Old-school timing vs. modern scan tools for a vacuum leak

I used to spend hours chasing vacuum leaks with a can of carb cleaner and a prayer... spraying around hoses and gaskets hoping the idle would change. Now I just hook up my smoke machine and find the leak in 5 minutes flat, saved me a headache on a 2001 F-150 last Tuesday. But part of me feels like I'm losing the hands-on diagnostic skill, you know? Has anyone else switched to smoke testing and felt like you're cheating?

3 comments

3 Comments

barbara_jenkins6618d ago

Totally feel you on that, the smoke machine feels like cheating but man it saves time.

brooke_jones18d ago

Wait, the smoke machine at the home goods store is $500?? (@barbara_jenkins66)

gracethomas18d ago

Just rent one for $30. Cheaper and no storage hassle.

-1