The "empty paint can" smoke tester looks & works OK, and many on YouTube have copied (or cloned) it, but I have questions about the rim seal over a period of time. In my experience, even if I was careful opening it after sealing it, eventually the rim would deform, and leak. Perhaps I've been too heavy-handed, but that's my view.

That's also why I want a smoke tester that I could open-seal-open repeatedly without deforming the canister rim; the next-step-up Autoline Pro canister model for $120, or the AKWK clone for $75 have the basically same inner workings as the "empty paint can" design, but use an "paint spray siphon (in this case, the siphon is plugged) canister/cup" that uses a clamp to seal tightly. I've never had a problem with that type seal, before.

I didn't want to spend even another $50, having already built a tester that failed ($15 in parts were used), so I figure I'll get another's (hopefully) proven device, for $75 or so, that I can either use many more times, or pass along with my other tools, to a friend or relative in the future.

We'll see if my "still to be ordered" tester works OK, but that'll be next week, at least. Glad that yours worked out for you.

__________________
01 BMW X5 E53,3.0i-5L40E, 7/13/01
topas-blau,Leder-grau,"resto-project car"

Here:
14 Lexus ES350,3.5L-U660E
09 HHR Panel,2.2L-4T45E
04 Chevy 2500HD,6.0L-4L80E
98 GMC Sierra 1500,5.7L-4L60E

Gone:
66 Chevelle Malibu 2dr ht.,327>441c.i.-TH350>PGlide/transbrake
08 Cobalt Coupe,2.2L-4T45E
69 & 75 C10s,350c.i.-TH350
86 S10,2.8L-700R4
73 Volvo 142,2.0L-MT4
72 & 73 VW SuperBeetles,1.6l-MT4
64 VW,1.2l-MT4
67 Dodge Monaco 500 2dr ht.,383c.i.-A727
56 Chevy 210 4dr,265c.i.-PGlide