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Coolant disappearing with nothing on the driveway means it is going somewhere, and a pressure test is what makes it show itself.
A cold system under test pressure reveals a leak that only opens when the engine is hot, safely, with nobody near boiling coolant.
- 4.3 ★1,533 Google reviews
- 6 monthsor 6,000 km workmanship warranty
- Red SealQualified artisans, some ex-dealership
- 9 regions1,700+ suburbs, we come to you
R952 to R1,104
Any diagnostic inspection, any car. Labour only, no parts.
The price depends on your car, never on which fault it turns out to be.
Topping it up is not a repair
A system that needs topping up is losing coolant, and the two possible destinations are the ground and the engine. Those are very different bills, which is exactly why the test comes before the parts:
Thermostat replacementR1,331 to R3,015
Radiator replacementR1,725 to R5,384
Water pump replacementR3,139 to R10,654
Finding out which one it actually isR952 to R1,104
Where is the coolant going?
What you can and cannot see narrows it to a component or to the head gasket.
The level drops slowly, no puddle anywhere
A leak that only opens under running pressure and temperature, or coolant going into the engine. The pressure test separates these two.
Sweet smell or steam from the bonnet when you stop
Coolant landing on something hot. Often a hose, a flange or the header tank, and the dye finds it quickly. More on this.
White smoke from the exhaust, or mayonnaise under the oil cap
Coolant and oil mixing. A combustion gas test on the coolant settles whether the head gasket has failed.
Crusty white or coloured residue around a joint
Dried coolant marks a slow weep that seals itself when cold. Pressure testing opens it back up where you can see it. More on this.
Not sure which one yours is?
Tell us what the car is doing, in your own words. A mechanic reads it and calls you back within the hour. You do not need to know what is wrong, that is what we are for.
Tell us what your car is doing
How the test works
✓
The system is pressurised coldA coolant pressure tester kit holds the system at running pressure while the engine is cold, so the leak appears where it is safe to look at.
✓
Pressure held and watchedA system that will not hold pressure is losing coolant somewhere even when nothing is visible, which is the first thing worth knowing.
✓
UV dye and blacklightDye in the coolant makes a weep glow at its source, including the ones far too slight to see in daylight.
✓
Combustion gas test where it points thereIf the system will not hold pressure and nothing is leaking outside, this establishes whether coolant is going into the engine.
The kit that comes with the mechanic
A mobile mechanic is only as good as what is in the van.
Coolant pressure tester kit
Holds the system at running pressure while the engine is cold, so a leak that only opens when hot shows itself where it is safe to look.
UV dye and blacklight
Dye in the coolant makes a weep glow at its exact source, which finds seepage far too slight to see in daylight.
Combustion gas test
Detects exhaust gases in the coolant, which rules a head gasket in or out definitively rather than by suspicion.
Infrared thermometer
Surface temperatures across the radiator and hoses show whether the thermostat has opened and whether the radiator is flowing evenly or blocked.
Never open a hot cooling system
A hot system is pressurised and the coolant inside is above boiling point. Opening the cap releases it as steam. Let it cool completely, or let us come to it.
What you get for the money
A named fault, in writing, and a price to fix it
What has failed, why, and what the repair involves. If the repair is ours you get the quote before anything is touched, and the inspection is not charged twice.
Other inspections we do
Every one of these is a mechanic coming to you. See all 22.
Car overheatingR952 to R1,104Running hot, losing coolant, or both.Water or coolant leakR952 to R1,104A puddle under the car.Oil leakR952 to R1,104Spots on the driveway, or a burning smell.Engine light onR952 to R1,104Steady, flashing, or on and off again.Dashboard warning lightsR952 to R1,104A light you do not recognise.EPC warning lightR952 to R1,104VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda.Traction control or ABSR952 to R1,104Both lights on, usually one sensor.Drivetrain malfunctionR952 to R1,104BMW and MINI, power cut back.
Where we come out to
Nine regions and more than 1,700 suburbs. Check your suburb.
JohannesburgPretoria and TshwaneCape TownDurban and eThekwiniEkurhuleni and the East RandGqeberhaPolokwaneRustenburgEmalahleni
Questions we get asked
Why can you not just look for the leak?
Because the ones that matter are usually invisible when the engine is cold and standing still. They open under pressure and heat. The test recreates that pressure while the engine is cold, which is both safer and far more revealing.
My coolant drops but there is no puddle. Where is it going?
Either out under pressure only when hot, or into the engine itself. Those are very different repairs, and this test plus a combustion gas check is how we tell them apart rather than guessing.
Can you do this at my house?
Yes. The pressure tester and the UV kit come with the mechanic, and the whole test is done at your home or office with the engine cold.
What does it cost?
R952 to R1,104 depending on the car, labour only, with no parts in that figure. Any repair is quoted separately and you approve it before it starts.
Cooling System Pressure Test At Your Door
Tell us what it is doing and where you are. Price and a slot, no phone call.