chip wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 05:30:48 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
> <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>
>
>>"Vishal Pahuja" <vpahuja@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:1121924586.108545.64940@z14g2000cwz.googleg roups.com...
>>
>>>To cut my long story short, I had a overheated Honda Civic 95, that had
>>>its "Check Engine" light come on
>>>and also some *white smoke* from under the hood. I got the car checked
>>>at one car place, lets call this
>>>place A, and they checked for Hydrocarbons in the coolant and the
>>>number (i am not sure whay the number is)
>>>was really high and they came to conclusion that my head gasket needs
>>>to be replaced and they also found that
>>>my radiator needs to be replaced. Now, since they did not have
>>>expertise to change the head gasket, they waved
>>>me good bye suggesting that I should go somewhere else and find some
>>>help. That really got me concerned and I got to another
>>>car place, lets call this Place B.
>>>
>>>Place B opened my cars hood and said, this needs radiator change. And I
>>>agreed. And told him about *diagnoses* from Place A.
>>>Place B said, we do not care what Place A says, All I see is a radiator
>>>change and I will start with that. Once I am done with
>>>that I will test to see if we need a gasket change or not. I said
>>>fine....
>>>
>>>We did a radiator change, thermostat and stuff and was told that I am
>>>all set. I said, well so we do not need gasket change.
>>>Place B said NO. We don't. Place B added, that we did a pressure test
>>>on the engine it passed it. So, you are all set...
>>>
>
>
>
>
>
> a block test or hydrocarbon test is cheap and easy, i have the kit,
> 50 bucks off the tool truck. only problem is, when a coolant service
> is done is the funnell always clean? i've seen techs use them for
> oil and the for coolant without cleaning. I prefer to use the
> cylinder leakdown test for head gasket issues.
> Chip

good point about cleanliness. in theory, hydrocarbon is the definitive
test as some gaskets only leak when hot & under load, but as you say,
that test is easily munged by bad workshop practice.