Smoke testing

[dan88911]

Has anyone ever smoke tested for vacuum leaks.
Seems like it would be easier and less messy than spraying fluids or using propane.

Smoke testing was mentioned in another thread on chasing vacuum leaks.
I saw a youtube video that also exposed gasket leaks on a valve cover of a V8. All be it above the fluid line ,but a leak just the same to quote the author. I am going to search the forum just thought I would ask anyway.
Thanks for any comments

[LJ851]

One of my other cars is an '89 BMW 325 (E30 Chassis).

The E30 community uses the smoke test a lot as they are prone to intake leaks. It is a very effective tool to pinpoint intake leaks, even very small ones.

[sjf911]

If you have a smoke generator it's pretty good, I just pressurized my system at low pressure with a regulator off my shop compressor and sprayed soapy water everywhere. That worked really well without having to source smoke.

[Jcslocum]

There is a thread here on using a shop vacuum cleaner, run in reverse to pressurize the engine enough to spray soapy water to discover leaks.

[James Brown]

only problem is smoke/bubbles will come out of everything!!! maybe you just don't want to find out

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by dan88911

Has anyone ever smoke tested for vacuum leaks.
Seems like it would be easier and less messy than spraying fluids or using propane.

Smoke testing was mentioned in another thread on chasing vacuum leaks.
I saw a youtube video that also exposed gasket leaks on a valve cover of a V8. All be it above the fluid line ,but a leak just the same to quote the author. I am going to search the forum just thought I would ask anyway.
Thanks for any comments

A good shop will have a machine that does this, they are expensive so not likely to be found in a private shop but are the nuts for finding vacuum leaks

[spuggy]

Basic concept is pretty simple - these guys built one with a paint tin and a compressor DIY How-to: build a vacuum leak detection machine - Pennock's Fiero Forum

They recommend burlap or cheap stale cigars Guess you could burn something else, you might need to pay attention to what you're getting on any sensors...

[Jcslocum]

Found the shop vac thread

Finding CIS vacuum leaks - the vacuum cleaner pressure test

[howard freeman]

Smoke machine is the cats meow for finding unmetered air leaks. In the old days Porsche had us pressurizing the intake with shop air & using soapy H2O. I gave that up especially with the modern BMW's. You will never find the leak without a smoke machine.