Checking for vacuum leaks

[xRichieRich07x]

Someone on here told me to check for vacuum leaks because my car bogs really badly after going at highway speeds or jumping on the throttle. Can someone please explain this process to me?

 

[brute]

An engine is constantly in vacuum. A turbo or supercharger is simply an air pump. When you get a forced induction (turbo or supercharged) application, the motor is in vacuum until the "air pump" produces enough air to overcome the vacuum and produce positive pressure (boost). You do not have to worry about this, however, because you are non-turbo.

So your engine is constantly in vacuum. There is a myriad of silicone hoses to route the vacuum pressure amongst different elements in the engine bay (brake booster, PCV, etc.). These are your vacuum lines. Because they are sucking when the motor is running, a good way to check for vacuum leaks would be with soapy water. Make up a mixture of soapy water and put it in a windex bottle. Start the engine, let it idle, and spray the soapy water around the vacuum lines. If there is a leak or hole in the line, it will be sucking in ambient air. Therefore, the sucking will cause the soapy water to start bubbling. So after you spray your lines, look around for bubbles. Replace lines if necessary. Good luck!

 

[xRichieRich07x]

An engine is constantly in vacuum. A turbo or supercharger is simply an air pump. When you get a forced induction (turbo or supercharged) application, the motor is in vacuum until the "air pump" produces enough air to overcome the vacuum and produce positive pressure (boost). You do not have to worry about this, however, because you are non-turbo.

So your engine is constantly in vacuum. There is a myriad of silicone hoses to route the vacuum pressure amongst different elements in the engine bay (brake booster, PCV, etc.). These are your vacuum lines. Because they are sucking when the motor is running, a good way to check for vacuum leaks would be with soapy water. Make up a mixture of soapy water and put it in a windex bottle. Start the engine, let it idle, and spray the soapy water around the vacuum lines. If there is a leak or hole in the line, it will be sucking in ambient air. Therefore, the sucking will cause the soapy water to start bubbling. So after you spray your lines, look around for bubbles. Replace lines if necessary. Good luck!

thanks a lot I did not know that. I'll do that as soon as it gets above 32 degrees here one day...lately the high has been like 10! haha

 

[Defiant]

Except those bubbles will be on the inside of the intake tract, and a little iffy to see.
Use WD-40. When you hear the idle speed increase, you've found the cracked hose.