What product does everyone use when spraying the intake checking for leaks?

[moparedtn]

Title says it all.
I know most spray chemicals we use are flammable and I've actually seen a fella catch his late model Dodge engine on fire using Brakleen (there was a short in one of the injector wires, providing the spark).
I've always used the same simply because it dries clean, but....

So what does everyone use?

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

I use compressed air when checking for vacume leak,if that does not work I will go to carb cleaner and shoot in short bursts and listen for variation in RPM.

 

[furyus]

I'v heard you can use propane gas to find leaks by listening for rpm increase. Haven't done it myself.

 

[khryslerkid]

Water can work. Use a spray bottle that really creates a fine mist.

I haven't tried the non flammable parts cleaner but that should work.

Many years ago I sprayed carburetor cleaner on a sticking vacuum advanced unit while the engine was running. Won't do that again! The distributor cap ended up in about six pieces.

 

[91r/t]

Water can work. Use a spray bottle that really creates a fine mist.

I haven't tried the non flammable parts cleaner but that should work.

Many years ago I sprayed carburetor cleaner on a sticking vacuum advanced unit while the engine was running. Won't do that again! The distributor cap ended up in about six pieces. View attachment 601121

 

[moparedtn]

I use compressed air when checking for vacume leak,if that does not work I will go to carb cleaner and shoot in short bursts and listen for variation in RPM.

That's interesting. Not sure how that would work? If the air hit a leak, would the engine pick up or bog a little?

 

[moparedtn]

I'v heard you can use propane gas to find leaks by listening for rpm increase. Haven't done it myself.

Wow. Never in a million years would think of that one. I guess at least the explosion is over quick?

 

[moparedtn]

Water can work. Use a spray bottle that really creates a fine mist.

I haven't tried the non flammable parts cleaner but that should work.

Many years ago I sprayed carburetor cleaner on a sticking vacuum advanced unit while the engine was running. Won't do that again! The distributor cap ended up in about six pieces. View attachment 601121

Oh man LOL....

With water, I'd guess you'd have to have something that spit it out in sufficient quantity?

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I've always used flammable carb cleaner in short bursts and I guess I've been lucky I haven't caught anything on fire. Non-flammable carb cleaner is usually perchloroethylene or 1,2.3 trichloroethylene....both make great paint strippers for rattle can paint most of us have on our engines....but they're not flammable. I'm not positive the non-flammable stuff would work any better than water, I mean, it doesn't burn, so you wouldn't hear the engine rev up much.

 

[eldubb440]

isn't the idea to use something that IS flammable? so when it gets sucked into the leak, it fires the cylinder? .......... I actually like the propane idea, plummers torch seems safe to me

 

[furyus]

The propane is supposed to be no different than carb cleaner. Both are flammable. They both ignite when they are pulled into the engine raising the rpm. It just doesn't eat all the paint off your engine.
And, in case it's not clear, you don't light the propane, you just turn on the gas, and hold it near suspect areas.

 

[rlem1977]

I've always used flammable carb cleaner in short bursts and I guess I've been lucky I haven't caught anything on fire. Non-flammable carb cleaner is usually perchloroethylene or 1,2.3 trichloroethylene....both make great paint strippers for rattle can paint most of us have on our engines....but they're not flammable. I'm not positive the non-flammable stuff would work any better than water, I mean, it doesn't burn, so you wouldn't hear the engine rev up much.

DISCLAIMER - THIS IS POPULAR MECHANICS (PM) NOT ME. SO, HERE'S THE LINK, MAY THE GOOD LORD BE WITH YOU ALL
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3094/how-to-find-a-vacuum-leak/

 

[66chargerpat]

Don't use the non flammable. It will make poison as the engine burns it.

 

[moparedtn]

The propane is supposed to be no different than carb cleaner. Both are flammable. They both ignite when they are pulled into the engine raising the rpm. It just doesn't eat all the paint off your engine.
And, in case it's not clear, you don't light the propane, you just turn on the gas, and hold it near suspect areas.

Heh. Yeah, I guess that clarification is in order these days....

 

[BSB67]

Title says it all.
I know most spray chemicals we use are flammable and I've actually seen a fella catch his late model Dodge engine on fire using Brakleen (there was a short in one of the injector wires, providing the spark).
I've always used the same simply because it dries clean, but....

So what does everyone use?

For simply confirming a leak, and better than any spraying of stuff IMO, is simply putting your hand over the carb.

 

[Bill Monk]

propane, just use common sense, no damage to paint

 

[SublimeSixpack]

Through the years I have used a few different things such as Engine Starting Fluid, propane, and water in a spray bottle to check for intake leaks. I don't use anything that will cause damage to the engine paint. I've only found one intake leak and that was at a carb base. And I was using Engine Starting Fluid at the time.

 

[moparedtn]

For simply confirming a leak, and better than any spraying of stuff IMO, is simply putting your hand over the carb.

How does that work in determining the location of a leak though?

 

[Brandy]

Used Ether spray back in the day in the Army....

 

[Brandy]

Wouldn't a plumbers propane bottle with a tip on it work? Just crank it open and move it around everything to check?