Hi,

 

Has anyone adapted a party smoke/fog machine to be used for detecting vacuum leaks on a zed? It can be physically done, but I don't know if the 'smoke' used might lead to some undesirable residues (being water-based!). Smoke is supposed to be the dogs danglies of leak detection, and the normal (pressurising the intake) method is not showing up any leaks for me -I'm sure I can hear at least one when the car is idling! And both my boost gauge, and poor warm-up/idling point that way too.............

fluid used for smoke machines these days does not leave any harmfull residue, just make sure it is new type fluid though as the older stuff was oil based and quite nasty

Thanks for the input, mate - I'm thinking that for the 30quid or so for a machine, this could be a superb way of locating all those niggly vacuum leaks, and be far quicker and more user friendly than any other!

thats quite ok i work in mobile disco's/pa hire etc so know about this stuff other option could be the smoke pellits plumbers/chimney sweeps use they give out a far thicker smoke

Ahhh......Hadn't thought of that - I'll investigate into that possibilty too! Nice one :)

I wouldnt use a smoke machine and although water based fluid, they can leave a greasy residue. As suggested use the plummers smoke pellets or a similar dry system. Even on the lowest setting a smoke machine might produce far more smoke than you require.

How would you pressurise the smoke ? To detect leaks you need to pump it up to 1 bar (well I would anyway), I doubt whether a smoke machine provides any pressure.

How would you pressurise the smoke ? To detect leaks you need to pump it up to 1 bar (well I would anyway), I doubt whether a smoke machine provides any pressure.

 

no i don't think that's what he meant...

 

i assume he meant to use it over the engine bay and look for where its getting deformed by the vacuum, it guess it could work if you boosted the car with the smoke over it but if t were me id fit an extended air intake so the engine doesn't suck any of that crap into it.

 

personally id use the conventional method and use a small atomised water jet, tried and tested as long as you keep it away from elecy bits.

How would you pressurise the smoke ? To detect leaks you need to pump it up to 1 bar (well I would anyway), I doubt whether a smoke machine provides any pressure.

 

Interesting point! How much pressure is enough? Most seem to suggest going over 5psi is too much of a risk? A smoke machine (if they run continuously - Presumably they must do that?) must produce 'some' pressure, but will it be enough? I don't know! If running continously into a system, then, also presumably, that pressure will gradually build, whilst smoke is being put into it, until it is enough to break through any weak links - i.e. vac leaks? A lot of presumably's there, which is why I thought I'd throw this one onto the forum!

no i don't think that's what he meant...

 

i assume he meant to use it over the engine bay and look for where its getting deformed by the vacuum, it guess it could work if you boosted the car with the smoke over it but if t were me id fit an extended air intake so the engine doesn't suck any of that crap into it.

 

personally id use the conventional method and use a small atomised water jet, tried and tested as long as you keep it away from elecy bits.

 

Don't think blowing the smoke over it would work very well, too much draft from the fan etc.

 

And as for other other comment regarding the pressure, well if it runs up to one bar when driving, then I'd rather see it fail in the garage than on the road.

 

Anyway, I use the normal type of boost leak detector and that works very well.

Interesting point! How much pressure is enough? Most seem to suggest going over 5psi is too much of a risk? A smoke machine (if they run continuously - Presumably they must do that?) must produce 'some' pressure, but will it be enough? I don't know! If running continously into a system, then, also presumably, that pressure will gradually build, whilst smoke is being put into it, until it is enough to break through any weak links - i.e. vac leaks? A lot of presumably's there, which is why I thought I'd throw this one onto the forum!

 

smoke machine wont produce anywhere near enough pressure and they dont run constantly they run for 5 or so mins then shut down to reheat the element think of them as like a electric kettle as they work on similar principle

What do you folks think about plugging the maf end of the intake with a boost leak detector - per the usual boost leak detector method - then filling the plenum with smoke from a smoke machine via a vacuum hose, before sealing off the hose and then putting air pressure through the boost leak detector? Just mulling over ideas, as it strikes me that the smoke method is the best way for discovering leaks....................

What do you folks think about plugging the maf end of the intake with a boost leak detector - per the usual boost leak detector method - then filling the plenum with smoke from a smoke machine via a vacuum hose, before sealing off the hose and then putting air pressure through the boost leak detector? Just mulling over ideas, as it strikes me that the smoke method is the best way for discovering leaks....................

 

Sounds like it's worth a try. The smoke would need to be pretty dense to show up though I reckon.

I don't know what it is called in english, but I just those sticks that smells(like the ones they use i japanes films) Wrap them around something that they can lie in maf intake hose. Then use the boost leak detector the normal way, just with a bit less pressure. Worked like a charm.

Incense sticks http://krishangi.com/giftshop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Incense_Sticks__49bacdcaa6913.jpg

I don't know what it is called in english, but I just those sticks that smells(like the ones they use i japanes films) Wrap them around something that they can lie in maf intake hose. Then use the boost leak detector the normal way, just with a bit less pressure. Worked like a charm.

 

Incense sticks http://krishangi.com/giftshop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Incense_Sticks__49bacdcaa6913.jpg

 

Interesting - Perhaps those or the previously suggested plumbers smoke would be the way to experiment first. Thanks for all the help and suggestions, guys! :)

the garage that i use has a smoke machine, its the nuts for finding any sort of leak. its expensive as specialised for these sort of things but will find the smallest of leaks.

Yeah - I've been doing a bit of research into leak detection and found smoke machines at the top of the 'recommended' pile. Like you say, when you start looking for them, it's surprising how versatile they are for detecting any kind of problem where there may be some kind of leak. The cheapest 'proper' machine I found was about £500 - Others I saw were £2500! I don't know of any garages local to me which actually have a smoke machine, so thought there must be a diy alternative!! :)

Yeah - I've been doing a bit of research into leak detection and found smoke machines at the top of the 'recommended' pile. Like you say, when you start looking for them, it's surprising how versatile they are for detecting any kind of problem where there may be some kind of leak. The cheapest 'proper' machine I found was about £500 - Others I saw were £2500! I don't know of any garages local to me which actually have a smoke machine, so thought there must be a diy alternative!! :)

 

I have loads of smoke pellets grey or orange Large or small let me know when you go to the griffin again and i will make sure i will bring them with me:cool3:

I have loads of smoke pellets grey or orange Large or small let me know when you go to the griffin again and i will make sure i will bring them with me:cool3:

 

Thanks Dave!

 

Talk about in the nick of time - I was just about to order some from Ebay!! I may pop along next Tuesday - Will let you know. Coke's are on me!! ;)

no worries we have loads due to our buisness