Hugo Auto Parts offers pressure testing for cylinder heads.
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What Is Pressure Testing?
Why Pressure Test?
How Is A Pressure Test Performed?
Magnafluxing/Die Testing v. Pressure Testing
Additonal Services
Price List
Warranty Information
What Is Pressure Testing? Testing a head or block casting to withstand specified pressures from within.
Why Pressure Test? Pressure testing is the only method accurate enough to check either a cast iron or aluminum casting for leaks. All aluminum castings because of their porosity when cast, are prone to a 5% to 7% porosity leak. Because of this they are coasted from the factory with a micro porosity coating to eliminate this problem. Jet cleaning, hot tanking or cold dipping to clean removes this coating. Pressure testing is the only method that can detect these tiny leaks. During the last 3 to 5 years, car manufacturers are green cast iron castings (unaged). These castings will neutralize on the car and will show surface impurities, spider cracks, etc. Visual inspections, magnafluxing and dye checks tell us if surface impurities are present. Only by pressure testing can we determine if in fact the casting is leaking and if it should be discarded. TOO MANY GOOD CASTINGS ARE DISCARDED UNNECESSARILY. Pressure testing saves time and money in disassembly and cleaning costs.
How Is A Pressure Test Performed? By closing of all water passages, filling the head or block with 3 times the amount of internal pressure the engine can produce. Filling and spraying the internal and external ares; bolt holes, oil feeds, tapped holes, transfer tubes, intake and exhaust ports with liquid and observing for the presence of air bubbles and seepage which indicate a leak.
Magnafluxing/Die Testing v. Pressure Testing: Magnafluxing and die testing detect surface impurities. They do not tell us if the surface impurities found are leaking. 90% of all surface impurities/cracks do not leak. Magnafluxing and die testing can only check external cracks in 30% of the overall casting because these are only limited to visual tests. 40% of all cracks that leak are internal and can not be located unless the head is pressure tested. After magnafluxing or die testing a casting, it must be pressure tested in order to determine if the external areas that are suspect are in fact leaking.
Additional Services Available:
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Head Resurfacing: Head warp causes coolant leaks, loss of compression, and blown head gaskets. Resurfacing puts gasket surfaces back to factory specifications.
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Head Straightening: Aluminum heads will twist causing overhead cams to bend, coolant leaks and loss of compression. We have the equipment to straighten heads back to factory specifications.
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Crack Repair: Cracks repaired on aluminum and cast iron heads, and blocks.
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Complete Valve Work: Machining valves and seats, guide replacement, guide knurling, and seat replacement.
