Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Dear All

Has anyone used a leakdown tester,what reading did you get ?

I bought a cheapie from Fleabag

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261689050413? ... EBIDX%3AIT

cheap and nasty copy of the Sealey Kit,even the master on Youtube couldn't explain why a schrader valve was fitted in the end or even how the leakdown gauge worked....it didn't.

so after a little head scratching butchered...sorry modified it to incorporate a proper flow meter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321765247336? ... EBIDX%3AIT



and dumped the valve and gauge and at 1 bar all four cylinders read approx 7 to 8 litres per minute, ( dry/cold engine )......how does this sound to you.

John

I bought one of the Tavia gauges over 10 years ago and have used it on my race cars, street cars and other friends race cars, even bought some adapters to use it on my son's Kawasaki MC (10mm spark plug). Works great. I get readings from about 1 to 2% LD on a good race engine to maybe 10% on a passable street the engine to less than 50% on something that barely runs. Another positive about LD tester is you will here the leak either in Crank case vent (rings), intake manifold ( intake valve) or exhaust pipe (exhaust valve; thus telling you what needs fixed.

Roger

Roger

I will agree with you about listening for the leak but how ( if at all ) does the leakage gauge work,after taking mine apart it seems just like a pressure gauge....am I missing something or is it the Emperors New Clothes ?

John

John,

The Tavia unit has two identical gauges and there is a fixed diameter oriface between the two gauges. If I'm at home in the shop, I'll open up the regulator to get a reading of 100 psi on the 1st gauge , then I;ll get a reading of 99 to 90 psi on the 2nd gauge for a good engine, less on a suspect engine. At the track or in the field and using my small portable air tank, I may only use 50 psi on the 1st gauge.

Roger