Leak down test DIY???

[KCinBR]

What is involved in doing a leak down test and what kind of special tools are required?
I understand the compression test and can pull that off but have no experience with leak down testing,


Thanks again yall..............

[Rot 911]

Click here and scroll about half way down the page: Pelican Technical Article: Time to Rebuild? - Part II

[Zeke]

Here is Pelican's take on the subject:
Pelican Technical Article: Time to Rebuild? - Part II
There are countless articles on the Net about leak downs. Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive unit that may require some additional connections for the Porsche 911 engine.
Cylinder Leak-Down Tester

[KCinBR]

Well the articles pretty much ansewred my questions.
My car is an oil burner, about 1qt in 800 miles, smokes on startup. The amount of smoke increases with the amount of oil in the tank.
The car starts and runs great with no noticeable smoke while driving.
I just want to know if there are other problems coming.

[GaryR]

Sounds like valve guides, most likely just need to do the top end and she will run like new again... see what the compression test shows.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by KCinBR

Well the articles pretty much ansewred my questions.
My car is an oil burner, about 1qt in 800 miles, smokes on startup. The amount of smoke increases with the amount of oil in the tank.
The car starts and runs great with no noticeable smoke while driving.
I just want to know if there are other problems coming.

1 quart of oil every 800 miles is still within Porsche specs for oil usage. Many 911's smoke on start up for a few seconds. That is a trait of an air cooled horizontally opposed engine. Oil level in the oil tank should have no effect on how much oil gets burned. You sure you are not overfilling the oil tank and the oil is getting sucked into the airbox?

To check your oil, get the engine up to operating temperature (at least 180 degrees), be on level ground with engine idling. Check the dipstick and the proper reading should be midway between the two marks on the dipstick. Don't trust the oil level gauge in the car.

[btaft]

As a side note - I asked the dealer in Boulder Colorado - Gebhardt - to do a leakdown test on a car I was going to buy. He said it was $500.

That afternoon I asked a Denver dealer who was selling me an 84 Carrera to do one, and he let me help and showed me how to do it. It took about 45 minutes.

I bought the Carrera.

[James Brown]

No real trick on doing a leak down test. I do one every 50 hours on all the aircraft I service. takes about 30 min. A good tester is about $100.00 and all you need is a spark plug adapter to reach the plug holes. Not worth $500 bucks for a shop to do. It can tell you a wealth of knowledge on what's going on with the engine. Oh, you will need an air compressor. Hang on to the prop when you open the air!!!!!