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Has anyone used a smoke machine to detect vacuum leaks on the LT1.
If so, what machine and where was your leak?
I am compiling a list of the things to do when I get back to look for leaks.
No real symptoms, per say , but some of the hoses/gaskets are a bit old.
There are several ways to check for leaks. A simple hand vacuum pump can be used to test individual hoses. A small leak will show when the vacuum drops slowly over time. I have not had to use a smoke test on any of my Corvettes but it did find a intake leak on my F150 that neither I nor other shops could find (crack on intake manifold). Hose is probably one of the least expensive items on a Corvette. If it looks bad it might be bad, swap it out. Then you will know there are no leaks and your engine will look better. That should add that feel good horsepower.
I am looking at a visual smoke tester. If I tape off throttle body and run smoke, I may be able to find something easier.
So, looking for experience in that test in itself.
I have an L98 and as such can't help with leak location, but I can help with performing the test itself.
I made a smoke machine with a small paint can from lowes. I put a bicycle tire valve through the lid, as well as a fitting that connected to 3/4 inch hose that I put on my EGR port in the intake manifold. I used mineral oil to make thick white smoke and a bike pump to pump it into my engine. It worked very well and cost basically nothing.
I have an L98 and as such can't help with leak location, but I can help with performing the test itself.
I made a smoke machine with a small paint can from lowes. I put a bicycle tire valve through the lid, as well as a fitting that connected to 3/4 inch hose that I put on my EGR port in the intake manifold. I used mineral oil to make thick white smoke and a bike pump to pump it into my engine. It worked very well and cost basically nothing.
A shop Vac plumbed backwards can only put out 3 psi so you don't need to worry about blowing anything up. Spray some soap water anywhere there might be a leak and look for bubbles. Forget the Smoke.
Well I originally ignored this post cause you mentioned for experience with an LT1 then changed it to with the test in general
On my Crossfire smoke is amazing. Shows if my throttle bodies' shaft bushings are leaking or not, but the thing it really helps with is the HVAC vacuum lines. No amount of "shop vac and spraying soapy water" will be as fast or feasible to diagnose an HVAC vac diaphragm leak under the dash as with smoke hooked to the feed line by the distributor
A word of warning tho, mineral oil stinks to high heaven when heated to the point of smoke. Not gear oil stank, but it freaking lingers in the air for hours. Wipe off any areas you find smoke, it plain stinks
Not sure if I can make a video but I can post some pictures. You'll need paper towels or some other fuel to actually burn and heat up the oil. Light it and let it burn for maybe 30 seconds or so. You'll see the white smoke forming in the can. It sinks and won't escape even with the lid off. When you put the lid on it will douse the fire so make sure you have a good amount of smoke built up before doing so. Also I usually connect the pump before I put the lid on because it gets very hot very quickly. It's hard to get the pump on the valve without burning yourself otherwise.
Flannel_Man is right about the smell. I don't mind it too much but its not exactly pleasant. I recommend doing this outside where the smoke won't blow in your house/garage.
Smoke test for vacuum leaks
