How to check/test heat exchanger?

sloTJ

sloTJ

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
288
Location
Cambridge, WI
I'm slowly taking the left side heat exchanger off my SX700 because It is supposedly leaking a very small amt of coolant. Once I get it off the tunnel what is the best way to test for the leak if there is one? Whatve you guys done? Also about how many rivets hold this on? It seems like its underneath some other metal plates/pieces inside the tunnel. I'm slowly drilling them out... Thanks everybody.
 
We just did one this spring. Plugged one end real tight. Then made a plug that i could put my air blower in and keep a decent seal. Then filled the exchanger with soapy water about half way and then blew air in it. Worked really well, we found the leak right at the rear suspension mount bracket. It was just a pinhole that you couldnt even see unless you were pressurizing the exchanger and the soap bubbles would come out. This was on a left side footwell exchanger. I used that alumibraze stuff with a map torch and it sealed it up just fine.
 
You should be able to some what test this with it still on the sled.....depending where leak is you may not need to remove it from sled........If you can test, find and repair with out taking it off you can save yourself the work of putting it back on.
 
Devilin AblueDress! said:
You should be able to some what test this with it still on the sled.....depending where leak is you may not need to remove it from sled........If you can test, find and repair with out taking it off you can save yourself the work of putting it back on.
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I would test it on the sled but the head is pulled again. I have most of the rivets out but it seems pretty tight on there yet... I have to do all 3 headgaskets this time. Is it possible to screw up replacing head gaskets? I tightened the head back down to spec last time I did it to replace just one gasket but the other 2 are bad too now supposedly?
 
Super1c. i know this is an old post relived. My 02 viper left board exchanger is leaking in the exact spot. after i get pin holes touched up, what would you think about a thin piece of rubber against the bracket to help potect future rubbing problems. just a thought, but i dont know if would be tight enough. What would be your opinion?
thanks
 
I would also worry about the tightness problem. That bracket takes a ton of stress abuse. We did not use anything to protect spot and that viper is ran hard with no further leaks. I would not do anything but repair
 
The main cause of this leak is likely due to the running boards flexing causing the suspension bracket to rub on the exchanger. The best way to prevent this is to stiffen the boards in some way, it worked well for me after mine had a leak.
 
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