exposing vacuum lines behind M54, to find a mystery leak

[X5chemist]

Well, if mine sets emissions codes after a coolant system refresh, I know where I'm heading to for a smoke test!

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Well, if mine sets emissions codes after a coolant system refresh, I know where I'm heading to for a smoke test!

After spending nearly 2 grand on my wife's old truck (her backup vehicle) last week, she requested that I wait 'til my SS check comes in next week. Though all (my retirement, she has no equivalent) income is mine, and all vehicles are maintained by me (95%) using my monthly spending "allowance", it seems that my "allowance" for last month is gone, so my next work on my X5 project has to wait for 10 days, for the tool I need (plus shipping).

Of course, during the past month, she's visited Arkansas with her sister to "observe fall foliage" for a week, and went shopping with her girlfriends (high school friends, though they're all about 60, now) the week before (amount spent unknown).

It's just easier to let her get her way, without adult supervision (me), than to argue about my projects.

What goes around comes around: I had spent most of my time and money on my racecar, towing equipment, and several project cars & trucks for about 15 years from '94 to '08, prior to my retirement from restoring and racing, and on my camping hobby, a substitute for racing (including building my own trailer) for the last 12 years. Then I retired from my job, and the spare cash went away, especially when I had to demolish & replace the house that we'd just paid-off & semi-rebuilt (mostly not covered by homeowners' insurance).

I guess it was inevitable that I should let her catch-up for awhile, both in time and money spent. I'm in no rush, as the X5 works just fine, as-is.

[workingonit]

I'm still trying to decide which unit to choose, while I'm cooling my heels. I showed three units I consider my best options in post #14 above https://xoutpost.com/1234590-post14.html, and edited it today, adding what I consider salient points for or against each.

There were others, of varying design (though most appear to be made in the same Chinese factory) that I looked at, but I keep on returning to these three I've shown.

Since none have suggested nor recommended a smoke tester that they've used, I'll probably end up going with Option 2, the AKWH unit. It seems to be a clone of the AutoLine Pro Automotive Smoke Machine, listed on Amazon for $120 (including $20 of smoke fluid, but I have mineral oil already).

For the price, the cheaper of the two (AKWH vs AUTOLINE) should be my best bet. Any comments?

[racebmwm3]

Hey I bought this one in order to test for my leak in my thread here:
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...light-cel.html


This is what I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/AutoLine-Pro-.../dp/B06XHRBKTM

Worked for me. Little more than I wanted to spend, but worked well.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by racebmwm3

...This is what I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/AutoLine-Pro-.../dp/B06XHRBKTM

Worked for me. Little more than I wanted to spend, but worked well.

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.

[X5chemist]

Does yours have a AIV intake tube on it? I just realized mine does not. I do have one that was ordered. I'll be installing it on the intake. If it's missing, your vacuum leak could be there.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Does yours have a AIV intake tube on it? I just realized mine does not. I do have one that was ordered. I'll be installing it on the intake. If it's missing, your vacuum leak could be there.

Yep, but I wasn't happy about the fit (IIRC, sorta loose two years ago). I might have to get another (plus other parts) after the smoke test.

By the way, it seems the real (not my homemade junk) smoke tester I ordered went missing before it reached me, so it might be awhile.