Finding Vacuum Leaks In An Old Mercedes

Monkey Wrench Mike has built a smoke machine for about $20 to try and find vacuum leaks in his 1990 Mercedes 560SEC. Does it work? Does it explode??

[@krhoft]

Love the spirit of your approach to resolve, then the comment "I enjoy putting obstacles between myself and success". You will always win regardless.

[@dv270salto7]

Good Job, Mate! Also, very funny to watch...Excellent sense of humor...

[@Djwally13]

The smoke test was genius, I'll have to try the same thing on my Son's 190E.

[@alfredlearlyjr1780]

Mike, everytime i watch you, school is in. Thanks, my 123, 1982 had a vacume leak that was hard to find. It cost me a large sum to have that fixed. Your work on the Benz is so interesting.

[@josinora]

❤ Need that smoke machine, too 🙏 thx for sharing that selfbuild smoker. One leak I already found Just by listening. But have no idea if there are more. Same issue with the economy totally in the red. By the way my 124 is a non disel Mercedes from '89. Blessings from Germany ❤️

[@knottreel]

Yeah, now I'm convinced that this guy once played one of the stooges. Very entertaining and informative. I'll be back to this channel more often. Thanks!

[@edsnyder2829]

Thank u , good info, but what did u pug the tubing to, into, to do your test

[@michaelharrison500]

Hey Mike Great video Had the same issue with a vacuum leak at I think they are a one way valve Mine being a 6 cylinder petrol only had 3 fittings so used a tee and new hose Instant fix

[@att61y]

I honestly thought there was no way this would ever work! Great vid Mike!

[@graphene1487]

3:28 love the music here. That bass line is stellar.

[@persianchris2451]

Wow you just taught me what those skinny little lines are!! My injector lines!? Wow, that makes sense now in my personal situation and time for me to clean up my Fuel Lines, etc. Thank you sir!

[@katuimu1429]

Good job. Gasoline is leaking from the fuel governor, so we recommend replacing it.(15:07)

[@RadioRescue]

Wow! That smoke jar was super cool! Worked great! I'm going to have to remember that! Have a great day!

[@briankoundry3401]

The smoke machine works fantastic I use mine often so simple to make and a really effective tool 👍🏻 glad it worked out for you mike .

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Brian!!

[@richards542]

Always interesting ways you find to do things Mike! Keep it up buddy!

[@jenny1990ization]

Hey mike it looks like your EHA valve on the fuel distributor is wet. Those tend to leak gas may need to check that out. Keep up the good work!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Will do!

[@dansather3461]

Thanks for the smoke machine idea! I tried it and found all kinds of intake manifold leaks on my suburban. I will admit i was skeptical at first but after i tried it, im glad i watched this video! Thanks again and happy holidays!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Well done!!!

[@andrewlaw]

Think the valves are one way check valves. When you come off the gas it draws a vacuum and swings the economy meter into the green, looks like you are pushing a vacuum hence the needle goes the wrong way.

[@wernerdanler2742]

Wow, this just popped up and it's over a year old. You obviously hooked some of those lines up backwards. Some of them also probably operate the hvac vents in the dash. Did you check the vacuum lines under the car clear back to the fuel tank? Also check the o-ring on the oil dip stick. Hope you got it all sealed up!

[@archygrey9093]

I made my own connector using rubber hose and those little elbow and T-piece trickle irrigation connectors.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great idea!

[@serverdll]

amazing tip right here mike!!!!! my old w124 m103 have some vacuum leaks and now i know how to find them... THANKS!!!!

[@kellyspeppers]

Old cars so much fun, about every rubber part is hard and about ready to crack. I always tell my kids rubber is what makes a car good, without it you don't have much of a car.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Fantastic job Mr. Nathan lane ! I enjoyed your movie , The birdcage !!! Lol 😂 also I recommend you purchase a repair manual for the car ,it should have the correct routing of the vacuum hoses , that way you can get that straightened out.

[@attilamerter6410]

was watching you and Randy on the Copart tour. like what you do. all the best from Istanbul Turkey.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Istanbul... very cool! Thank you!!

[@LarsCKolberg]

This is incredible!!! So exciting and SO clever. Thank you (MB 230CE 1989)

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Pretty clever!!

[@jayarcameron4207]

One of the rare circumstances where soft is good and holes are bad! I love this idea, Mike! Why is it that your best videos are of the Merc engine bay smoking? 😉

[@proaz4034]

i m not mechanic but i used this T in my renault espace a long time ago and it works perfect hhhhh i enjoy your videos mrs MIKE you make it so easy

[@keithcollins9080]

Thanks for the great idea on the smoke machine.

[@Dnasty1]

Incredible. I just watched another vid of a guy using a kids toy pump and a black and mild and now this 😂😂. Was wondering if the brake booster is the best place to run the smoke or if you could run it through the oil filler cap.

[@richchester187]

I'm watching this on remembrance day. I look at the underside of your 'engine lid' and there's a soldier with his gun.

[@timmystimmer537]

Love the smoker! Way to think outside the box mike

[@alanfilip8896]

You are one of the Funniest KZbin car guy I give you kudos

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Alan!

[@nickgeorgiakakis7249]

Greetings from New Zealand Mike. Love your videos and love the car. Those old mercs have so much character, would love to have one myself sometime.

[@richardgreene3460]

Glad you are doing the motor mounts! I'm planning to do my first on a W123 next week! Hope you release it by then!!!!!!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Hopefully Wednesday!

[@danielcarter5579]

I definitely need to do this exact procedure thanks for showing us this way!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

That’s what I’m here for!

[@RuslanMadjidChannel]

Thank you for your information sir. I Will check my engine M 104 W124 E320 1995 Mercedes Benz as like you did in this your video.

[@tipr8739]

Mike do you have an affiliate link for the red attachment that you put on the top of the pickle jar where the pump attaches?

[@danielmckenzie6858]

i will admit do love these old Mercedes esp 560sel convertible in red or black I would love it, had to settle for a 95 corvette instead , i make a video tomorrow it be warmer 70 out here in Detroit! 4-21-2022

[@martinkremlicka3483]

Hopefully :-D / smoke party / MacGyver fixing style = awesom job!

[@chrisbonds1642]

love your videos would love to see more of the cars that you're working on maybe test driving some but keep up the good work

[@zen8robi]

Next time forget the junkyard , use silicone on all these fittings , way better than any rubber !

[@striela1]

Goooood job, man!!! Greetings from Italy!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Italy! Cool!!!

[@organic80]

What is the safest way to store this when not in use? Especially since the rags are soaked in oil.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I just put it in a plastic clear box with a lid. No problems so far.

[@marcosdelnero3649]

hello, do you have any material regarding the vacuum system that you can share with me? I ve bought a 450SL 1979 but I m completely lost to identify the vacuum lines and how it works. Thank you very much

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I don’t have any info on those. Sorry

[@w124mercedes7]

You can buy just enough every vacume fitting or supply line on that car at autohausaz. I have replaced nearly every vacume hose and fitting through them. Just about every part I have needed for my mercedes came from them. And they have great prices on name brand parts. In the past few months I have bought about $2000 in parts and pleased with them all.

[@keithexum7312]

Those are check valves. Some go to HVAC controls.

[@Rideshare-Lisa]

You with your smoke machine and Randy with his soap!! You guys are new age MacGyver!! 😎😎🤣

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

True!!

[@cokeypokey1]

Hi mike Did that smoke test and found 2x injector seals leaking and replaced. I'm having problems with high idle and black soot blowing out the exhaust. My next attack is to clean the maf sensor. Do you have an idea where it is located on a 1985 380se w126. I could send you a pic of the engine bay if you got a email address. Regards

[@jimmydeen58]

Great Video Mike Awesome Idea on the DIY Smoke Machine love your videos....

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Jimmy!!

[@paulrandolph8469]

You don't have to find a 4-way piece of ancient Mercedes rubber. For some hoses that are just loose and not cracked, you might try clear silicone caulking---just a dab in a place where it won't enter the line. You could also use silicone to seal the soldering iron.

[@paulrandolph8469]

I should also point out that the Gorilla Glue company sells silicone caulking in a small tube with a tight cap (similar to a tube of toothpaste). In other words, you can buy a little and have it last a long time without drying out. I can't stand those big tubes that go dry in a few weeks.

[@iamher6422]

Metalunique built that same contraption a number of yrs. ago..

[@gsauve3908]

Hey mike it looks like your black glove on the intake is flipping off the viewers lol

[@kiethwester1563]

Nice smoke machine wonder if a hose or one valve got swapped or is stuck . Are you going to move in to a house with a real Garage soon I hope . You make excellent videos down to earth ones that real people can understand . You need a million Subscribers .

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yes! Thank you! And YES!! A million subscribers would be great!!

[@graphene1487]

You must be an educator. You have that way about you. Thank you for the great videos.

[@Djwally13]

Are the injectors pretty much the same on all 6 and 8 cylinder Benz engines? They have a plastic sleeve with o rings and then the injector nozzle is inserted into the plastic sleeve with o rings?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yup!

[@persianchris2451]

3:28 that beat is fire!!

[@bernardogutierrez3802]

Mike try changing the order of the 2 connections to reverse the vacuum that goes to the dashboard

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great idea... but if they both a vacuum operated, would that make a difference?

[@mikeys1stphone191]

Cool set up 🙌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@BobPegram]

11 months ago but still good to watch Mike! I was thinking that those vacuum ports go to blend doors in the HVAC. Did you ever find out? Otherwise, they go to that vacuum/economy meter. It moves the same direction for less economy (greater vacuum) as the one in my Subaru. Maybe red=good? Nah! 8-))

[@NWCI]

It's look like somebody watched and followed my video up to the pickle jar 😂 Anyway, I'd recommend sealing the top of the soldering iron with liqued tape, and also replace the inlet with tire stem.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yeah, I had to use Silicone to try and seal the top!

[@manowaari]

Might be intake manifold gaskets check closely, that's a bigger job to remove and fix... Hopefully just some injector seals..

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I’m hoping!!

[@fuzzydicemotors8240]

That was one smokin’ video!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Ha!!

[@Johnathan_Waters]

Mike GREAT video!! Only thing is, when replacing vacuum parts, ONLY USE NEW ONES!! I have a bunch of new ones, bought them (the 4-way type) for about $3-4 on RMEuropean.com. If you can't find a part, try typing it's part number into PelicanParts.com as well!!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great info. Thanks!

[@DanielDillard-sb1hu]

help mike, save my 04 Benz s500 78k miles its stuck in 2nd gear and won't go past 30mph.thanks

[@mikeg0702]

Mike-Mike its not called MacGyver......I call it MikeGyver!! lol

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Nice!! Lol

[@cokeypokey1]

Hi mike Your videos are fantastically put together, you have a wickedly amazing great sense of humor, and good patience. I wish you had a bit more room in your garage so you could swing a cat. Keep up the great informative work. Rob from Australia

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Rob! I’m looking for a house with a shop or something to use to make videos.

[@chrishosmer1810]

That sweet smell wasnt your upstairs neighbors that was your frigging socks mate

[@RadioRescue]

That intake with the glove on it looks like the bottom of the Mr Fusion from the Back To The Future movie

[@andrewlaw]

Mike, found a 4 way connector on eBay for ya. Just search "mercedes four way vacuum connector 1170780045”. It's available in the UK so pretty sure you'll be good in the US.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great, thanks!!

[@justinhicks6424]

I always like Randy’s videos, wanted to come on over here and subscribe

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Appreciate that Justin. Thanks!

[@ezesrebuilds1174]

Dude That Was Sick Dude

[@AlwaysDiagnoseVehicleFirst]

Sir Good Morning! I watched your video and loved it. Were you using the bicycle hand pump to deliver smoke into the brake booster hose or did you wait for the jar to create smoke and let the smoke flow out on its own without pumping?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

The pump pushed the smoke out of the jar and into the booster vacuum hose. Good luck!

[@peterbollans9982]

going to be tricky changing them lines out

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Especially on the left side!!

[@4423Scott]

Great video! Gotta try this on my 91 MB 300SEL. What size tubing did you use? What size or what did you use for red connector on the pickle jar lid (you would connect the bicycle pump to)? Thanks Luis

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I think the thick tube was 1/2” and the thinner one was 1/4 “ ... but I could be wrong. Good luck!

[@d.dolphinstriker5737]

Nice trick to find a leak

[@peturtrump3773]

Great video . It inspire me to go and work on my 1990 w124 200TE :D.I have a mysterious OIL leak in the water (really not cool).

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Ouch... sounds expensive!

[@peturtrump3773]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike Yeah it was.... Took it to the mechanic and it was blown head gasket.

[@StevenBrown-qu2yl]

The hood insulation is bothering me and made more noticeable with the glove pointing to it.(grin)

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yeah, that needs to be addressed!

[@kevinritchie9227]

I have to do the same thing for my Merc... uh I mean S10. I think you and I must have seen the same instructional video on youtube. I have the parts, just need to put it together. You got any left over baby oil?? lol

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Hahahahaha!!

[@kevinvandevelde9789]

Mother of invention 👍👍👍👍

[@vijaywaingankar8352]

Good videos

[@RobertMememe]

How do you know that that smell is from upstairs you are such a good boy? LOLOL

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I have friends who participate in that type of fun!!

[@RobertMememe]

Yeah yeah 🤗

[@garyashdown5376]

Mike you should have used upstairs smoke generator you might have not found all the leaks but by the end you wouldn't care 🌿🌿🌿😳😊😊🤪.... Gary...... England 🇬🇧

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

And the video would have been crazy long and very mellow. Plus I’d be eating Doritos at the end!! Lol

[@iamher6422]

I made that smoker a number of yrs. ago... "metalunique"

[@robertross6775]

I have a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 sec made in Germany how did you know that the vacuum leak was causing a problem what problem did you actually have I'm curious?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

There’s no power when I hit the gas.

[@richochett404]

It doesn't matter due to the fact you should never have a vacuum leak in the system, however , if you need a reason, do it because it is the day of the week.

[@next2normal]

Next video...your new hood liner

[@lucyenglish8215]

Hi Monkey Wrench Mike , I watch all your Videos . I love them & think your fab xx

[@samuelanderson1415]

Great job a good video 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@russelltrupia4479]

Hey Mike do you have a pattern for that machine?

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I just found a video on KZbin and jumped in!

[@russelltrupia4479]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike Oh just thought it was a Monkey Wrench invention.( LOL )

[@danielmckenzie6858]

i try not to look fat on the video by repositioning the camera

[@mhawkins1975]

I got to say I’m impressed

[@eatont9999]

Here are the 4-way vacuum hoses. www.autohausaz.com/pn/1170780045 www.autohausaz.com/pn/1170780045OE

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great... thank you!!

[@kittykat999a]

Smoke party? Where are Cheese & Chong? Or Willie Nelson? Man you have leaks like Willie Nelson’s tour bus.

[@Mono_Jungla]

Hello Mike , Maybe the hoses are intalled in the wrong way. (that doesn´t make ant sense)

[@cav4290]

What did I tell you! :) Good luck.

[@AlexanderSmith21]

You've got a vacuum line back to front causing it to go the wrong way

[@johnwauson7770]

Just found this video. Cool.

[@matthewmmuchesko8088]

That is Nina sing you made and it worked that's pretty cool pickle jar of bicycle pump in a soldering irons and mineral spirits them things are expensive and they charge a lot of money to get one to use it at a garage to get them to do it for you got to love the internet to show you how to save money

[@perry4032]

Hi, if you want to ever get the proper part for the vacuum line (4 way) it is "A 117 078 00 45". Cheers! Oh, and here is the link to the parts web page. Makes it easy to see how things go together! nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/1/fg/126045/571/

[@mhawkins1975]

What a clever idea.whos the man.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

I am! I am!

[@misticwhatever2679]

Randy sent me over

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Welcome!!