Coolant loss in new engine combo...

[redliner]

Hi I put together a new sbc engine with an SHP block, new Profiler cnc heads,Cometic MLS head gaskets, felpro intake gsaskets etc. I fired up the new combo and it seems to be losing water. I have drained the oil and it looked new. I inspected the intake valley I can see thru the head/ pushrod ports and can see no water. I pressure check it at 16 lbs. and it loses a couple lbs. of pressure in 3 minutes or so.No drips on floor or anywhere. I suppose it is leaking into my cylinders?????
WTF???

[rustbucket79]

Pull all spark plugs, pressurize cooling for a few min, then crank over while watching both banks for coolant from spark plug holes

[redliner]

Pull all spark plugs, pressurize cooling for a few min, then crank over while watching both banks for coolant from spark plug holes

I will!Thanks!

[redliner]

Pull all spark plugs, pressurize cooling for a few min, then crank over while watching both banks for coolant from spark plug holes

I may have been mistaken about the amount of loss. I pumped it up to 17 lbs. Waited 5 minutes, I then removed the plugs and whirred it over. No water at all and the needle moved about a needles width in five minutes.....

[redliner]

Pull all spark plugs, pressurize cooling for a few min, then crank over while watching both banks for coolant from spark plug holes

I may have been mistaken about the amount of pessure loss. I pumped it up to 17 lbs. Waited 5 minutes, I then removed the plugs and whirred it over. No water at all and the needle moved about a needles width in five minutes.....

[cgarb]

Maybe there was an air pocket trapped somewhere in the block or heads that gave you a false level of full. I worked its way out and now it shows low in the radiator. I would make damn sure its losing water for sure before pulling anything apart. Keep an eye on it, its not ending up in the oil pan so I don't believe it will hurt anything by running it more.

[MadBill]

You could try a longer term test. Leave it for hours. Better yet, be sure the system is not full right up to the cap; leave some air space to act as a pressure reservoir. Pump it up and let it sit overnight, then do the cranking test. Also, with the car tilted so the oil pan plug is at the lowest point, drain off a few ounces. If there's any water in the pan, it will be first out.

[redliner]

Maybe there was an air pocket trapped somewhere in the block or heads that gave you a false level of full. I worked its way out and now it shows low in the radiator. I would make damn sure its losing water for sure before pulling anything apart. Keep an eye on it, its not ending up in the oil pan so I don't believe it will hurt anything by running it more.

I have not even run enough to get to 180 degrees! I was thinking the same thing but it has lost a quart (guessing). The drain is on the side but I drained enough I thought I would have hit water if any was in there. Thanks!

[redliner]

You could try a longer term test. Leave it for hours. Better yet, be sure the system is not full right up to the cap; leave some air space to act as a pressure reservoir. Pump it up and let it sit overnight, then do the cranking test. Also, with the car tilted so the oil pan plug is at the lowest point, drain off a few ounces. If there's any water in the pan, it will be first out.
[/ Sounds good! Thanks!

[redliner]

Ok.... So.... The last test the guage hardly moved, I did the crank test, good. So now I am confident it aint leakin into my new killer 414! So I open the petcock to the overflow ( for the 5th time) and stick a finish nail up its arse and... VWWWAAAHHHLLLAAA... struck water!!! All is good thanks guys this has been killin me fer a couple hours...