1999 5.4 - first time using smoke machine

[jr1under]

So I got an Ancel S3000 smoke machine(thanks Hamfisted) and have tried it out a couple of times. Yikes! My 1999 doesn't have any codes but this device smoked out a few problems that need to be dealt with now.

I tested at the brake booster hose, oil filler neck, coolant reservoir, exhaust pipe and fuel filler neck and these leaks were obvious.
- muffler, which is toast
- vapor canister and/or hoses
- the part in the pictures which connects to the brake booster hose

I'm not sure what that part is called but vacuum-something maybe. The smoke is coming out from where the arrow points.

 

[Billme]

I don’t recognize that.. I don’t have one… I loved my smoke machine.. It makes a world of difference… My young deserving mechanic who I get to do work under the vehicle had never used one.. I let him use it and he said he should have got one long ago, so I just gave it to him…If I need one again I’ll just get another one..
My problems lately are part failures.. I’ve had 3 so far this year that I had to replace.. O’Reillys been letting me down lately hehe

 

[jr1under]

My young deserving mechanic who I get to do work under the vehicle

Man, I wish O'Reilly's offered one of those in their loaner tool program.

Pinpointing a leak with this machine is so straightforward...the problem lies with whatever component the smoke is coming out of.

 

[Billme]

Man, I wish O'Reilly's offered one of those in their loaner tool program.

Pinpointing a leak with this machine is so straightforward...the problem lies with whatever component the smoke is coming out of.

Yes, but this is a piece of equipment that needs to be taken care of.. All those little parts with it would be a nightmare in renting..

 

[jr1under]

- the part in the pictures which connects to the brake booster hose

Doh! I finally identified that smoking part after realizing it isn't connected to the brake booster hose. It's the IAC valve.

 

[Hamfisted]

It's normal to see smoke coming from the IAC vent, and the EGR vent near the diaphragm . Smoke will also come out of the Evap vent hose that's usually strapped to the fuel fill pipe. Visible from underneath.

 

[jr1under]

It's normal to see smoke coming from the IAC vent, and the EGR vent near the diaphragm . Smoke will also come out of the Evap vent hose that's usually strapped to the fuel fill pipe. Visible from underneath.

Thanks for interpreting the signals. I need to pinpoint where the smoke near the vapor canister is coming from.

 

[jr1under]

Smoke will also come out of the Evap vent hose that's usually strapped to the fuel fill pipe. Visible from underneath.

I crawled underneath the vapor canister to watch the smoke up close and it wasn't coming from there. It was drifting down from around the bladder in the top of the fill pipe after the machine had been running a few minutes.

Of the four potential problems I'd spotted, three have been discounted. The last was the muffler and now I'm not sure about that. Is the smoke in the picture coming from a leak or just a vent or something normal?

 

[Hamfisted]

I crawled underneath the vapor canister to watch the smoke up close and it wasn't coming from there. It was drifting down from around the bladder in the top of the fill pipe after the machine had been running a few minutes.

Of the four potential problems I'd spotted, three have been discounted. The last was the muffler and now I'm not sure about that. Is the smoke in the picture coming from a leak or just a vent or something normal?

One or more of the exhaust valves is open allowing smoke to pass through the exhaust system, and you have a hole in your muffler .... Shouldn't be leaking from the muffler.
If it's not a big hole you can patch it with some JB Weld, or if due to age you just want to replace it...






.

 

[jr1under]

If it's not a big hole you can patch it with some JB Weld, or if due to age you just want to replace it...

The smoke appears to be coming from both sides of that welded seam. I'd love to fix it with $15 worth of JB Weld instead of a $500+ replacement but, as I'm almost certain the muffler is 25 years old, maybe it's time to go?

 

[Retiredusps]

That I know of that is a weep hole to let condensation out. Helps to cut down on muffler rusting out

 

[jr1under]

All but one of the 'leaks' detected so far with the smoke machine have been deemed normal. The one I'm not sure about is the muffler and my concern is the significance of the smoke seen in the pictures. Before deciding how to deal with it, I need to know if there's actually a problem there that needs fixing. If I take it to a shop, I know what their solution's going to be so I'd appreciate any comments.

 

[Billme]

Do like Hamfisted says..Any leaks could be making their way to the cabin..I would fix them..

 

[jr1under]

Do like Hamfisted says..Any leaks could be making their way to the cabin..I would fix them..

Thanks, just wanted to be sure I'm not 'fixing' a non-problem. I'm used to working with two-part epoxy so I'll try some HighHeat JB Weld first. If that doesn't work, I'll have the muffler replaced even though it's barely 26 years old.

 

[Billme]

I’m going to do mine, since reading this post. I know I have a few leaks in the muffler section. Mine is original as well. Great suggestion btw

 

[jr1under]

Per the previous pictures, the leak was in the seam where the muffler body and head join. I prepped the area with a wire brush, wiped it down with acetone and applied JB Weld by finger. It worked! After 24 hours cure, I smoke-tested again and there's zero leakage.

This is a fun fix to try because there's no downside. If it fails, I'll get a new muffler which was always the most likely outcome. OTOH, handling a problem like this for $10 has a very strong appeal.

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J-B Weld HighHeat Syringe is a 2-part epoxy system that provides strong, lasting, heat-resistant repairs up to 550°F. Mixed at a ratio of 1:1, it forms a permanent bond that has a 4730 PSI strength and

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