Review on MASTERCOOL 43306 Cooling System Pressure by Scott Decoteau

Set used for 2 months, no problems with moderate use. When compared to Snap, Mac, Cornwell, or any other tool truck tool for the price, you can't beat it. The vacuum recuperator alone costs around $400-$500 then you need an adapter, if you are working with multiple trucks the kit is cheaper but the kit can cost around $180-$300 depending on the brand of pressure. a tester that can run you another 300 to 400. Those are all prices for a tool cart, compared to what I paid for it, it's bloody expensive. But you get what you pay for. The instructions say that for best results the coolant should be returned to the reservoir above the unit, which will help yes, but I know who will be trying to manipulate 9 to 12 gallons of coolant up a ladder or something is most trucks -Workshops basically Flat Bay, elevators are the ultimate in luxury and I'm not even sure how they would help in this case. The coolant hose is also quite short, it doesn't even reach the bottom after filling the tank, that's on a Kenworth T680, but the height is almost universal for all brands, also used it on a Freightliner Cascadia. I lengthened the tubing with a barb and silicone tubing to make it work. Actually, the refilling worked fine, but it takes some time due to the small diameter of the inlet, the connection is about 1/4. It's like day and night compared to a 1/2 entry on a shell tool. I would have to go through this tool about 3 times to get all the coolant back, once the gauge hits 15 the flow stops almost completely and then you have to evacuate the system again. This process alone takes almost 30 minutes just for one deposit, if you have a flat rate that's a big hit for you. Snap on does it most of the time in one try and if a second vacuum is needed it's definitely the last one, even then it takes 10 minutes max with a second vacuum, the difference in suction is insane. The actual design of the tool is ok at best, the body is made of plastic and instead of using normal shut-off valves, it has a mechanism where you have to move it back and forth to suck and then fill, sometimes the tool would get stuck stay and you have to really press on him to push him to the end. I have learned to be careful with this after it has failed for me as there are o-rings that seal it and over time they will inevitably fail if you ask me due to slippage and poor design. The only ones I would recommend this to are DIYers who only use it every few months to save some money on a visit to the store to say replacing the heater hose is still better than adding a jug of coolant get and paste it. Remove the coolant basin and manually fill the system in this way. It also helps, the help keyword avoids large air pockets in the system, but still recommends bringing the truck up to operating temperature afterwards, just to be sure. However the pressure tester works fine but it's just a regulator anyway, the tire around the tester is a neat little detail, the only issue I had was the end came loose and I had to tighten it a bit. . I ended up gritting my teeth and buying a snap-on refill and pressure gauge and a set of Cornwell coolant adapters. To be honest I don't think I'll ever regret it, the difference in quality is like no other, the only thing I regret is the money spent on it, but you live and learn. It did help me for about 2 months though, so I'm not going to be totally insane. TLDR, if you're an owner who enjoys working your truck from time to time, remember that you still need a longer hose, but if you do this on a regular basis, at least a little, spend the extra money and go get it As for branded trucks, I can only speak for Snap because I have it personally, but I can't imagine the rest sucks as much.