how do you do a smoke test?

[E30MACK]

so my car is causing me issues and I have been told to do a smoke test on it. what kind of machine do you use to do this? how is it done?

[jlevie]

You use a smoke test machine. In addition to the machine, you need plugs for the exhaust and an adapter/plug for the intake boot.

The procedure is to plug the exhaust, remove the airbox, install the adapter/plug, and connect the smoke machine. The machine is run to bring the smoke pressure in the intake up to about 2-3psi for a several minutes. While doing that you watch for smoke leaking out. The smoke will fill the intake and crankcase, so all of the possible leak locations will be tested.

[kalib0y]

thanks for the info.

[E30MACK]

where would one obtain a smoke test machine?

[davem]

where would one obtain a smoke test machine?

A lot of automotive repair shops have them.

[E30MACK]

so its not a DIY type of deal then?

[kalib0y]

nope the machines are a pretty penny

[Simon S]

Ha - that's funny.

I always pictured some sort of smoke machine like you'd see in a club.
Like you'd turn the lights down, crank up the smoke machine by your engine bay - then use a flash light to see if you could spot wisps of smoke getting sucked into a vacuum line.

Jesus - reminds me of when I was a kid and thought an earwig was something worn by people who wanted more hair around their ears..

..or if you "blew" an engine - the entire front clip of the car would explode..

[E30MACK]

what a vivid imagination!?

[kalib0y]

yeah...no although I visualize crazy things myself. This smoke tester builds pressure in your vacuum system through your intake and then you search for the smoke coming out somewhere

[Aleksey]

Ha - that's funny.

I always pictured some sort of smoke machine like you'd see in a club.
Like you'd turn the lights down, crank up the smoke machine by your engine bay - then use a flash light to see if you could spot wisps of smoke getting sucked into a vacuum line.

Jesus - reminds me of when I was a kid and thought an earwig was something worn by people who wanted more hair around their ears..

..or if you "blew" an engine - the entire front clip of the car would explode..

Some people actually made that work, but the concern (from what I read) is what residue those 'smoke' machines leave inside the engine.

The only good solution I found (forgot where) is where the guy build a PSI limited device from spare parts to safely pressurize the intake and listen for any hissing sounds of air flowing out.

[Simon S]

Too bad the cooling fan is running nearby..

.. otherwise, one could just blow e-cig vapor, or cig smoke, or joint smoke for that matter at various parts of the intake..

[kalib0y]

lol, smoke week to solve your evap problems. or "I love weed so much , car smokes too" haha