using a fog machine to detect intake leaks.

[Chrischeezer]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if any of you guys ever used a party fog machine as a intake leak tester?

Normal automotive evap tester/smoke machines are 500+ dollars.
I was thinking about getting a mini fog machine ( $35) make some hose to transfer the "fog" to my charge pipe and intake system.

I can't really see the harm, i think it will be great alternative and a smoke machine is a great tool to have. I've used a real evap leak tester on a few cars about 2 years ago, every car had about 5 -10 small leaks. The real evap testers have a slow/controlled dispersal of smoke, the fog machines are a bit quicker, also i believe a different type of "smoke" solution is used between the two.
So....Any ideas on this, or has anyone does this before?

:w00t:

[Dousan_PG]

you have this many leaks?
i worry for the rest of your cars problems!

[johngriff]

No harm in doing this, and it is an invaluable tool.

Probably every car on the board should have this test done, you would be surprised!

[Chrischeezer]

you have this many leaks?
i worry for the rest of your cars problems!

... wow, hostile much? i forgot the level of your perfection I'm so sorry :ddog:
yep, looks like i have some serious problems here... what a mess...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/enignemoneyshot.jpg


anyways.... its not really for my car,
I work on many different cars, having a tool like this is very effective. If you've ever used one before you would understand.
If you never smoked your set-up before I guarantee you'll find multiple leaks.

[vboy720]

so sexy....

anyways, how do you do the smoke test? diy? pics?

[Chrischeezer]

so sexy....

anyways, how do you do the smoke test? diy? pics?

thanx

It's just like a boost leak test...
only not much pressure is used, smoke will fill up your motor, intake system, all vac lines and charge piping and puff out of the slightest little leak.

[TrIpLe "D"]

Smoke thats a good idea

[azndoc]

Or you could turn on the car.

Brake cleaner.

[miggypq21]

Turn your car on, spray some carb and choke cleaner in the areas you might think are leaking.

Any change in idle usually indicates you have a leak in the are you sprayed

[undesiredshoe]

But then there are some leaks that only leak under boost.

[DreamN]

^ bingo.

Sounds like a great idea. I'm interested in how you make such a setup work. Once you figure it out I'd really like it if you post a "How To" on it.

[Chrischeezer]

smoke machine is 10x more effective

you'll find leaks you never thought you had.

when i used the evap/smoke machine my friends evo
we smoked it after we found a intake manifold leak w/ brake cleaner just to double check, found a leaking brake booster, turbo, bov and boost gauge! ( these were all very small leaks, but they add up)

But then there are some leaks that only leak under boost.

interesting, maybe doing a boost leak check quickly after smoking it.

[don_bagz]

Turn your car on, spray some carb and choke cleaner in the areas you might think are leaking.

Any change in idle usually indicates you have a leak in the are you sprayed

purpose of the smoke is to find out leaks in area's you dont think might have a leak or a place you would over look.. what you mentioned should be the next step.

[Team DET]

hmmmm i have a fog machine but it only comes out for halloween lol.. lmk how it goes

[soreballz]

I threw a fog machine in the trash recently... dammit. I need to do this to my car.

[ericcastro]

Or you could turn on the car.

Brake cleaner.

Turn your car on, spray some carb and choke cleaner in the areas you might think are leaking.

Any change in idle usually indicates you have a leak in the are you sprayed



I threw a fog machine in the trash recently... dammit. I need to do this to my car.
Thats cause the party's over.......fucking zoo is closed Ray.


Those fog machines use some real oily shit, just so you know. And the cheaper they are, the more oil residue they spit out.
As in, the floor under them becomes a slip hazard.
So your choice if you wanna coat your intake with that stuff.

BTW, they dont really push too hard, so they may not have enough pressure to find your leaks.

[Jakob]

what i use is super simple.
you take a wheel valve (i didnt use such a fancy one)
http://www.tyre-equipment.co.uk/acatalog/S4042_G.JPG

and a thick plastic cup:
http://shop.bn-service.ch/images/pancha%20white%20frost%20medium.jpg

drill a hole in the cup, push the valve through the hole so it is INSIDE the cup and the you cut the cup but leave a 1inch lip.

et voila:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5853/toolofdeath.jpg
super small super handy and super simple plus its cheap!!! you can use an air compressor or a manual pump and listen carefully :ddog:

[GSXRJJordan]

Good idea, but doesn't produce enough pressure to really test under boost. I'd be VERY surprised if you generated over 1 psi with a 'party' smoke machine.

Eric has a good point about the residue, but it'll burn off at any rate. Not the biggest concern.

I've used the same thing as "da russian one" - used a cap to some spray bottle that happened to be the exact size of my T28 turbo outlet, and pressurized it to a few pounds with a bike pump. Shows you real quick where the leaks are - would be better if I'd have had a compressor.

[Chrischeezer]

Evap testers produce zero pressure, the smoke puffs out really slow. but still very effective. maybe performing a boost leak test in conjunction with smoking it will have the best result.


Those fog machines use some real oily shit, just so you know. And the cheaper they are, the more oil residue they spit out.
As in, the floor under them becomes a slip hazard.
So your choice if you wanna coat your intake with that stuff.

BTW, they dont really push too hard, so they may not have enough pressure to find your leaks.
sounds like you have some experience with fog machines, could you recommend a brand? (something cheep and small?)
What chemical is used to produce the "smoke"?

[DALAZ_68]

well why not puff smoke into the intake while the TB is open, then shoot high pressure air thru the TB...wouldnt that work?

[ixfxi]

... wow, hostile much? i forgot the level of your perfection I'm so sorry :ddog:
yep, looks like i have some serious problems here... what a mess...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/enignemoneyshot.jpg

what an embarrassing engine bay


its a good thing you're confident and dont need to post pics of your car to support your lack of manhood

:-)

[SILVIA_KIDs14.5]

what an embarrassing engine bay


its a good thing you're confident and dont need to post pics of your car to support your lack of manhood

:-)
you don't got anything better to do than hate on someone who has a cleaner engine bay than yours dude get a life :gives:seriously

[slider2828]

Yeah I wonder about those smog machines, but I think da_russians boost leak thing is awesome..... Then maybe just use a cigarette and blow smoke on some couplers... .hahaha it might work hahahah

[Chrischeezer]

you don't got anything better to do than hate on someone who has a cleaner engine bay than yours dude get a life :gives:seriously

dude... don't exert a stitch of effort in defense (greatly appreciated though)

his build is here..
http://www.pclaunches.com/entry_images/1008/25/ikey_bluetooth-keyboard2-thumb-450x337.jpg

mine is here
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/only-thing.jpg

[Jakob]

lol you guys do get sarcasm do you? there is a reason he posted a smiley at the end....:mepoke:

[Slip&Sliden 240]

I use an item I built like da_russian_one but once I get up to 25psi, I spray every coupler with a spray bottle filled with soapy water. Bubbles baby bubbles if there is a leak. Easy, effective, and no wasted money on a fog machine.

[YoungGun]

My step dad's shop uses something like this, we used it on my exhaust and I have a shit ton of leaks.

Its basically like a fog machine but smaller and you put a rubber funnel on the nozel and stick it either on the tail pipe or idk where you would do it for the intake.

It also uses baby oil, don't know if you wanna be putting that fog juice through your engine.

[Chrischeezer]

My step dad's shop uses something like this, we used it on my exhaust and I have a shit ton of leaks.

Its basically like a fog machine but smaller and you put a rubber funnel on the nozel and stick it either on the tail pipe or idk where you would do it for the intake.

It also uses baby oil, don't know if you wanna be putting that fog juice through your engine.

yeah thats the one i used, found leaks all over intake manifolds, sensors and vac lines
ask him how much that machine was...
I'm buying a smoke machine right now ($39.00), they also sell a solution that is a water derivative that evaporates with no oil.

[slider2828]

Just you guys know for a fact, worm gears leak period for couplers. I got about .5 psi more just buy using all T-bolts.... Just to add a fact

[ericcastro]

sounds like you have some experience with fog machines, could you recommend a brand? (something cheep and small?)
What chemical is used to produce the "smoke"?

anything that is cheap usually isnt that great. Movies and such use higher end stuff that tends to be dryer and hangs around alot longer before it disapates.

If your gonna do it, then i would just get the cheapest possable and a good amount of liquid..
Try and smoke up the intake area in question really good, then try to get pressure in it somehow to get the smoke to actually come out the leaks. Maybe the cheap bike pump idea.

then crank up the smoke in the garage, turn all the car lights on and put some on the ground, then take a cool pic for us :)

[ixfxi]

dude... don't exert a stitch of effort in defense (greatly appreciated though)

mine is here
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/only-thing.jpg

wow bro, thats tight. nice car, do they make them for men?


seriously, some of you guys have sand in tiny vaginies if you're so insecure you need to post pics of your car..... especially a car in pieces that has home depot hardware on the core support and china special headlights

im not trying to piss in your cereal, because your engine bay looks pretty.. but do us all a favor and dont try to put others down and make yourself feel better by showing off your exquisite old nissan 240sx which is built with off-the-shelf parts. anyone with a credit card and some debt can do that.

[hOngsterr]

interesting.

[racepar1]

you don't got anything better to do than hate on someone who has a cleaner engine bay than yours dude get a life :gives:seriously

WOW, if you only knew you would beat your own ass for the stupidity in this post. Mike is probably building the cleanest 240 ever on the face of the earth.

wow bro, thats tight. nice car, do they make them for men?


seriously, some of you guys have sand in tiny vaginies if you're so insecure you need to post pics of your car..... especially a car in pieces that has home depot hardware on the core support and china special headlights

im not trying to piss in your cereal, because your engine bay looks pretty.. but do us all a favor and dont try to put others down and make yourself feel better by showing off your exquisite old nissan 240sx which is built with off-the-shelf parts. anyone with a credit card and some debt can do that.

For real. It was pretty pathetic to post pics of any engine bay to show off. Even more pathetic to post pics again to show off with nothing but bolt-ons, home depot crap brackets, and china lights. That's not to say that it's not fast or that there are not some nice parts there.

[Chrischeezer]

LOL

Best keyboard mechanic....... ever

.. ever

right all bolt on's the whole engine bolted it self together (all 3 of them) as did the lsd's, all the footworks and the chassis even stitch welded and plated it self too, so simple

and no, its not fast.. 370hp..
but it whips the sh*t out of cars 10x more expensive and more powerful. ( can you guys handle another picture?, this is one of my fav's)
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/40/l_38894cb1ba0344ffba0cedf9d7ff22d1.jpg

ohhh god not another picture!! waaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!

[Chrischeezer]

anything that is cheap usually isnt that great. Movies and such use higher end stuff that tends to be dryer and hangs around alot longer before it disapates.

If your gonna do it, then i would just get the cheapest possable and a good amount of liquid..
Try and smoke up the intake area in question really good, then try to get pressure in it somehow to get the smoke to actually come out the leaks. Maybe the cheap bike pump idea.

then crank up the smoke in the garage, turn all the car lights on and put some on the ground, then take a cool pic for us :)


i got a used fog machine off Craigs List
http://asthediscgoesroundproductions.com/Equipment%20Pics/Fog%20Machine.gif
ill post some pictures (if that's ok with some ppl) maybe a little diy
:w00t:

[ixfxi]

you realize that youre not the first person to build a /180sx/200sx/s1345240sx?

you also arent the first person to stitch weld his chassis, because i did mine years ago (and i surely wasnt the first)

i built a fuckin million things on my car from scratch that *no* other 240sx owner in the world has, and you dont hear me tooting my own horn (except in this shitty post)...... and solely with the intention to remind you that no one gives a fuck.

no one cares about people who brag about their own material possessions. get over it. your material possessions are here today gone tomorrow, have fun figuring out how to take'em with you.

why dont you post pics of your girlfriend to show us how hot she is, remind us more about what an insecure douche' you've proven to be




pics of girlfriend or ban

[ixfxi]

by the way, isnt it rather embarrassing that youre trying to show us how fuckin baller you are but you're complaining about the costs of a $500.00 dollar leak test machine? i've spent $500 on buying a broken ferrari f430 headlight that i used for TEST PARTS, ie: garbage R&D

if you're so fucking baller, you'de own a yacht with 30 bitches instead of a old ass tincan 240sx....... like all of us.


welcome to zilvia, it helps to be humble


ps: lets see that girlfriend

[Chrischeezer]

you realize that youre not the first person to build a /180sx/200sx/s1345240sx?

you also arent the first person to stitch weld his chassis, because i did mine years ago (and i surely wasnt the first)

i built a fuckin million things on my car from scratch that *no* other 240sx owner in the world has, and you dont hear me tooting my own horn (except in this shitty post)...... and solely with the intention to remind you that no one gives a fuck.

no one cares about people who brag about their own material possessions. get over it. your material possessions are here today gone tomorrow, have fun figuring out how to take'em with you.

why dont you post pics of your girlfriend to show us how hot she is, remind us more about what an insecure douche' you've proven to be

pics of girlfriend or ban

....

oh

[ixfxi]

third time's a charm........ ask and you shall receive, god i fucking love google:
http://www.freshalloy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180533

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/shoot-013.jpg
wow those are clean fucking welds, looks amazing. you should tip your 5 year old nephew for all his hard work.

i guess in order to have a car of the month, you need to:
1) have a small penis
2) no girlfriend
3) hit a deer
4) hit a truck
5) have no turn signals or marker lights
6) have megan coilovers
7) show people pics of your car of the month from back in 2008

thanks, come again.

[Chrischeezer]

by the way, isnt it rather embarrassing that youre trying to show us how fuckin baller you are but you're complaining about the costs of a $500.00 dollar leak test machine? i've spent $500 on buying a broken ferrari f430 headlight that i used for TEST PARTS, ie: garbage R&D

if you're so fucking baller, you'de own a yacht with 30 bitches instead of a old ass tincan 240sx....... like all of us.


welcome to zilvia, it helps to be humble


ps: lets see that girlfriend


... Oh



again

[WangonwWarrior]

I use my ears to find leaks. Just because an engine is clean does not mean its perfect :D





Is this zilvia or "I know more about cars than you" You guys argue like kids. Both of you man up and let it go seriously

[Chrischeezer]

lol ... ur a hacker
CHECK IT OUT Everyone!!!

ef'in Bill Gates over here, hacked into google

[WangonwWarrior]

lol ... ur a hacker
CHECK IT OUT Everyone!!!

ef'in Bill Gates over here, hacked into google

twat? how did you know i hack

[WangonwWarrior]

lol ... ur a hacker
CHECK IT OUT Everyone!!!

ef'in Bill Gates over here, hacked into google



Seriously what are you talking about

[Dousan_PG]

wow this thread changed alot since i posted

nice engine bay

too bad you had to post it to come back

its just a 240sx
its nothing speicial. and yours def isnt special
anyways
good luck with the smoke machine thing.
get some lasers too, have a show.

[WangonwWarrior]

wow this thread changed alot since i posted

nice engine bay

too bad you had to post it to come back

its just a 240sx
its nothing speicial. and yours def isnt special
anyways
good luck with the smoke machine thing.
get some lasers too, have a show.


lazers ftw! Put them on a sharks head lulz

[Dousan_PG]

haha

but i was thinking of this!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2009/2500209569_d8868f4f66.jpg?v=0

[Chrischeezer]

lol

I'ma have a lazer light show in my garage, i swear to god!

[Dousan_PG]

if u do that
i would approve
and would want to do the same
hahahahaha
link up via internet and run a east/west feed
it would rule.


and then do burnouts.

[racepar1]

LOL

Best keyboard mechanic....... ever

.. ever

right all bolt on's the whole engine bolted it self together (all 3 of them) as did the lsd's, all the footworks and the chassis even stitch welded and plated it self too, so simple

and no, its not fast.. 370hp..
but it whips the sh*t out of cars 10x more expensive and more powerful. ( can you guys handle another picture?, this is one of my fav's)

ohhh god not another picture!! waaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!

Keyboard mechanic............

ya that's TOTALLY me.

I should definitely be ashamed.

:goyou:

Come on dude, bragging about being faster then expensive cars with a 370 HP sr? SERIOUSLY? You're bragging to the wrong dude with THAT much HP.

[Forge_55b]

just a side note, those fog machines that cost nothing use glycerol that is heated up......not sure if you want what is essentially glycerol vapors in your vacuum system but I guess as someone said, it should all burn away.......kind of like sugar in the gas tank imo

[racepar1]

The fog machine idea is a plausible one. The lack of pressure that the fog machine can put out will not be a problem. The automotive smoke machines have regulators in them that limit the pressure to a couple PSI max. They do that as a safety measure so that they cannot damage any of the evap sensors or switches. The most important thing to consider is what chemical is being used to create the smoke. I would imagine that they would be pretty close to the same thing, but you never know.

[fromxtor]

I wonder if the smoke created by dry ice would work for this, if you could get it to stay in your engine?

[janders211]

I wonder if the smoke created by dry ice would work for this, if you could get it to stay in your engine?
and it should build up pressure too...as long as you have a somewhat sealed system......I may have to drop a chunk from work into my capped off intake plus a cup of water (it's a place where I can drain it)...and see what happens.

[fromxtor]

^^ You dont need the cup of water, it will smoke by itself.

[racepar1]

I wonder if the smoke created by dry ice would work for this, if you could get it to stay in your engine?

I seriously doubt that would work.

[undesiredshoe]

Just throw a smoke grenade into your intake

http://www.nbc-links.com/nbcgraphics/smk/m18_grenande.gif

You also need one thats pre WWII.

[Chrischeezer]

OK,
Update...
-got the smoke machine.. pulled it apart, adapted some old turbo fittings ( removed the nozzle it came with) and ran some hoses.
on first test, along with an enormous amount of smoke, lots of oil/water shooting out
-made a in line catch can so most of the droplets collect in a bottle
-50% less oil/water

preformed 1st test-intake manifold, TB closed.
found my throttle body plate leaking a TON of air through. dropped it down and tuned my idle with IAC.. sounded 100x better, no sputter, perfect 14.8 a/f (was 16.5+)
2nd test- intake manifold again.TB closed
leaking vacuum hose in back of the manifold
3rd test- charge pipe, fmic
found nothing.. made a leak by leaving a t-bolt clamp loose, still no smoke.

I wish there was a way to keep pumping smoke, slowly and non stop. with a fog machine you can shoot for 15 sec. but it has to load up for 2-3 min

[turbo_dreams]

Dude your car is awesome, i remember seeing it at the shea stadium h.i.n a few yrs ago, or belmont, forgot which..but i know you're from staten island, good work ! Btw, mike...i know you're building a nice s13, i'm not doubting it, would you have any build threads? i just want to follow up on it, this is in no way an attempt bash so let's leave my p.o.s out of this.

[slider2828]

Wow it sounded like it worked like a charm..... shiet.... I gotta look for one of those on craigslist....

[zugoi]

Forget the smoke, Im waiting for mikes reply.

[Chrischeezer]

Wow it sounded like it worked like a charm..... shiet.... I gotta look for one of those on craigslist....

don't get too excited....
remember it didnt have the ability to leak out the coupler with no clamp, so it has limitations

( light show coming soon)

[kawie750]

my god man not everyone has the money/time to custom fabricate and build every single part to be unique on their car. Who cares if they are bolt on parts, why would you care or even want to comment on something like that its not your car. He posted one pic big deal.

[[email protected]]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if any of you guys ever used a party fog machine as a intake leak tester?

Normal automotive evap tester/smoke machines are 500+ dollars.
I was thinking about getting a mini fog machine ( $35) make some hose to transfer the "fog" to my charge pipe and intake system.

I can't really see the harm, i think it will be great alternative and a smoke machine is a great tool to have. I've used a real evap leak tester on a few cars about 2 years ago, every car had about 5 -10 small leaks. The real evap testers have a slow/controlled dispersal of smoke, the fog machines are a bit quicker, also i believe a different type of "smoke" solution is used between the two.
So....Any ideas on this, or has anyone does this before?

:w00t:


Hello Chrischeezer :snoop: ! Simply amazing. I work at Spencers and should be able to pick one up fairly cheap. Will the fog juice residue ruin engine internals? Or coat the intake/lines with anything? :newbie:Also is there any way to pressurize the system at the same time? Or do you not need to?:mephfawk: