exposing vacuum lines behind M54, to find a mystery leak

[80stech]

I have never done a smoke test and don't have a smoke tester but may eventually buy one so I appreciate you sharing your experience and look forward toward your review

[X5chemist]

$10 smoke machine.
I have that Harbor Freight fluid pump. I need a cheap cigar!

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

$10 smoke machine.
I have that Harbor Freight fluid pump. I need a cheap cigar!

I've used my cheap siphon fluid pump from Amazon (probably $8 then, $10.50 now) several times for subtracting/adding tranny fluids, draining a washer, and it worked ok for the homemade smoke tester. It was the lousy soldering iron that failed.

It was worth the money spent, and I keep it handy, along with my other "fluid transfer tools" (cheap pump, 12v pump, turkey baster, Vacuum Pump Brake Bleeder Kit...no direct fluid contact, Motive Products Power Bleeder 2-Quart Tank with Hose and Adapter).

I wouldn't bother with the cigar, though, but maybe you should get an AutoLine Pro Automotive Smoke Machine Leak Detector EVAP Vacuum Diagnostic Tester | Shop Series | Assembled in the USA, like I finally did. I haven't actually used mine yet (it's always something else), but I'm sure it'll do the job. Maybe you'd prefer the self-contained air pump model, but I have a compressor handy, so I didn't get it.

Here' a video I found yesterday about it: https://youtu.be/0sCT81zUiOQ