23 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHCheap Smoke Tester
Reported repair
Repair crossover tube flapper leak
Reported resolution
1
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report a fix
1
1 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'Repair crossover tube flapper leak' (1 discussions report resolution; 0 report an unsuccessful attempt). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair crossover tube flapper leak' (1 discussions). For that action, 1 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. The most frequently reported fix is 'Repair crossover tube flapper leak', supported by resolution reports in 1 discussions. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I did exactly this when searching for a tiny leak in my Dad's hydronic heating system - shot it up with 20 psi of R134a and checked with my refrigerant sniffer.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Since small leaks are a big thing on M96 engines I had thought about using Freon as a leak testing medium and a Freon Leak Detector ...
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Could seal the exhaust outlet and the intake and put a slight pressure of Freon into the engine and use the Freon Leak Detector to search for leaks on the intake and/or exhaust...BUT I haven't had the time or health to actually test this "Testing Procedure" to see if it would be a worthy alternative, maybe more accurate, or maybe so accurate it would find leaks to small to worry about...
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Since small leaks are a big thing on M96 engines I had thought about using Freon as a leak testing medium and a Freon Leak Detector ...
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I did exactly this when searching for a tiny leak in my Dad's hydronic heating system - shot it up with 20 psi of R134a and checked with my refrigerant sniffer.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Could seal the exhaust outlet and the intake and put a slight pressure of Freon into the engine and use the Freon Leak Detector to search for leaks on the intake and/or exhaust...BUT I haven't had the time or health to actually test this "Testing Procedure" to see if it would be a worthy alternative, maybe more accurate, or maybe so accurate it would find leaks to small to worry about...
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
Could seal the exhaust outlet and the intake and put a slight pressure of Freon into the engine and use the Freon Leak Detector to search for leaks on the intake and/or exhaust...BUT I haven't had the time or health to actually test this "Testing Procedure" to see if it would be a worthy alternative, maybe more accurate, or maybe so accurate it would find leaks to small to worry about...
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
23 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
On the more serious note: great idea and glad it worked!
I used this setup to confirm a leak at the manifold booster fitting. I also found that the vinyl cap I put on the crossover butterfly failed (split) and fell off.
$7 Harbor Freight transfer pump, a latex glove (7mil) and a cigar. Worked like a charm.
I was able to pump enough smoke in to have it eventually come out of the oil filler tube. No leaks after my repairs.
I don't smoke. I bought a $100 smoke machine (based on a gallon paint can) and it has helped me tremendously with smoke testing. There is no need for a $500 professional machine.
Make certain you don't push a lot of pressure with your pump. (I assume it's not that strong, but just in case)
You can cause seals to leak if you do.
Most smoke machines restrict pressure to around 1.5 psi.
I've heard of leaks being created by using unrestricted shop air to push smoke.
Most home-made (and budget commercial) smoke machines use propane regulators.
I bought one from Amazon that I think would fall under the 'budget commercial' category. I didn't care if it was fancy, I just wanted something that had a regulator. I've only used it twice but it works great.
And the e39 with a crack in an intake hose...
I agree that it doesn�t need to be fancy. Just needs to produce a lot of smoke at low pressure. This hand pump doesn�t produce much pressure plus it�s intermittent by nature. Since I rarely use one I didn�t figure I needed to spend much on it. If I were doing this often then a commercial unit would be much easier. Pumping the smoke by hand is a little cumbersome while trying to look for leaks.
It did what I needed.
Darn, what a waste of a good cigar..........
On the more serious note: great idea and glad it worked! I love this forum for this kind of stuff--out of the box thinking.
great shots! I may need to recruit you to film my videos on my channel! 😎 I have the red version of that tool and love it. Except that the clamps are really cheap and one has already broken so be careful with it.
I
@Porschetech3
i agree however I am on a bit of a budget after my rebuild 😂. So, for now, this did the job.
The cigars were acquired about 26 years ago while I was in Amsterdam. As you might surmise, I don�t smoke much. Consequently, they burn fast and smoky.
LMAOOO !! Wait a min....you not suppose to blow the smoke up the exhaust...you suppose to blow it down it.s throat....
Since small leaks are a big thing on M96 engines I had thought about using Freon as a leak testing medium and a Freon Leak Detector ...
Could seal the exhaust outlet and the intake and put a slight pressure of Freon into the engine and use the Freon Leak Detector to search for leaks on the intake and/or exhaust...BUT I haven't had the time or health to actually test this "Testing Procedure" to see if it would be a worthy alternative, maybe more accurate, or maybe so accurate it would find leaks to small to worry about...
I did exactly this when searching for a tiny leak in my Dad's hydronic heating system - shot it up with 20 psi of R134a and checked with my refrigerant sniffer. I found a slightly porous solder joint that was the problem.
Any leak post MAF Sensor is an Un-metered , Un-filtered air leak that will lean out the AFR and introduce dirt to the engine or a particular cylinder if the leak is close to a particular cylinder.....This applies to all engines....
But the M96 by design has more potential to air leaks than other engines . The 4 big rubber boots that seal the left and right intake and the 2 center plenums are a major source of numerous leaks for first time DIY'ers...and the small plastic vacuum lines get brittle with age and will break from just a touch....Then there is the brake booster adaptor at the intake that is notorious for leaking and the resonance flap pivot shaft that will leak with age....
When I say small leaks are a big problem on the M96 I mean that there are many sources of potential leaks.....not that the leaks are any more detrimental to the engine than any other engine....just that there has been and will be more instances....
So anyone who deals with these engines should be proficient at finding and fixing vacuum leaks.....It is not a big deal with a smoke machine just a common occurrence...
I can say mine runs a lot better after changing out the leaking brake booster adapter. I also fixed the crossover tube flapper leak. Engine would hesitate off idle prior to the fix. Now gone.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
