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Does this color mean bad?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by 134HP Bard Womyn Magnet, Jul 2, 2023.

  1. 134HP Bard Womyn Magnet

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    My last thread didn't really get much traction so I'm just wondering about this block tester result. I put Prius in maintenance mode and pumped into test cylinder via cooler cap cover. Turned this color. Then I drove it a while on highway to heat up engine, let it cool down maybe 90 minutes, then unsealed cooler reservoir cover and did test again with engine running in maintenance mode. Same color (this one) on second test.

    Not turning yellow but assuming the fact that it changed at all is bad?
    engine.jpg

    Still no obvious coolant loss.
    Does the fact that it didn't go all the way yellow mean anything (like it's a very small leak where I still potentially have some drive time before it all goes kaput?)
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The one I see used right regularly turns green The fact that it changed means something I would think that would be correct how much of a change I don't know the chemical manufacturer in the process on the instructions should maybe give you some clue to that. I think the real fact is is that all internal combustion engines with head gaskets and coolant and all that stuff in them are allowed to have some crossover leakage It's very low and I'm sure these test kits are well above those low readings to rule them out. So the fact that it's changing is trying to tell you something maybe the manufacturer's website goes into this in long drawn-out paragraphs for you to read I haven't looked and I don't know the kit you're using and I don't think that's heavily important but they're literature I'm sure is. Just as leak down tests similar issues certain amount of leak down is inevitable. So the tests are made so that when the parameters aren't met you are well above the threshold that you should be above and therefore you get the readings you get back in the old days you didn't get these nice tests You had to look at a bunch of gauges and pump up a cylinder and watch it for a certain amount of time and record numbers and etc etc there was a lot of room for human error. They've tried to eliminate a lot of that and rightfully so You don't want to have to pay scientists to run tests on simple equipment.
     
  3. 134HP Bard Womyn Magnet

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    2014 Prius
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    Five
    Yeah it's the BT-500 and the literature says it turns yellow...which this ain't, but definitely a bit different as the photo shows. Obviously I'm trying to avoid maintenance as long as possible since we're in the middle of not one but two moves (home and work) and the timing for putting the car into a shop sucks. Although I've been trying to drive it as little as possible. It drives fine with the occasional shudder on cold start. I know it's gonna only get worse but trying to stretch things out without destroying the block...guess I'm betting against the house here.