How accurate are TK tests?
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From: jonz on 20 May 2010 03:53 On 5/20/2010 1:43 PM, Noddy wrote: > "jonz"<fj40(a)deisel.com> wrote in message news:4bf4ad47(a)dnews.tpgi.com.au... > >> and, in my case, moulding, lathe work, milling etc....K.E.T.C.Dunedin >> NZ. With teachers that knew how to impart knowledge...my shop teacher >> bought a servo/workshop and i went with him as an apprentice mechanic. >> good days.. > > Nice. > > So, what do you do now? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ easing into retirement.....bit of spannering, bit of truck driving....and a bit of navel contemplation...(prolly more than less....:( ) > > -- > Regards, > Noddy. > > -- jonz "Usenet is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea - massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind - boggling amounts of excrement when you least expect it." - Gene Spafford,1992
From: Clocky on 20 May 2010 09:18 Brad wrote: > Clocky wrote: >> XR8 Sprintless wrote: >>> On 19/05/2010 9:51 PM, Noddy wrote: >>>> "XR8 Sprintless"<xr8_sprint(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:4bf3c6a9$0$27824$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... >>>>> Okay got the car back today with the claim that there is nothing >>>>> wrong with it other than possibly dirty injectors causing it not >>>>> to start in the morning. They claim the TK test performed by the >>>>> radiator specialist is inaccurate. Anyone care to comment. >>>> >>>> What's a "TK" test? >>>> >>> It's a test where they check the gases from the radiator overflow >>> tank for traces of exhaust gases. Basically they have a fluid that >>> changes colour if exhaust gases are present in the radiator overflow >>> tank. A sample of the air is drawn up into a huge syringe type thing >>> with a bulb at the end of it and it mixes with the fluid. >> >> It shouldn't be used at the overflow tank but at the cooling system >> filler. >> They can be pretty accurate in the right hands, but I'm not sure the >> person who did yours qualifies. > > Why do they have to be qualified? All the operator has to do is find > the right size attachment for the radiator, start the car, then sit > back and see if the testing fluid changes colour. Not the TK testers I'm used to using, they don't attach to the radiator.
From: Clocky on 20 May 2010 09:27 Milton wrote: > "Clocky" <notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message > news:4bf3f7cc$0$27871$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... >> Milton wrote: >>> "Noddy" <me(a)home.com> wrote in message >>> news:4bf3d22e$0$89671$c30e37c6(a)exi-reader.telstra.net... >>>> >>>> "XR8 Sprintless" <xr8_sprint(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message >>>> news:4bf3c6a9$0$27824$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... >>>>> Okay got the car back today with the claim that there is nothing >>>>> wrong with it other than possibly dirty injectors causing it not >>>>> to start in the morning. They claim the TK test performed by the >>>>> radiator specialist is inaccurate. Anyone care to comment. >>>> >>>> What's a "TK" test? >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Regards, >>>> Noddy. >>> >>> HUH? You're joking aren't you? LOL. Here is a prime example of why >>> you need to go to a radiator specialist and not any basic mechanic. >>> >> >> There is no such thing as a radiator specialist, though I'm sure >> there are plenty that are wannabe but unqualified mechanics >> pretending to be capable of diagnosing head problems working in >> radiator swap shops. > A radiator specialist is one who has the tool for the TK test and only > specialises in heating/cooling issues for your engine. Just as there > are Air Conditioning experts, Auto electricians, Automatic > specialists etc. > Not all mechanics have the equipment and certainly one well known > "hothead" retired mechanic in here had never heard of a TK test > before do you believe? Most cooling system "specialists" don't have the tools or expertise to diagnose a head gasket problem though they probably know just enough to misdiagnose the problem. If you want your car diagnosed you take it to a mechanic not a radiator salesman.
From: Noddy on 20 May 2010 09:34 "Clocky" <notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message news:4bf535ee$0$27823$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... > In the right hands the TK test can be very effective and accurate, but in > the wrong hands they can be equally as effective, if you know what I mean. I do. I preferred the good old cooling system pressure tester myself, and Warren & Brown made an excellent one. The gauge was very sensitive and would register very small changes in pressure, which made it great for detecting minor combustion leaks. Whack it on the radiator, put in some pressure and start the engine, and if there was a slight leak the needle would dance around with the pulses and let you know there was a problem. All up it would take around 5 minutes, and there were no consumables to use. -- Regards, Noddy.
From: Clocky on 20 May 2010 09:54
Noddy wrote: > "Clocky" <notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message > news:4bf535ee$0$27823$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... > >> In the right hands the TK test can be very effective and accurate, >> but in the wrong hands they can be equally as effective, if you know >> what I mean. > > I do. > > I preferred the good old cooling system pressure tester myself, and > Warren & Brown made an excellent one. The gauge was very sensitive > and would register very small changes in pressure, which made it > great for detecting minor combustion leaks. Whack it on the radiator, > put in some pressure and start the engine, and if there was a slight > leak the needle would dance around with the pulses and let you know > there was a problem. > All up it would take around 5 minutes, and there were no consumables > to use. We had both, and used one test against the other to verify the diagnosis. These days a shotgun diagnosis is enough to warrant relieving the customer of a couple of grand, unfortunately ;-) |