Like the title says - I'm good with paying around $100- $120ish if that sounds reasonable. I've got 80k on her and will be winterizing the car soon so I thought it would be a good time to check for vacuum leaks. No issues right now but...

 

Did you look at Amazon yet? The cheesy ones with a burning paint can of oil don't work great.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=automot..._ts-doa-p_1_16

 

Thanks Cee Jay. Yes I did and that's why I'm asking here.

Something like this? Looks like it uses mineral or baby oil? I've never owned one and haven't used one since my mechanic days.

Or this one (the A205)?

 

Check your LTFT's first. If they're fine (meaning hovering around 0%), you probably don't have a problem.

Either of the above smoke testers is OK. You have to build up a decent head of pressure to see all the leaks. A pancake compressor will usually do the job.

Use something stronger than the rubber glove over the throttle body.

 

@panthera999 that you and will do. what PSI are you using? I have a large compressor but I think my son has a pancake one.

 

The Autool ones are good.

 

My mechanic buddy uses the Autory one, seems like it has worked out well for him.

 

Your smoke machine should have a pressure regulator on it. So large or small would work. I just mentioned the pancake because that's a cheap solution for most people who don't have a full size compressor. Also I use a 4" (3"?) rubber plumbing fitting over the throttle body intake so it doesn't leak out past something loose like a rubber glove. Some people also take this as an opportunity to replace all the O-rings that they can, including the ones on the oil fill and the dipstick. Good luck.

 

Appreciate the response @panthera999 . LTFT's are steady with the highest noted on hard acceleration was +6 and typically reading Bank1 +.78, Bank2-.78 through my last 20 mile drive. Uphill on cruise control topped out at +3.5%. I logged the data and read it out. All green and well within normal range, so thanks for the assist! I will let sleeping dogs lie.
@Cee Jay and @jahummer , thanks for the recommendations.

 

I have one, not exactly, but kind of like that I got years ago from a guy that cobbled them up in his garage before I could find any decent Chinese knock-offs of professional equipment. It's basically made from a paint sprayer siphon cup, a bbq grill propane regulator, a heating coil and some plumbing. It actually works pretty darn good! One hint for success tho is to use one of those 400+ lumen high-powered LED flashlights to spot the leaks. It's just not the most convenient.

I'll tell you what I don't like about it: 1) I don't always like connecting it to the car's battery because I don't know what a modern car's computer might be thinking about/dealing with the mystery amp draw. Would rather just plug my power tool in to the wall and not disturb the car's electronics or battery. 2) It doesn't sit on a table top without turning over and it doesn't hang vertical without rigging up something to hold the compressed air supply line. It would be nice to have one all self-contained in a rectangular box with rubber feet and/or balanced to hang vertical. 3) It does require an air compressor. Would be nice to have one with its own built-in air supply/pump. 4) Can't dial down the flow. It's pretty much just on or off. If its a pretty big leak, it will make a swirling cloud of smoke in a confined space rather quick before I can spot exactly where the leak is. I sometimes have to stop, fan the smoke away and start over several times to be sure. Like I said, not the most convenient. If I needed to make money diagnosing vacuum leaks, I'd definitely NOT buy one like .

However, as far as putting out a copious volume of smoke that will find its way out of the smallest leak, it works fantastic. So fantastic in fact that I recommend you wear an actual respirator while using it and not just your old covid mask. Cough, cough... Whether you get a professional one or a cheesy one like mine, either way is likely to be far, far, far better than spraying flammable stuff around a hot engine bay while listening for rpm changes.

 

yeah thanks Phil. I saw that one. I just found my old vacuum gauge buried deep in one of my tool chests that I long forgot I owned, so I can use that as well to see if anything is leaking. I'll be cleaning up the engine and bay over the winter and since the car is 15 years old with now 80+k miles, will hunt and peck for things that are going south. Vacuum lines will do that and they are cheap to replace. This is just preventative. I don't have issues and so with regard to the smoke tester, I wanted something cheap but dependable, in case I need it. I can regulate the pressure on my end and don't need the tool to do that.

Doing a flush and oil change soon and I'll connect the gauge then.

 

I own this:

Works great especially since I used to own an e83 06 BMW X3. BMW didn't meet an intake, emissions or cooling system part they didn't want to try making out of garbage plastic, so I used this several times on that and some other friends cars. I paid $120 and it appears they've gotten a sale or cheaper. Works great!!!