F. A. Q.

What other leaks can the General-Purpose smoke machine find besides vacuum leaks?

The general purpose smoke machine can be used to detect leaks in most* systems where air travels, such as throttle body & carburetor leaks, exhaust systems, injector seals, power brake booster leaks, inter-cooler & turbo charger leaks, EGR valve leaks & EGR system restriction, under dash leaks, vacuum door lock systems, pre-assembly testing of components (such as Cooling Systems, Engine Gaskets, Diaphragms, Many Oil Seals & Gaskets) and Many Others. Using the diffuser adapter, you can detect door, window & sunroof wind & water leaks.

[* Not recommended for vehicle fuel vapor recovery system]

Can the pressure generated from the General-Purpose smoke machine ever damage anything in the vehicle being tested?

“YES” The pressure generated by the general-purpose smoke machine is 1.5 psi (0.10 bar). This is higher than the OEM recommended level of testing for the EVAP system. All other systems listed above will be no problem. So be sure and use our EVAP-approved smoke machine when testing a vehicle’s EVAP system.

How does it work?

The general purpose smoke machine generates a thick, long lasting smoke from a non-toxic compound. When this smoke is introduced into the system to be tested, it quickly exits wherever there’s a leak. All you do is look for the smoke exiting the leak(s).

In operating the General-Purpose smoke machine, how can I be sure I am not connected to a plugged or restricted line and think I am introducing smoke into the system being tested but really I am not?

Smoke coming out of the pressure discharge port indicates that you may be hooked up to a restricted line.

Does the General-Purpose smoke machine require any assembly?

NO! The unit arrives fully assembled, full of smoke solution and ready for work.

Wouldn’t a smoke machine that generates a higher smoke pressure detect leaks better?

On the contrary. Trying to detect a leak with smoke pressure higher than 1.5 psi (0.10 bar) is actually more difficult. The lower the smoke pressure, the more visible the smoke becomes. To obtain best results when using the general-purpose smoke machine, fill the system being tested with smoke to 1.5 psi (0.10 bar). Then, cycle the smoke machine ON then OFF in 15-second intervals, so that the pressurized, then the pressure is allowed to diminish. This technique will assure you optimal smoke visibility.

Why is it necessary to use an EVAP-approved smoke machine in the vehicle's EVAP system?  
Because EVAP-approved machines were specifically built to major automaker's specifications. Our EVAP-approved machine will not damage vehicle components (including the activated charcoal, all sensors [including O2], catalytic converters, gaskets, seals, etc) and will not void the vehicle's factory warranty.  The EVAP-approved machine has safety features built into the design that will assure a safe testing of the highly volatile fuel vapor system of a vehicle. In addition, the design of the EVAP-approved machine has other proprietary technology, such as UltraTraceUV™, which ads a second means of identifying a leak, by depositing a fluorescent dye at the exact location of a leak. Another time-saving feature is its 2-minute 'Phase-one' Pass/Fail test feature; which allows the machine to identify 0.040” or 0.020” EVAP leaks.