1.8t vacuum leak test or smoke machine

[Andy avant b5]

Hi there need to do a boost leak test what am I better to use a vacuum or a smoke machine cheers

 

[DieselJake]

Not sure what you mean by vacuum but smoke is good as you can see it, on the cheap my friends spray soapy water and look for bubbles but I'm not a fan of that method as it's still a bit of a guessing game.

 

[Andy avant b5]

I mean hook it up to a air tank and pressure the system too hear for air leaking

 

[DieselJake]

Ah gocha nah smokes much easier as you can see it, most garages I know use smoke.

 

[Andy avant b5]

OK eBay it is lol

 

[Samuel c5 Q]

Let me know how that goes, I'm looking to do this too. Cheers.

 

[Andy avant b5]

No problem mate

 

[Pro-cookie]

I had a smoke test done on my old Skoda vrs. It was brilliant! Took about an hour to do and it’s really thorough, no leak can hide from that test.

 

[Andy avant b5]

Looked online and you can get a smoke machine for about 30 pounds I then assume you just hook it up to the intake??

 

[Pro-cookie]

It was a long time ago that mine was done but I think that’s how he did it but you need to try and block the intake off while still feeding in the smoke otherwise it will just come back out of the intake as you pressurise it.

 

[Andy avant b5]

OK bud cheers how's your motor going

 

[Pro-cookie]

It’s alright mate thanks. I got a recon steering rack to fit when I get 5 mins, new exhaust is needed which I’ll get nearer the time I fit rack. Suspension is still nice and smooth.
What about yours?

 

[Andy avant b5]

Yes mate good thanks still not done the coilovers yet hopefully weather getting better will start on it do you watch Adam c channel on you tube

 

[Pro-cookie]

Never heard of it lol what do they show?

 

[Andy avant b5]

It's a channel of modified and super cars leaving car show some real tasty motors lots of Audi's it's from my area so I got to a lot of the shows too

 

[Pro-cookie]

Yeah I watched some of them, yeah there are some nice motors there.

 

[Andy avant b5]

There is mate I am in some of them giving the avant a bit of a pull on the exit lol

 

[Samuel c5 Q]

That Morgan crash was tight.

 

[Andy avant b5]

Lol it's all fixed now looks good again

 

[Pro-cookie]

Sweet i’ll keep an eye out for it, is it the one you currently have?

 

[Andy avant b5]

Yes mate

 

[Pro-cookie]

So how did you do the smoke test? Is it simple to do? I might get one myself, can you send a link for the one you bought?

 

[Andy avant b5]

Haven't brought one yet just looking on eBay at a second hand one someone also said just blow a vape down there but that sounds a bit Micky mouse

 

[Pro-cookie]

Yeah that wont work lol i think the smoke is almost pressurised through the system.

 

[Andy avant b5]

So you do it with the engine running ? ?

 

[Pro-cookie]

Now your testing my memory lol, I know at one point the guy had my car running, I’m going to say no as if it was running the smoke would pass through engine and burnt off. As your looking for a vacuum leak you won’t see smoke come out as it’s being sucked in instead. The machine he used I’m sure forced smoke into the intake so you could see it blow out any holes.

 

[Andy avant b5]

I did think that just need to find one now

 

[matt66604]

For a smoke test... I bought a fuel transfer pump. And put a cigar in the end.. connect it up to the intake and start pumping

 

[Samuel c5 Q]

Do you put it tee'd into the fpr vacuum line or similar?

 

[matt66604]

Remove maf and find something to blank it off and out tube in through it.. like a tennis ball with the tube hot glued to it.. then ran a cigar in the intake of the wee pump, light it and pump away..

 

[matt66604]

Right into the intake hose. I’ve seen people do it with just a glove taped over the rubber intake pipe and the tub fed through the middle.