How to easily check and detect air leaks on a car

When the rubber seals, especially the air filter pipe, wear out, air may be sucked into the engine. As a result, a lean fuel mixture enters the cylinders. As a result, the car loses its driving dynamics, the engine is unstable, and the “Check” does not light up. If such problems arise, you can try to check for air leaks yourself before sending it to a service center for diagnostics. You don't have to have a smoke generator for this. If there is a leak, then after the seal is restored the machine should work as it should.

What you will need:

plastic bag;
compressor with adapter;
thin hose.

Choke search process

To quickly determine whether there is a serious leak, you need to disconnect the mass air flow sensor along with the pipe, and block it with your palm while the engine is running.

Before doing this, you should step on the gas. As a result, a vacuum will be created in the pipe and the engine will stall. You need to continue to hold your palm.

If there is suction, you will be able to hear a hissing sound as air enters through small cracks in the seals.If there is no sound, and the air pipe, being compressed by the vacuum, does not straighten, then there is no suction and the reason for the poor operation of the motor is something else.

For a more detailed leak test, you can disconnect the pipe from the mass air flow sensor and place a plastic bag between them. Then the pipe is clamped back with a clamp.

Next, the adapter from the kit is installed on the compressor hose, and a thin tube, such as is used on a frill, is put on it.

Then you need to pump air into the intake manifold, first removing the hose from it through any fitting. Air is pumped into the receiver until the filter pipe inflates in the corrugation area to the elasticity of a ball. After turning off the compressor, you need to listen for any hissing.

When creating a vacuum in the manifold or, conversely, pumping pressure into it, it is necessary to inspect for leaks, first of all, the filter pipe itself, since there are often cracks on it.

Air can also enter through the dipstick, idle speed control, canister tube, throttle gasket, O-rings of the injectors and the intake manifold itself, or poorly tightened clamps on the air pipe.