Automotive smoke machines
Discussion
Could do with one of these for tracking down vacuum leaks, etc, but they seem to be very expensive. There are a few how-tos on making them on youtube which look OK, but before I waste an afternoon doing that are there any cheapish ones around, or any alternatives like smoke aerosols etc?
Cold start sprayed outside the area of the suspected leak is the way this is usually done. If the revs pick up, you know it's being drawn into the engine.
I've seen some simple looking DIY smoke generators consisting of a bucket containing a PTC heating coil dipped in paraffin and they don't look hard to make, but I've never tried it myself.
I've seen some simple looking DIY smoke generators consisting of a bucket containing a PTC heating coil dipped in paraffin and they don't look hard to make, but I've never tried it myself.
I tried carb cleaner but it was inconclusive and I don't much like spraying flammable stuff around the engine bay! Plus some bits of the pipework I am checking are pretty difficult to get to - would be much easier to pump in smoke and see where it comes out from. Could easily be a vacuum pipe on the other side of the engine, for example...
I made one with a jar, tyre compressor, soldering iron, a rag and some baby oil.
Worked brilliantly to find a vacuum leak on my 911 near the AOS.
I would never have found it otherwise.
Football pin adapter through jar lid to attach compressor.
Hole for soldering iron sealed with hot melt glue.
Tip of soldering iron on rag soaked in baby oil.
Biro lid pushed through jar lid for pipe Attachment.
Gaffer tape to seal other end of pipe to throttle body.
Makes loads of smoke.
Could clearly see a puff of smoke from my leak. Sorted my poor idle right out.
Worked brilliantly to find a vacuum leak on my 911 near the AOS.
I would never have found it otherwise.
Football pin adapter through jar lid to attach compressor.
Hole for soldering iron sealed with hot melt glue.
Tip of soldering iron on rag soaked in baby oil.
Biro lid pushed through jar lid for pipe Attachment.
Gaffer tape to seal other end of pipe to throttle body.
Makes loads of smoke.
Could clearly see a puff of smoke from my leak. Sorted my poor idle right out.
Edited by was8v on Tuesday 7th May 11:14
NiceCupOfTea said:
How about a smoke match? Wondering about dropping one in a jar with a lid and a pipe going into the intake? Would there be enough air in the jar to fuel it? Anything "bad" about the smoke that would not be good in an engine (obviously I'm doing this with the engine off...)
This should also work, you will need a Compressor running to push the smoke through the inlet. If you have a friend you could also use a foot pump. I thought of this too but made mine on a Sunday when all the smoke match shops were shut.
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