A simpler method to detect a chamber to coolant leak is simply feel the top radiator hose upon cold startup. If you have pressure in the cooling system right away, you have a leak. I've had two cars do this (a Jap and the race car), very obvious what needs done at that point.

The other failure modes can be tested by visually checking the oil, coolant, and outside of the engine. All of this assumes a fairly substantial leak however.

__________________
Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)