6/26/2021 Part 3 -How To Test a Blown Head Gasket (Toyota 1.

8L)

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How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (Toyota 1.8L)

May 02, 2013 Updated: July 17, 2019 By: Abraham Torres-Arredondo Article ID: 425

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HEAD GASKET TEST 4: Using A Chemical Block Tester (Combustion Leak

Tester)

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6/26/2021 Part 3 -How To Test a Blown Head Gasket (Toyota 1.8L)

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Using a block tester, to check for a blown head gasket when the previous 3 tests don't confirm it, will tell you without
a shadow of doubt if it's blown or not.

Why didn't I start of with this test? Because TEST 1, TEST 2, and TEST 3 usually pin-point a blown head gasket
condition in about 95% of the cases (not to mention you don't have to spend any $$ to do them). It's the remaining
hard to diagnose 5% percent where the effort of finding a block tester is worth it.

In a nutshell, this is how a block tester works:

A blue liquid chemical, which is blue in color, is placed in the tester (see photo above).

The tester assembly is then placed on the open radiator neck (you may have to drain some of the coolant in the
radiator since this tool needs to ‘gulp’ some of the air inside the radiator).

The rubber bellow is then squeezed to suck in the air up through the two fluid-filled chambers. As the air
bubbles up through the fluid, it will cause a chemical reaction.

If the blue chemical turns yellow (for gasoline engines), then combustion gases are entering the radiator thus
confirming a head gasket, a cracked blocked, or cracked cylinder head issue.

If the blue chemical doesn't change color, then you can conclude that you don't a head gasket, a cracked
blocked, or cracked cylinder head issue.

Car diagnostic test tool

MOTORTOOL

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Where can you get the chemical and block tester? At your local auto parts store or here:

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