Help needed - E53 3.0i cooling system pressure test

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by jfoj

Upallnight,

Not sure why you have to bust on anyone that does not always buy name brand items. I fully understand and agree on engine sensors, even many "name brand" sensor can and are Asian counterfeits. You have to be very careful where you purchase sensors from to try and avoid counterfeits.

But as far as tools and other items, it boils down to how often you may actually use the tool or item as to what level of quality and durability is really needed. Many of the Harbor Freight and Asian built tools are fine for the DIY'er and even some hold up to pro use as well.

I cannot vouch for the Harbor Freight radiator pressure tester, but in general it looks to be pretty decent quality and the price is not overly cheap for what it includes, it is not a bad deal, but it is not $29.99 either. I would bet it is a decent tool, suggest for anyone that is interested to read the reviews and physically inspect the unit before they purchase it.

As for the other kit that crystalworks linked, this is a pretty nice kit, I have the exact same kit. I can tell you this much that there are even counterfeits or copies of the Astro Pneumatic kit available by different manufacturers. I originally ended up purchasing a PMD Products kit that looks the same and the Astro Pneumatic kit from Amazon for about 1/2 what the Astro Pneumatic product sold for. I receive the PMD Products kit, opened and inspected it and immediately returned it. It looked like the Astro Pneumatic kit, but the quality was by no means close at all.

I will say the Astro Pneumatic kit is a pretty decent kit and a good value and reasonable quality.

DO NOT buy PMD products as they are very cheap and lower quality items that are often copies of other products available on the market.

I ordered the Astro Pneumatic kit and even ordered the 2 additional radiator adapters that the kit did not include and have a very comprehensive kit that does a very good job and is of very reasonable quality for the amount I use it. I also have an older Stant tester that was the defacto standard US tool for many years, but has since been left way behind due to all the newer design expansion tanks and radiators. I could purchase many adapters for the Stant unit, but it is not cost effective for the amount that I might use it.

Until you have personal experience on a specific product, I am not sure how you can continually condemn something you have never purchased or used.

It's one thing to caution someone on a products quality due to not being a known name brand item or its place of origin, its another thing to basically insinuate that anything manufactured in Asia or purchased from Harbor Freight is garbage, some items can be, some items are not. I shop at Harbor Freight from time to time and I steer away from questionable items unless I view the cost/benefit/usage worth the lower price.

I have a friend that loves the cheap Harbor Freight Circular Saws and Cut Off saws. He cuts a lot of stone and other things that can be very abrasive and as he found even the name brand items do not hold up to the abrasive dust very well, so why pay for a name brand item that will be consumed and be worn out in a short period of time when the cheaper Harbor Freight items last just as long in the adverse conditions. He knows he will dispose of the saws in a short period of time, it all came down to economics for him.

I didn't realised that my post was busting on you. I don't see on on my post of ever mention your name. Read the reviews of people that actually brought the tool. Lots of NEGATIVE review on the product.

Here some from their website.

Most Liked Negative Review

not good
This is an impressive package but the components are made so poorly that it shouldn't be sold. No matter how you apply the test adapter to the pump and radiator, it simply doesn't hold...
Read complete review

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
I used epoxy to fix all the cracks, but will still never test up to 16 or 17psi without another crack appearing.

Can't even use on a stant tester. All fittings can be used on others but they are also cheap and crack. Terrible product
BOTTOM LINE No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No - You may also flag this review

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
If you buy this keep your receipt, the pump housing loves to crack and it will bleed pressure through the pump. Otherwise I love the product.

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
So far I have found only ONE vehicle that this Radiator Pressure Testing Tool will work with. All others have no adaptor included in the kit to enable me to do a test. I am not talking about exotic cars and trucks in the least. I am talking about one of the Big Three's vehicles ( I work for a municipality) I also own one of this same manufacturers vehicles - a 2013, and it doesn't work on mine either. It was a waste of money!

Bought this to test coolant system on my 97 Corolla. The cap that is supposed to fit the car is too tight to press down. I didn't won't to force it because of risk of breaking radiator neck. Also the instructions are poorly written. Never could determine how/when to use the #14 stainless fastener which is supposed to be used for all adapters and seat accessories for toyota.

Pay more and get a professional set and avoid the headaches and frustration.

[jfoj]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Read the reviews of people that actually brought the tool. Lots of NEGATIVE review on the product.

Here some from their website.

Most Liked Negative Review

not good
This is an impressive package but the components are made so poorly that it shouldn't be sold. No matter how you apply the test adapter to the pump and radiator, it simply doesn't hold...
Read complete review

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
I used epoxy to fix all the cracks, but will still never test up to 16 or 17psi without another crack appearing.

Can't even use on a stant tester. All fittings can be used on others but they are also cheap and crack. Terrible product
BOTTOM LINE No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No - You may also flag this review

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
If you buy this keep your receipt, the pump housing loves to crack and it will bleed pressure through the pump. Otherwise I love the product.

Comments about Pittsburgh Automotive Radiator Pressure Tester Kit:
So far I have found only ONE vehicle that this Radiator Pressure Testing Tool will work with. All others have no adaptor included in the kit to enable me to do a test. I am not talking about exotic cars and trucks in the least. I am talking about one of the Big Three's vehicles ( I work for a municipality) I also own one of this same manufacturers vehicles - a 2013, and it doesn't work on mine either. It was a waste of money!

Bought this to test coolant system on my 97 Corolla. The cap that is supposed to fit the car is too tight to press down. I didn't won't to force it because of risk of breaking radiator neck. Also the instructions are poorly written. Never could determine how/when to use the #14 stainless fastener which is supposed to be used for all adapters and seat accessories for toyota.

Pay more and get a professional set and avoid the headaches and frustration.

Yea, I read the reviews, but there are also a lot of good ones. But also realize more people will post negative reviews typically then even bother to give a positive or realistic review.

I guess you are just a glass half full kind of guy. Assume you never buy any WING WAng tools or anything from Harbor Fright? But Harbor Freight seems to be doing quite well without your business.

We will just have to agree to disagree.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

I have one of these

7099 Professional Cooling System Tank Adapter BMW Merkur | eBay

You will still need a pump, but since I have several watercooled cars I have a nice pump. I would buy a quality tool instead of some WING WAng tools from Harbor Fright.

I LOVE... repeat LOVE shopping at Harbor Freight... but would steer clear of the kit they are selling. The reviews are terrible and a better, more trusted unit can be had for only a few bucks more.

I'd have to agree with Upallnight here.

[Joshdub]

Harbor Freight is the shit. But this one looks like one of their pieces to steer clear from.

[oldskewel]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Just checking in again now. No progress since yesterday - I'm working on other things. I think I know enough from all this discussion now. It does not make sense for me to buy a $200+ pressure tester tool at this point, but I'll see how things play out.

The X5 is at home, in the driveway, I assume.

Regarding cn90's wise note about not risking a major problem ... the only urgency is that my 17-year-old daughter wants to drive the X5 to school, etc. rather than my old Lexus, until I get back home in 2-3 more weeks. So nobody is really stranded and nothing bad will happen. I am hoping that we'll have a good learning experience if she is motivated enough to work with me over the phone to check, isolate, and fix things herself. We'll see on that one too. But I'll make sure nothing bad happens.

[oldskewel]

Follow up - as expected, when I finally got home, I was able to get it figured out in a few minutes. There was no need for a pressure test here.

The problem was that the coolant bleed screw had cracked radially and that was leaking. Once everything was cleaned and dried, the leak source could be verified by idling the car and either pressing the bleed screw in or just leaving it alone.

To get the car back on the road immediately, my daughter and I MacGuyvered a replacement, but will of course soon be replacing it with the real deal.

Thanks again for the advice.

[cn90]

This is just the beginning. The cooling system is on the verge of failure.

I wrote a partial cooling overhaul DIY @115K in forum if you are interested.

[SlickGT1]

In a pinch, I got the harbor freight kit. It works. It just does. I think it fails with the pump. I had to sort of rig it to not leak at the hose. But it easily hit 15 psi and stayed there. I would try it for very little investment. I plan to mod mine for air compressor use if it becomes unusable with pump.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by cn90

This is just the beginning. The cooling system is on the verge of failure.

I wrote a partial cooling overhaul DIY @115K in forum if you are interested.

None of us have any idea if this is just the beginning. You could be correct but far more likely incorrect. The lifespan of the coolings system components is not finite. A periodic inspection is always a good idea at any mileage but a leaking anything in the cooling system does not foreshadow the system on the verge of failure.

[cn90]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

None of us have any idea if this is just the beginning. You could be correct but far more likely incorrect. The lifespan of the coolings system components is not finite. A periodic inspection is always a good idea at any mileage but a leaking anything in the cooling system does not foreshadow the system on the verge of failure.

Inspection is good but in some cases inaccurate.
- The reservoir maybe OK today but cracks next week (ask me how I know).
- The radiator: ditto, the famous place is upper nipple.
- The WP usually gives some noise when bearing goes out, but being inside engine, it is masked by engine noise and people listening to music in the cabin, then kaboom. There is a member listing the WP going out at 125K (forgot his name).

The recommendation by most BMW indy mechanics is that: at ___ miles, do an overhaul, it gives people peace of mind, and avoids a head gasket job...

There are tons of info on cooling system failure in E39 forums, it fails like clockwork. Many people regret they didn't do an overhaul sooner.