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> Subject:       Tracing Vacuum Leaks/brakes
> 
> Since I was the one who got on the soap-box, I'll offer some
> suggestions I've found useful in tracing various vacuum leaks.
> 
> 1.  Stick a hose in your ear.  Really.  By placing a section of
> heater hose or nearly anything, including a tube from a roll of paper
> towels, against your ear it makes your hearing in that one ear very directional..
> With the unhosed ear plugged (picture me with one hand over one ear,
> a section of heater hose sticking out the other :) sweep across the
> suspect areas until the hiss is loudest then start homing in.  Do
> this in the parking lot of K-Mart and watch the looks you get.
> 
> 2.  Put a few psi air pressure into the vacuum hose system.  I've
> discussed this one before but essentially hook up a regulated air
> hose dialed down to a few psi, into your vacuum system and listen for
> leaks and use that squirt bottle of soap water to spray hoses, parts,
> etc.  Use caution with this method if you have a vehicle with vacuum
> servo doors in the heating/cooling system as it may inflate the
> bellows designed for a negative pressure, not a positive one.  The
> brake booster often has a check valve in-line so this may not reveal
> a leak in that device.
> 
> 3.  Systematically, remove the vacuum hose connection from devices
> and plug the end of the hose to remove that device from the vacuum
> circuit. Golf tees work nice for plugging vacuum lines.
> 
> 4.  Use a vacuum gauge.  This ends up being your 'test meter' and
> have a nice assortment of "T" fittings, hose pieces, and other
> adapters.  This is one of those 'tools' you accumulate thru the years
> and it keeps getting better as you fill out your fittings box.
> 
> 5.  I don't like the flammable liquids/gases method.  Some people
> spray carb cleaner, use propane, or even starting fluid (ether) to
> spray around while the engine is running to notice an RPM difference.
>  You're on your own with this one.  I've seen too many bad
> experiences with ether, benzene and other organic solvents in the
> chem lab to go spraying them around a hot engine.  (Got a great story
> re: benzene, sink traps, a row of 5 chem sinks, and an open flame...)
> 
> -dan
> 
>