Spitfire Smoke Testing

[FlyingCat]

Hi, everybody. I have a 1980 Spitfire (1500 Federal), not that it may matter for this question. Does anybody have suggestions on smoking testing one of these engines? Thanks!

 

[poolboy]

There should be something on YouTube, if the specific car doesn't matter.

 

[FlyingCat]

All I found on YouTube was how to smoke test more modern engines, those with more centralized air in-takes.

 

[TomMull]

The late Tappet Brother Tom Magliozzi from NPR "Car Talk" devised a procedure using one of his favorite cigars. Sorry I couldn't find the episode on line.

Tom

 

[Graham H]

What is smoke testing? is it an American tongue in cheek thing? I have no idea what you are asking.

Graham

 

[NutmegCT]

There are other ways to test for leaks, but here's an overview of "smoke testing".

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3094/how-to-find-a-vacuum-leak/

I can't afford one of those testers, so I just spray carb cleaner or starting fluid to find vacuum leaks.

Tom M.

 

[Jim_Stevens]

There are other ways to test for leaks, but here's an overview of "smoke testing".

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3094/how-to-find-a-vacuum-leak/

I can't afford one of those testers, so I just spray carb cleaner or starting fluid to find vacuum leaks.

Tom M.

But to be fair to Graham, yes- in the American vernacular, it means to plug something electrical in and see if it goes “poof”.

 

[FlyingCat]

I found a couple of places online that used a cigar, one where the guy actively puffed on it, and another where they used a transfer pumb, and even one where the guy built an elaborate pump using a pickle jar. I got that part down. What I'm looking for is where to blow it in at on my car.

 

[FlyingCat]

I've tried that, and it works to a degree, but some of those leaks can be really subtle, and as poorly as it's running now it's hard to tell it's running any better.

 

[FlyingCat]

It's the same principle as testing a sewer line for leaks, or testing your attic for leaks. You fill it full of smoke and then go outside to see where that smoke is coming out. With a car, you blow the smoke in... somewhere... and then see if any of the gaskets or hoses are leaking. There are several videos online that show how it's done. This is probably the best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOhl4r0GSiE

What I'm wanting to figure out is where would be the best place to blow that smoke into my Spitfire's 1500 engine.

 

[Graham H]

Thank you Jim, I get it

Graham

 

[poolboy]

When I had it done at a technical college..they stuck the smoke into the tail pipe...It takes awhile, but smoke will circulate into the engine thru which ever exhaust valves have openings.

 

[FlyingCat]

That's a good idea. My exhaust is new, so that should work... maybe. It's hard to tell.