Locating a Car Vacuum Leak

Sign in
Duration:   1  mins

Some engine idle and performance issues can be directly related to vacuum leaks. Loose hoses, missing vacuum caps, cracked hoses, failed intake and carburetor gaskets can all be the source of potential problems. Mark Simpson demonstrates some sure-fire ways to assist you in locating a car vacuum leak in your system.

Make a comment
  • (will not be published)

3 Responses to “Locating a Car Vacuum Leak”

  1. Larry Jones

    I don’t know, but that method would give me the willies. Suppose you’ve got a spark plug or wire arcing to ground. How do you ignite a propane torch? With a spark. He’s the expert, not me, but I shall refrain from using his method.

    Reply
    • Jim Stencel

      You are 100% correct! I had an incident when I was working at a dealer with a misfire, I would use soap water to find out if the wires were bad an then follow with non-flammable brake clean to dry them out. However the dealer changed the 55gal drum of brake clean to the flammable one. thank goodness I didn’t use much because immediately shut off the engine and was able to blow out the flames. the vehicle was a G van also with carpeting on the dog house ie custom conversion van. No damage sustained. The label on the drum of brake clean was not visible, it was facing the wall. Someone just wrote brake clean as they always did.

      Reply
    • Jim Stencel

      Follow up to my previous reply: I wouldn’t use the starting fluid but, I would use the propane because you’re only throttling a very small amount. You don’t crank it open as you do when actually using as a torch.

      Reply
Get exclusive premium content! Sign up for a membership now!