EVAP Smoke Machine Questions – OTC 6521 LeakTamer

Below are a couple of recent questions about the OTC LeakTamer Smoke machine.
Q: We are getting a lot of Evaporative codes in our shop lately. Is the OTC 6521 LeakTamer easy to use?

A: Absolutely, it is. It is portable and is basically used the same way on every vehicle. Find a place to hook up the hose and you’re off and running.

Q: Why is it recommended to use Nitrogen instead of shop air? I’ve seen smoke machines that are cheaper that don’t use Nitrogen, so why use Nitrogen?

A: Using Nitrogen with a smoke machine when testing an Evaporative system is the only way to follow automaker test requirements for all makes and models. Most major car manufacturers require or recommend using Nitrogen. Under the heading of Hazard Prevention, SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Technical Paper 2007-01-1235 states, “Inside the confines of the fuel system,  flammable mixtures can be prevented by using nitrogen as the carrier gas for the leak detection fluid instead of air.” Shop Owners who are genuinely concerned about employee, customer vehicle, and shop safety use Nitrogen. It’s inert, non-flammable, and prevents a contaminated air supply from inadvertently reaching a customer’s vehicle.

Now with that being said, many repair shops don’t use Nitrogen – they simply use shop air from an air compressor.

Also I would be cautious when considering a cheap unit – besides the OTC 6521 LeakTamer is priced lower than I’ve ever seen it before right now!

Learn more about using a smoke machine.

Jump-N-Carry 660, 4000, AIR Battery Boosters

Great source for more information on the Jump and Carry booster pack line-up. Also great prices with quick delivery. Jump-n-Carry line of professional jump boxes, are a favorite for good reason of repair shops, and boat mechanics everywhere. Pound for pound some of the most powerful jumpstarters available anywhere. Store them sideways, upside down – it doesn’t matter. They won’t leak due to their design. Choose the battery booster pack the pros use.  The best selling models are the JNC 660, JNC 4000 and the JNC AIR - heavier truck jump boxes are available too. Learn more about why many mechanics choose to own a Jump and Carry battery booster. Or if you’re already convinced the Jump-N-Carry is for you, see the product listings for great pricing and most ship for free!

Front Wheel Drive 1/2 Shafts – CV Axle Replacement

I’m guest blogging here today, usually you’ll find me at my regular auto repair blog. If you like what you see here please visit my blog and auto tool store.

Summary: Changing C.V. (Constant Velocity) axles today is almost as common as doing brake jobs. But some CV axles can be pretty stubborn to remove. In this article learn some of the tricks I’ve used over the years as a Master Tech to make changing CVs and 1/2 shafts easier. Automotive specialty tools are sometimes needed to make the job easier, I’ll discuss some of those and if it is better to replace the entire half shaft, the joint or just the CV boot.

OTC6521 Smoke Machine – Smoking Recommended

car smoke dollar 2

The OTC6521 smoke machine for EVAP testing is the best tool I’ve seen for checking trouble codes like P0440, P0442, P0455, P0456 and P0457 that can be caused by evaporative system leaks. Diagnosing an evaporative code is no fun without this tool. Leaks are the leading cause of EVAP codes, many times it’s just a loose gas cap. But if it’s not the fuel cap the OTC 6521 will provide a quick easy way to find the leak.

Other Uses

Vacuum leaks can also be traced easily with the OTC 6521 smoke machine. Engine codes for lean conditions like P0172 and P0174 are usually because of a vacuum leak. If the vacuum leak isn’t an obvious one, then a quick smoke test with the OTC6521 smoke machine will make finding it much easier. I remove a random vacuum line and block off the air intake hose, fill with smoke and see where it comes out.

The OTC 6521

Car Turns Over But Wont Start? Most Common Causes

Car Won't Start Auto Repair Tips

When your car cranks over but doesn’t start, the last thing you want is to be sent on some wild goose chase. You need some real advise you can use from someone that has experience, not just a wanna be auto mechanic telling you some random things to check. Below is an excerpt from an auto repair article that has good solid diagnosis advise for the most common causes of a no start condition, when a vehicle turns or cranks over but doesn’t start.

 A car that cranks over but doesn’t start, in many cases will be due to a bad fuel pump, a broken timing belt, an inoperative cam sensor or crank sensor. The first step in diagnosing a no start is to scan for codes with a code reader or scan tool. Approximately 40% of the cars towed in that I worked on in the last 25 years, either had a bad fuel pump or the fuel gage read incorrectly and the car was just out of fuel. Yes, some people actually have their cars towed in when all they need is some gas! If the fuel gage indicates that there is fuel in the tank, most people will assume naturally that the car does have fuel.

Read the entire 817 word article.

It’s Hammer Time with Explosives – Tool Blog

This cracks me up every time I see it. It’s amazing to me that so many guys are doing this “tape explosives to the sledgehammer & smack it on a metal plate thing!” If you have any idea what the heck they’re doing or have a funny response, feel free to comment.

Ford Focus Wipers Won’t Go Down TSB – Just Park!

 

Ford Focus windshield wipers won’t park

Recently I had a Ford Focus in our repair shop for wipers not parking. When turned off, they would stay right where they were, the wipers worked fine otherwise. One of my favorite tools lately has been the TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) check on Mitchell. This can really save a lot of time if the bulletin applies to the problem I’m working on. In fact, some of the fixes are so spot on that it takes all the work out of diagnosis and makes me look like a genius. This particular problem on the Focus was really worth the time to check for TSBs.

Honda Crank Pulley Removal Tool Shipped Fast!

Honda and Acura Crankshaft Pulley Bolt Removal Tool

When trying to loosen a Honda crankshaft pulley bolt, the last thing you want to do is wait a week to get it. That’s why I looked around for the best source for a Honda crank pulley tool removal tool. It’s not often you can find a tool company that not just sells the tool, but also provides a ton of information too! How about a YouTube video showing how it’s done?

Top Seven Birthday or Xmas Gifts for Automotive Technicians

As with any gift, it’s best to know if the person you are buying for, has a need for the item you are considering. If it’s a mechanic you are buying for it’s a safe assumption, he’d love to receive car tools. Not just cheap run of the mill tools like from Harbor Freights, but professional grade tools that he can be proud to show the guys at work. And even if he already has one, that’s OK, it’s nice to have tools for home too!

P0442 P0455 P0457 EVAP Leak Ford Mustang – Smoke Machine

2004 Ford Mustang EVAP Codes pulled with Genisys Scan Tool

Evaporative leak codes can be caused by broken fuel vapor lines, gas tank seals leaking, EVAP canister cracked, etc. EVAP codes can be some of the most difficult fault codes to diagnose. After pulling codes and checking the obvious by doing a quick visual inspection, to verify it’s not just a loose gas cap you’re dealing with. Bring out the smoke machine, it’s a great auto specialty tool that is really a necessity in any automotive repair shop today. In addition to checking for EVAP leaks, it can also be used to check vacuum leaks for lean codes and exhaust leaks that aren’t quite so easy to pinpoint.