"smoke test" tool??

[Piper]

Hi

I had to replace 3 rubber flex lines on my jeep that go to the exhaust vapor canister. I was getting the dreaded check engine light on for a slow emissions leak. Anyway, I found 1 bad tube, replaced it but couldn't find the other leak which the dealer was able to. The service guy said they have a "smoke test" tool. I assume this means they have some sort of compressed smoke which leaks out and you can see where the leak is? My question is, is there a back yard mechanic version of this?

I replaced the worst tube for $3.60. The shop charged me $126.00 to do the other 2. Now granted I could have done all 3 but wasn't sure if this was the problem.

Any info appreciated.

Piper

 

[ImportTuner]

Hi

I had to replace 3 rubber flex lines on my jeep that go to the exhaust vapor canister. I was getting the dreaded check engine light on for a slow emissions leak. Anyway, I found 1 bad tube, replaced it but couldn't find the other leak which the dealer was able to. The service guy said they have a "smoke test" tool. I assume this means they have some sort of compressed smoke which leaks out and you can see where the leak is? My question is, is there a back yard mechanic version of this?

I replaced the worst tube for $3.60. The shop charged me $126.00 to do the other 2. Now granted I could have done all 3 but wasn't sure if this was the problem.

Any info appreciated.

Piper

You can use the MityVac vacuum unit and pull a vacuum ... if it holds, your leak is sealed, if not, back underneath the car ..

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Hi

I had to replace 3 rubber flex lines on my jeep that go to the exhaust vapor canister. I was getting the dreaded check engine light on for a slow emissions leak. Anyway, I found 1 bad tube, replaced it but couldn't find the other leak which the dealer was able to. The service guy said they have a "smoke test" tool. I assume this means they have some sort of compressed smoke which leaks out and you can see where the leak is? My question is, is there a back yard mechanic version of this?

I replaced the worst tube for $3.60. The shop charged me $126.00 to do the other 2. Now granted I could have done all 3 but wasn't sure if this was the problem.

Any info appreciated.

Piper

Yes,

There is a "back yard mechanic technique". I did it to find my exhaust leak and later a vacuum leak. I went to a party shop and bought a Party Smoke machine for $29.99.

This is one, but it is more expensive:

http://www.proformance.net/foggers.htm

I put a Rubber hose on it and then reduced or increase it to the size of the orifice I was testing. In this case an exhaust. I ran the smoke through the tail pipe and voilla! smoke came out of my exhaust donut location, not the exhaust manifold (like I expected). The fog juice runs about $8 a quart and lasts a while. This fog machine is even fun to have around for holloween. And this stuff runs on the same fog stuff that the expensive machines use!
To find a vacuum leak, just make sure the car is not running and hook it into the intake manifold (I used the intake manifold vacuum connector that goes to brake booster, it is usually a pretty good size.) Blast the smoke thru and you will see it come out of the leaking hose!


For an even more backyard way(and this is for a vacuum leak) is to run the car and use an unlit propane/butane torch. When the vacuum ***** it up you will hear an audible increase in the vehicles rpms and can "pinpoint" leaks that way.

-BWP

 

[volvo]

.
We have a real nice smoke machine at work. It also includes a volume flow meter and dye in the smoke for those really little hard to find leaks. Worth every dime of the $1200 cost. Now for the low buck do it yourself guy is another story, Good Luck$$...H

 

[Deafautotech]

Hi

I had to replace 3 rubber flex lines on my jeep that go to the exhaust vapor canister. I was getting the dreaded check engine light on for a slow emissions leak. Anyway, I found 1 bad tube, replaced it but couldn't find the other leak which the dealer was able to. The service guy said they have a "smoke test" tool. I assume this means they have some sort of compressed smoke which leaks out and you can see where the leak is? My question is, is there a back yard mechanic version of this?

I replaced the worst tube for $3.60. The shop charged me $126.00 to do the other 2. Now granted I could have done all 3 but wasn't sure if this was the problem.

Any info appreciated.

Piper

hey, i am chrysler/Jeep dealership service technician. i am did a lot of emission and evaporative leaking test. my dealership have "smoke test' it is tester to make smoke go inside evaporative system and i had to closed the filter to make smoke leak out where it should be like bad hose with bad crack or even plastic hose broke by hit something like rock.. sometime hoses replacement dont fix the problems as it is problem with Purge solenoid like you need vacuum test to see if purge solenoid will hold vacuum or not. Even problem with NVLD switch assembly that have stuck inside open or something. the smoke test are good tools to do inspection where is leaking at....

Please let me know what you like to know about system?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

We use some sort of chemical smoke wand at work to test half face masks for a good seal on your face. They emit smoke and smell. Don't know what they are, but are about the size of a cigar. No fire, some sort of chemical smoke, non-toxic.

Charles

 

[MAD]

Yes,

There is a "back yard mechanic technique". I did it to find my exhaust leak and later a vacuum leak. I went to a party shop and bought a Party Smoke machine for $29.99.

This is one, but it is more expensive:

http://www.proformance.net/foggers.htm

I put a Rubber hose on it and then reduced or increase it to the size of the orifice I was testing. In this case an exhaust. I ran the smoke through the tail pipe and voilla! smoke came out of my exhaust donut location, not the exhaust manifold (like I expected). The fog juice runs about $8 a quart and lasts a while. This fog machine is even fun to have around for holloween. And this stuff runs on the same fog stuff that the expensive machines use!
To find a vacuum leak, just make sure the car is not running and hook it into the intake manifold (I used the intake manifold vacuum connector that goes to brake booster, it is usually a pretty good size.) Blast the smoke thru and you will see it come out of the leaking hose!


For an even more backyard way(and this is for a vacuum leak) is to run the car and use an unlit propane/butane torch. When the vacuum ***** it up you will hear an audible increase in the vehicles rpms and can "pinpoint" leaks that way.

-BWP

This works even better if you force the smoke with a fan built into a box. I used one of those "Action packer" plastic cargo boxes and a cheap bathroom exhaust fan. I originally built it to pipe smoke a long distance for a stage effect but it works great as a leak finder.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

don't forget the scan tool for 4 grand to seal the system

 

[bmwpower]

Need to bump this...

Anyone got any recent recommendations for a DIY guy?

 

[Fedwrench]

Need to bump this...

Anyone got any recent recommendations for a DIY guy?

The cheapest method is to modify a small party smoke machine. You can scounge up caps and hose to attach to the vehicle. You can even buy a evap test port adapter on Ebay for a few bucks. Try to find a party machine that uses mineral or baby oil. Other substances may condense and clog the hole you're trying to find. You want something that will flow smoke under low pressure. Too high of pressure will damage the evap system. Keep in mind that this is a low buck solution and will not work as well as a real evap tester but, with practice, you might find the leaks you're looking for. I would also watch Ebay for a deal on a real smoke machine

 

[bgott]

I used to use cigarette smoke. It works great when you are chasing underdash vacuum leaks.

 

[glasses97]

My second prototype. Works well, needs to be cleaned up a bit

http://s979.photobucket.com/home/glasses97

 

[77Montecarlo]

You don't really need a scan tool to close the evap system. Just get to the vent solenoid and power it up manually, i use my power probe. Little more effort, but works. Purge solenoid is easy to check too. Just check to see if it is completely closed without power and then manually power up and see if it opens and lets air through it. Smoke machines like the one i use in the shop are nice, but expensive. There might be cheaper alternatives out there.