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.