Overview of my DIY Smoke Machine

[@michaelh7527]

Damn! That is nice, but complicated. I got an old paint can and put two holes in the top. Connected one hose from engine to can. I lit some wood chips and got them smoking. I tapped the lid on and let my tire inflator push the smoke through the engine. Found the source of leak in under a minute.

[@BidCrushr]

Great little idea, I did own one of these paint can smokers, but I didn’t like the way it overheated. One day I blasted the lid off it during a smoke test on my car because it overheated so quickly. Mine did have a glowplug as a heating element which may have been the cause of overheat. So I sold that one and just bought the $149 Stinger Smoker on eBay (Amazon sells it also). Let me tell you, it has been the best money spent. It works perfectly, never overheats, and hangs with the built in hook. (Great for mounting under the hood) heck it even looks good !! No I do not represent Stinger, nor am I being paid for this, I actually spent my own money on the stinger smoker. Its just I figured I’d put it out there because it is well worth the money.

[@train4905]

Vey lovely build sir.nice one ,steve from the uk

[@aros007z]

Damm you did a excellent and well thought out job in building this....bravo!

[@XLAND101]

Just a thought. I have never seen any Factory diagnostic flow chart recommending an inert gas used for testing. All Factory testers use shop air. When the system is functioning, the Purge Valve is drawing vacuum to the system to pull vapors out. The Vent Valve is open (in most cases) drawing atmospheric air through it to the Canister and then to the Tank. Same as using Shop Air. The only time the Vent Valve is closed is during a random diagnostic leak check. I am aware of California Smog Checks using Nitrogen for their Evap system checks for pre 2000 vehicles. They just want to cover their Derriere in case of other issues. No real good reason for it. Just think about Fuel Injection with a return system, the pressurised Fuel made its way to the hot Engine. The return fuel is now hotter, and is now vaporizing in the return line. Now you have fresh warm vapors and cooler atmospheric air drawn into the system. Sounds scary, but in reality: Not an issue.

[@coquimonster31]

Nice setup.

[@randyanderson6110]

The only thing you haven't shown was the peice of sheet metal... And of course the smoke. All that video and drop the ball when it comes to the smoke.

[@sailorbob74133]

How many amps do you need in order for the mineral oil to smoke and not burn? You mentioned that you use about 4 amps most of the time? I want to rig this without the dimmer and just use the correct length of nicrome wire to get the correct resistance.

[@reinaldogonzalez6045]

many sophisticated things to use it for 5 minutes and detect the leak, I've seen without many other things better

[@acmagadia]

can I also use castor oil for better smell?

[@richardmiller3781]

How long is the wire you used in the can?

[@salvadoralas6801]

so whats better 20 gauge or 24 gauge nichrome wire

[@sergioAcadena]

It's possible to use 22 gauge wire?

[@ratbert86]

No, that's far too small. I would not want to do smaller than 16.

[@andrewsdiy9111]

sure, it will change the amperage calculations a little

[@sergioAcadena]

What kind of oil are you using?

[@Pr0ph3cy-k5z]

Sergio Cadena Most likely Mineral Oil or baby oil.

[@andrewsdiy9111]

medical-grade pure mineral oil. no fragrance, dye etc. the MSDS of the expensive fluid is a mineral oil base with some dyes etc.

[@victoraberdeen2634]

Why not baby oil?

[@raymonds9335]

Does oil come out of the hose?

[@isaacc3307]

Yes raymond YES

[@martinez221704]

You should make and sell them haha

[@jodyjr00]

Made the same design. Does nothing. Help

[@victoraberdeen2634]

Try some glow plugs in place of wire.

[@mechanics2804]

Is the nichrome wire absolutely crucial? Im using 20 gauge non-nichrome and having overheating problems

[@HondaAholic]

Nichrome heats up faster. You can use Kanthal or SS. Kanthal and SS also taste and smells better than Nichrome :)

[@andrewsdiy9111]

The nichrome wire is necessary, or some other resistive wire. if you're using straight 20-gauge wire, that won't work well

[@michaelpihkal]

that's not it! dude where is the smoke … doesn't work? why not just turn it on for a second? all that time into the video and you don't turn it on?

[@HondaAholic]

Should've made some claptons for bigger clouds