smoke test

[Gsxhero]

well i searched online and in my repair manaul and was unable to find out witch hose to put the smoke in to test for leaks. can some1 please tell me?
also i seen in a video some1 using a cigar to do the test, does that work? or a cigarette? i dont have a smoke machine or know any1 that does that i can use for free or get tested for free....diy

 

[Bud92gsx]

WTF is a smoke test.


Are you talking about a fancy boost leak tester, using smoke?

Boost leak tester+ soapy water= you usually find your leaks.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

WTF is a smoke test.


Are you talking about a fancy boost leak tester, using smoke?

Boost leak tester+ soapy water= you usually find your leaks.

i have heard of this, someone puts a smoke machine into the turbo inlet (i wouldn't do this though) and pressurize it with smoke i suppose and the person i watched found a leak in their intake manifold to head gasket. i dunno i guess for an easy visual? i wouldn't do it regardless of the reasoning.

i too folow the boost leak tester +soapy water and look for bubbles... And to the OP, do you really want tobacco resin in your intercooler pipes?

 

[fonzi90Tsi]

I think he talking about something similar to this.
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX - Idle Surge Testing With Snap-On Smoke Machine - YouTube

OP building a BLTester is much cheaper and easier. Cost me 7$ and I just used soapy water and sprayed everywhere boost could leak from including the throttlebody area. Works like a charm.

 

[Gsxhero]

Finding Engine Vacuum Leaks With A Cigar - YouTube
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX - Idle Surge Testing With Snap-On Smoke Machine - YouTube

 

[bryanwheat]

These smoke test's won't apply enough pressure to find a small boost leak. If you have a giant leak than it will likely work, but some don't present them selves until you are at higher pressures.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

These smoke test's won't apply enough pressure to find a small boost leak. If you have a giant leak than it will likely work, but some don't present them selves until you are at higher pressures.

yep.. and that's why this thread = FAIL

the video of the dude smoking in there is on an NA car checking for vacuum hose holes or cracks.. which wouldn't really cover all the bases in a turbo car at all.

there is only one way to do a good boost leak test and it is to pressurize your system to around 5PSI over your target/set boost. That way if its not leaking at 25 psi, there's no way it leaks at 20psi

Edit: the second video of the dsm is the one i watched. i guess the smoke machine does pressurize it although not nearly enough, i still wouldn't do the smoke way.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Ahhhhh..I understand now..Check out the first video in post #5..Finding vacume leaks with a cigar. Now that makes more sense than finding boost leaks with a cigar.

 

[Gsxhero]

well i found a loose hose clamp on one of my intercooler tubes and tightened it. i dont believe i have any boost leaks. i checked all that when i changed my clutch. what you all may not understand is that im doing this to pass ca smog not gain performance. tho a boost leak may effect smog. i am mainly looking to check for vacume leaks....thank you so does any1 know witch hose the smoke goes in?

 

[bryanwheat]

well i found a loose hose clamp on one of my intercooler tubes and tightened it. i dont believe i have any boost leaks. i checked all that when i changed my clutch. what you all may not understand is that im doing this to pass ca smog not gain performance. tho a boost leak may effect smog. i am mainly looking to check for vacume leaks....thank you

I understand exactly, A boost leak will test for vacuum leaks. They are pretty much the same thing, except for the vacuum leak will only happen between the intake valves and throttle body, as where a boost leak will occur from the turbo to the intake valves. Just build a cheap boost leak tester and test it.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

a boost leak is a friggin vacuum leak. same thing just positive pressure instead of negative, both will affect emissions by making you run rich.

Edit: bryan beat me to it.


DONT DO THE SMOKE THING ITS NOT RELIABLE IN A TURBO CAR

 

[Gsxhero]

well the car is not running when you do the smoke test so having a turbo or no turbo wouldnt matter. so you are incorrect sir... by blowing smoke into one of the hoses you can see the smoke come out if there are any leaks witch i could do for free as apose to spending money on a boost leak tester. i dont even think the people that replied even have to smog in there states and apear to have no idea what a smoke test is for... a smoke test is commonly used by smog diag and repair shops to find vacume leaks. its proven to work. i dont feel like spending money and spraying soapy water all over my engine thanks. it apears no1 can answer my question on this site so ill have to ask the smog guy unless some1 that actually knows what im talking about replys. thanks for trying tho all.... ill keep looking

 

[bryanwheat]

well the car is not running when you do the smoke test so having a turbo or no turbo wouldnt matter. so you are incorrect sir... by blowing smoke into one of the hoses you can see the smoke come out if there are any leaks witch i could do for free as apose to spending money on a boost leak tester. i dont even think the people that replied even have to smog in there states and apear to have no idea what a smoke test is for... a smoke test is commonly used by smog diag and repair shops to find vacume leaks. its proven to work. i dont feel like spending money and spraying soapy water all over my engine thanks. it apears no1 can answer my question on this site so ill have to ask the smog guy unless some1 that actually knows what im talking about replys. thanks for trying tho all.... ill keep looking

You are absolutely clueless as to what you are talking about. Why ask people for advise and then not take it. A boost leak test just involved pressurizing the intake system of the car. It will work on a turbo or n/a car to find vacuum leaks. IF it sill leak negative pressure, it will leak positive pressure easier. If you do a boost leak test and find no leaks than you don't have a vacuum leak period. Do your self a favor and listen to people who have been working on these cars for longer than your smog guys.

 

[Gsxhero]

bryan i beleive both ways of checking for leaks will work. maybe one way is better then the other i dont know bcuz ive done neither test. but id like to try the smoke test first due to the fact its free, tho a boost leak tester is cheap. id have to go to home depot or whatever and spend money. then spray soapy water on my engine, id like to use that as a last resort if posible. i was simply wondering if anyone knew witch hose would be used for the smoke test on a 1g 4g63 6bolt engine. ty tho bryan

 

[Gsxhero]

bud92gsx... i was refering to what urbensmoker said about the smoke test not working on a turbo car when i said you are incorrect... not what bryan siad... bryan is right about what he said. i just wanna try the smoke test first bcuz its free...

 

[Bud92gsx]

Free + dsmers = Race car..I mean awsome.

 

[bryanwheat]

bud92gsx... i was refering to what urbensmoker said about the smoke test not working on a turbo car when i said you are incorrect... not what bryan siad... bryan is right about what he said. i just wanna try the smoke test first bcuz its free...

He was actually right for the most part. The smoke test will only work if there is a big open leak, if there is something that isn't leaking until there is pressure present whether it be positive or negative than the smoke test which is only performed at atmospheric pressure will not work. So basically a smoke test will only find a big leak open leak.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

bryan i beleive both ways of checking for leaks will work. maybe one way is better then the other i dont know bcuz ive done neither test. but id like to try the smoke test first due to the fact its free, tho a boost leak tester is cheap. id have to go to home depot or whatever and spend money. then spray soapy water on my engine, id like to use that as a last resort if posible. i was simply wondering if anyone knew witch hose would be used for the smoke test on a 1g 4g63 6bolt engine. ty tho bryan

What its free cause you smoke cigs? Hardly a free habit. Do your self a favor and go to the hardware store and spend 8-10 bucks on pluming couplers don't be lazy you really do obviously have no idea what your talking about. your making this boost leak test sound like a ####ing head gasket change comon man, it takes 5 seconds to test.

I bet your one of those guys that does 100% of your mods through ebay... "then id have to go to home depot and spend money" well man, your in the wrong game if thats your outlook on things.

bud92gsx... i was refering to what urbensmoker said about the smoke test not working on a turbo car when i said you are incorrect... not what bryan siad... bryan is right about what he said. i just wanna try the smoke test first bcuz its free...

i said its not a RELIABLE test method on a turbo car... i didnt say it cant be done, its just stupid because its like your doing a half assed pressure test job.. not even half assed like 1/4 assed.

 

[Calan]

bryan i beleive both ways of checking for leaks will work.

No, it won't.

Bryan couldn't have made it any more clear:

These smoke test's won't apply enough pressure to find a small boost leak. If you have a giant leak than it will likely work, but some don't present them selves until you are at higher pressures.

Spend $5-$10 and build a boost leak tester, and pressurize the intake to at least 5 psi over the amount of boost you are running as urban said. Every car is different, but ideally, it should hold at least 10psi for a good full minute or more, depending on the condition of your rings, etc.

 

[Gsxhero]

i understand i may not see smoke coming from a pin hole size leak where as i would see bubbles from the other type of test. i already know about the boost leak tester. thats not what i asked tho, ty for trying. ill try smoke first as it is free and bcuz i think the leak will be visable. please only reply to my thread if you know what vacume hose the smoke goes in.

 

[bryanwheat]

please only reply to my thread if you know what vacume hose the smoke goes in.

You aren't going to get much help around here with that attitude. The people that are giving you advise have been working on these cars for many years and are offering you the best advise that you will fine anywhere in the world. You obviously know more than us so you should know which hose is ideal to blow your smoke into.

 

[Gsxhero]

thanks for all the help bryan, and ill try the boost leak down test if i dont see any smoke. but if you can not answer my question could you please not post any futher comments on my thread. thanks a bunch bud.

 

[bryanwheat]

thanks for all the help bryan, and ill try the boost leak down test if i dont see any smoke. but if you can not answer my question could you please not post any futher comments on my thread. thanks a bunch bud.

Just pick one that goes into the intake manifold. You seem to think that there is a special one made to blow smoke into or something. There is not a proper answer to your question. If you are trying to get smoke into the intake manifold, than blow smoke into a hose that connects to the intake manifold.

 

[Gsxhero]

thanks man. i wasnt sure if any hose would work. ill check it out, and if it doesnt work ill make a boost leak tester.

this is his wife - he needs to sale the damn thing already. costing way more then we can afford at this time. . thanks for helping him though.

...ok so i blew smoke into the hose between the throttle body and bov and there was a major leak coming from the throttle return spring. lots of smoke. is there a gasket in there? it also looked like there may be a small amount coming from the throttle position sensor... any ideas?

 

[Calan]

i understand i may not see smoke coming from a pin hole size leak where as i would see bubbles from the other type of test. i already know about the boost leak tester. thats not what i asked tho, ty for trying. ill try smoke first as it is free and bcuz i think the leak will be visable. please only reply to my thread if you know what vacume hose the smoke goes in.

Holy crap.

Good luck.