, it results in my radiator being dry. At first, I thought it was the cap, but if I did the compression test w/o the cap, that would automatically rule that out right? Anyone have any suggestions? Could it possibly be my headgasket?

engine: sr20detradiator: oem

[redtop91]

Is the reservoir drained as well?

[adrianfromthecastle]

Is the reservoir drained as well?

[redtop91]

Ionno. Mine does the same thing.

[R6_240sx]

If u can smell it its probably burning onto the engine. Did u check ur hoses?

[redtop91]

Check the coolant line running to the turbo Adrian.

[Rosco]

Check the coolant line running to the turbo Adrian.

I broke the rubber hose that connects to that, which is behind the block...The thing is I don't how long it was the way before it ruptured fully....

[SRPWR]

Check the seat on the inside of the neck that the cap sets on. It has to be smooth and fully intact.

[adrianfromthecastle]

I broke the rubber hose that connects to that, which is behind the block...The thing is I don't how long it was the way before it ruptured fully....

ugh! man... I hope I hope I hope its not my turbo lines, I just changed them like a few months ago cuz it was leaking coolant! That things a b*tch!! dam... I need to save up and get some stainless steel ones...

Check the seat on the inside of the neck that the cap sets on. It has to be smooth and fully intact.

I'm not too sure if I'm picturing exactly what your talking about...

[SRPWR]

Inside the filler neck on the rad. There is a lip about 3/4 inch down that the rubber O ring on the rad cap sits on. My car would not hold pressure either and I would smell coolant w/ no leaks. Turned out the seat that im talking about had a chip in it. Got a new rad, problem fixed.

[adrianfromthecastle]

Inside the filler neck on the rad. There is a lip about 3/4 inch down that the rubber O ring on the rad cap sits on. My car would not hold pressure either and I would smell coolant w/ no leaks. Turned out the seat that im talking about had a chip in it. Got a new rad, problem fixed.

oic... hmm.. that's a possibility.... but I don't see any chips on mines...

I know what your talking about tho... cuz with my old ka, I had a similar problem, but it was my cap instead of my cap seat... frekkin cap was almost $40 at nissan!

[IanS]

get an ultraviolet light, and shine it around the engine bay, coolant glows bright orange when hit with UV light,

[adrianfromthecastle]

get an ultraviolet light, and shine it around the engine bay, coolant glows bright orange when hit with UV light,

wow... good idea! UV light are the same as blacklight right? Cuz I have a blacklight in my garage from Halloween..

[NoStickers]

it could be your hg. i took a borescope and looked in through my spark plug holes and saw dripping/pooling water. it ended up that my block was pitted a little around the sleeves and wouldnt seal. lol it took me 2 apexi hg changes to see it . the exhaust blew little to no smoke as well. its in the shop right now getting the deck machined.

[tiger]

fweez prug leaking?