so I was @ the mechanic yesterday, and I asked him if he could do a BL test for me. He said no problem, I have a smoke machine that will fill up the entire system, and even w/ the tiniest leaks/pinholes, anything, you will see smoke... I looked at him weird, as was like uuhhh smoke, shouldnt we pressurize the system w/ air? He responded w/ "those that dont have the smoke machine, use that method"! So I made an apptmt on Sat. morning to have him preform the test, and check my leaky bov, but wanted to run this by u guys, as Ive never heard of this...

whats ur guys take on this method of a BL test?
Hes been around for 30+ years, and also tunes minis, so I tend to trust him, but still sounds kinda weird...
note: (regular mechanic, not an evo shop)

(If this is in the wrong section, my apologies.)

 

Smoke machines have been used for a long time and work great. Nothing to worry about.

Mitch

 

good to know! thanks for the quick response Mitch.

 

Yes sir the subaru dealership my friends worked at used a smoker to boost leak check alot easier than trying to listen for a leak or using soap and water.

 

My only concern is that I had no boost leaks at say 15 psi, but when I went to 20 psi I found a few... But the smoke machine make work fine, not sure.
Dan

 

if the smoke machine isn't putting pressure to the system then it would only identify holes, not clamps that aren't quite tight enough for the boost pressure you're going to be running.

 

also good to know. I know nothing about the machine he uses, but I would hope that its pressureized. guess I'll find out on Sat.

He said this was "the best" method... and easiest.

I'll mention to him that I run quite a bit of boost, and ask him if this will suffice for that amount of psi.
Every time I sorta question him, he smiles and gives me that look, like u dont trust me...

 

admittedly I don't know anything about them either, but that would be my concern. If it can put even 10-15psi into the system it would definitely help identify leaks.

 

why not run smoke through the system then pressurize it?

 

that would work but if you're going to pressurize the system you don't really need smoke anyway

 

it might help, when i have done it you are sometimes under the car searching for the spot leaking, especially with the thousand coupler points on this car.

 

true, sometimes a leak is so big that it's practically silent

 

QFT. I had a leak on my J pipe gasket and I could not hear that bish what so ever until I put my hand under the turbo and felt it gushing out.

 

I was thinking of buying a smoke machine for this exact reason, but I think they only go up to 5psi. (I havn't bought one for that reason)

 

smoke machines are commonly used to test evap systems for leaks

I want to assume they are capable of pressurizing a system