DIY smoke machine

[dvx216]

My car threw a lean code on both bank. Turns out I had a vacuum leak some where. So i built a smoke machine with a mason jar and some rubber hose and a black & mild cigar found all my leak and cleared my codes. The cigar set me back a whole $ 1.25

 

[jxg]

looks like a BMW. my 330Ci is intermittently throwing the same codes. Might have to give it a try...great idea.

 

[dvx216]

e39 530i used air compressor with 5 psi turns out I had a cracked vacuum fitting and the intake was not coupled up right

 

[techmitch]

Lean codes on both banks are usually always a vacuum leak 85% of the time. The other 15% of the time they are caused by umetered air, or M.A.F. sensor contamination and NO you can not clean it no matter what the guy at the auto parts store says with the can of special cleaner in his hand.

 

[techmitch]

Lean codes on both banks are usually always a vacuum leak 85% of the time. The other 15% of the time they are caused by umetered air, or M.A.F. sensor contamination and NO you can not clean it no matter what the guy at the auto parts store says with the can of special cleaner in his hand.

P.S. Good job on the diagnosis!

 

[techmitch]

I'll bet you could sell a ton of those in California.

Actually, You can do a better, more percise job by using one of these.

You don't need to light it. Just put a hose on it with a nipple on the end of the hose and with the gas turned on med. slowly move the hose around the intake manifold and vacuum hoses. When you start to hear the idle raise up, your getting close to your leak so start moving slower, it will hone you right in. Ihave been using this method with great success every time since the 70's

 

[Summer Fun II]

We just smoked 260#'s of bacon & hams

. Does that count ?.

 

[dvx216]

My 530 with 138000 miles on it has been real good to me. Had to change out the throttle body and about a week after shop replaced throttle body and intakes it threw the lean codes. Did not have the time to take it back to the shop. Had to replace my tow vehicle so I'm holding on to the 530 until the trucks paid off. The admiral was not crazy about this but agreed it was the right thing to do.