leak detection

[honeybucket99]

After reading PQ's thread on his leak adventure, and thinking I may have a vacuum leak, and having no success finding it, I had an idea--

thought of building a smoke machine using a mayonnaise jar with a nipple cut into the top tee'd into an air hose running low pressure to a vacuum line. Fill jar 1/4 full with water, drop chunk of dry ice into jar to make smoke, then turn air on to use venturi effect to pull smoke into air stream and inject same into vacuum lines.

What do you think? I guess I need to research the chemical properties of the smoke created to verify no ill effects on aluminum, etc. But, my redneck engineering brain thinks it may just work.

obviously, much more work than finding a shop with a smoke machine, but, also, much more rewarding/fun.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Robby

[JLE58]

Hammer down! What's wrong with your car neighbor?

[bigsquirrel]

I always use carb cleaner or MAF cleaner. Spay it aound the valley, hoses, throttle body etc. If you have a leak it will get sucked ina nd you'll hear the engine respond to it.

[simon.w]

Originally Posted by bigsquirrel

I always use carb cleaner or MAF cleaner. Spay it aound the valley, hoses, throttle body etc. If you have a leak it will get sucked ina nd you'll hear the engine respond to it.

Ted discovered I had a vacuum leak from the low MAF readings at idle when he was checking my logs.

His suggestions worked a treat .... Simply pressurize the blower with 10psi using a compressor with a regulator.

Once i had the blower pressurized, I could listen with a piece of hose and feel for for leaks. I discovered the rubber seal for the AIT sensor plug at the back of the Whipple SC had popped out, letting air in through the plug.

Also worth checking that the the MAP sensor is seated properly.

Also check the diagphram on the vacuum actuator on your SC. They can perish or tear and cause a vacuum leak.

I know you have KB, but I guess these things could all be common problems with top mount SCs.

Good luck!

[MA2010SS]

Originally Posted by honeybucket99

After reading PQ's thread on his leak adventure, and thinking I may have a vacuum leak, and having no success finding it, I had an idea--

thought of building a smoke machine using a mayonnaise jar with a nipple cut into the top tee'd into an air hose running low pressure to a vacuum line. Fill jar 1/4 full with water, drop chunk of dry ice into jar to make smoke, then turn air on to use venturi effect to pull smoke into air stream and inject same into vacuum lines.

What do you think? I guess I need to research the chemical properties of the smoke created to verify no ill effects on aluminum, etc. But, my redneck engineering brain thinks it may just work.

obviously, much more work than finding a shop with a smoke machine, but, also, much more rewarding/fun.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Robby

Build your smoke machine contraption and use dry ice, dry ice will produce plenty of vapors as it dissapates, it will not melt...that should help you with creating vapors. I've always used carb cleaner to find vacuum leaks, but it does make a mess, especially if you have a nice engine bay