How to find intake or vacuum leaks??

[zacritz929]

What are some ways to find vacuum leaks or intake gasket leaks? Ive heard of smoke testing the intake but what type of shop could do this and how much will it cost?

 

[Bringetto]

no, use carburator cleaner, with the car running, spray carb cleaner anywhere you think there might be a vacum leak, if the car stutters, it just sucked it in at that spot. The base of our intake is a good place to start

 

[Eric VerValin]

Someone said not to use carb cleaner, and to use ether instead? Same idea tho.

 

[Bringetto]

yeah, ether will work, carb cleaner is safe though. Thats the way my triple master ase cetrified mechanic dad does it

 

[Off Road SHO]

Small bottle of propane with a small wand and the valve cracked open a little.

Tom

 

[zacritz929]

Ive already tried to use carb cleaner but it since the motor was hot the cleaner evaporated immediately.

No one has heard of forcing smoke into the intaketo find a possible leak?

 

[Bringetto]

nope, ive never heard of it.

If you motor is so hot that carb cleaner is evaporating, there is a major problem, shouldnt be that hot

 

[Off Road SHO]

Smoke machines for mechanics have been around for quite some time, you just can't afford one.

Tom

 

[St Louis SHO]

Like Tom said. Propane is what I use period. We have a smoke machine at work, but you'd be suprised where smoke comes from when you smoke a motor. Propane is the easiest way. If you have a scanner it makes it way easier, as you watch the 02 voltages while spraying the propane.

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

what about that bastard gas butane, like from my torch?

 

[Off Road SHO]

what about that bastard gas butane, like from my torch?

Any flammable gas will work as long as it's controllable, i.e., can the valve be cracked open a smidgin and can the gas be directed through a long thin tube to those unreachable places.

I have testing kits that we use to test the readiness of our Explosi-meters, which is a test set that can sample and test for explosive gases in below ground utility vaults. The tester is just a propane cylinder filled with a weak concentration of gas with a short rubber hose that temporarily attaches to the Explosi-meter. I just use the valve off of that and using a regular bottle of propane, attach a longer hose with a piece of brake line attached for getting close in. Works like a charm.

Tom

 

[zacritz929]

I have a propane torch so I connect a hose to the end of it and crack the valve. Then with the car running, direct the propane to any spot I think might be leaking and listen for a hesitation in the idle?

 

[Off Road SHO]

Actually it should speed up a little from the temporary enrichment the propane introduces. The O2 sensors might pick up on it and try to lean it out though. Just crack open the valve, just enough where you can just start to hear the hissing from the valve.

You can also make a reverse gas sniffer that senses inert gases like helium, but they are more complex and expensive.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[93rev2sev]

I nominate this for sticky status

 

[SeanMc]

I did this recently and found that it works really well. Turns out the silicone couplers I have on my intake a bit short, and not sealing properly (they were really hard to put on).

 

[zacritz929]

Ok thanks guys Ill pull out the torch and check all intake couplers, vac hoses and gaskets.

 

[itln.stln]

I second the vote for a sticky