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Finding Vacuum / Boost leaks

Old 06-28-2011, 02:45 PM
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Default Finding Vacuum / Boost leaks

I have a simple solution to find possible vacuum / boost leaks that I wanted to share..

* Get a 12V coffee mug/warmer with a lid.. I got one for about 6 bucks.
* You also need a cheap 12V tire compressor.
* A couple feet of 3/8 ID hose, clamps or zip ties, and two threaded nipples with washers and nuts, four alligator clamps if you wanna go fancy.
* And, you need baby oil. Like Johnson's.



Drill two holes in the coffee warmer's lid, and secure the nipples on the lid, using silicone.
Cut the lighter adapter off the cord, and connect two alligator clamps on the leads. Polarity does not matter.
Put some baby oil in the mug, no more than one inch - you do not need any more than that.
Put the lid on, and secure the hell out of it using tape and zip ties. You can use metal clamps, if you like.
Cut the tire stem adapter off the end of the compressor hose, and stick that hose on one of the nipples. Use clamps or zip ties.
Take the other hose, and stick it on the other nipple.
Heat the mug (just attach one wire to the exposed lug inside the underhood fuse box, and clamp the other lead on the engine block. Do this before you move on, because the baby oil needs time to heat up. Once it heats up, it smokes like hell.
Meanwhile, get a trash bag, fold it four or five times and clamp it over your intake.
Once the oil is hot and smoking, remove your PCV hose, and plug the hose coming from the mug into the PVC port. No, not the engine side. Use the port on the intake manifold.
Then, start the compressor by hooking up its wires in the same manner as the mug.
Watch your boost gauge. You will get no more than a couple psi. That is more than enough.
If you are running water injection, do not turn the key on. You will run a risk of flooding the engine with water.
Grab a flashlight, and start looking. The advantage of baby oil is, it has a distinct smell in addition to the highly visible white smoke it produces.
Enjoy.
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Old 06-28-2011, 02:46 PM
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Old 06-28-2011, 02:48 PM
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Old 06-28-2011, 02:48 PM
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Old 06-28-2011, 02:49 PM
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Old 05-29-2012, 12:20 PM
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I'll be adding that cup to my current setup for sure, thanks for sharing!

Last edited by jboogie; 05-30-2012 at 12:47 AM.
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Old 05-29-2012, 01:08 PM
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I swear, there must be at least one pack of Camel cigs in every one of your pictures.
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Old 05-29-2012, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Reverant
I swear, there must be at least one pack of Camel cigs in every one of your pictures.
Gotta keep them handy, I have been smoking them for 38 years now..
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Old 05-30-2012, 02:39 AM
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The interweb never ceases to amaze me. Thats an ingenious idea.
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Old 05-30-2012, 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Godless Commie
Gotta keep them handy, I have been smoking them for 38 years now..
Originally Posted by Golferluke
The interweb never ceases to amaze me. Thats an ingenious idea.

I'm not sure smoking for 38 years is a wise idea.
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Old 05-30-2012, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
I'm not sure smoking for 38 years is a wise idea.
My wife happens to think I am a fairly wise guy..
And, make that 38.5...
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