zeitgeist57 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I'm 99% positive the Passat has a couple of major vacuum leaks. Does anyone have access to a smoke machine so I can pressure test the intake system? TIA... I'd use ether, but the car has a belt driven fan...almost always blowing a significant amount of air over the motor...be a pain to try to find a leak with the engine running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qtr_pndr Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 cigar plumbed to a vacuum line is a easy way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboNova Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 is it a 1.8 or 2.8? if its the 1.8 there are common hoses under the intake and a couple behind the cylinder head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6 Speed S4 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 is it a 1.8 or 2.8? if its the 1.8 there are common hoses under the intake and a couple behind the cylinder head. Pretty sure he has a 2.8. I would check vac lines going to back of intake manifold and fpr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 It's pretty easy to unbolt the fan, at least on the 2.7 it is... its reverse thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpfiend Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 It's never worked for me but lots of guys swear by disconnecting a tps or some sensor to put it into closed loop and then spray carb cleaner at suspect leak areas and listen for a change in idle... a mechanic guy my dad knows sucked oil into a vacuum port of a carbed ride to make a smoke machine??? dunno if I would do that one but he swore it was safe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Did you pull the covers and do a visual inspection? These cars are notorious for lines drying out and cracking. Typically a visual inspection will yield a result, we don't smoke those cars really ever. We see a ton of them......also check the air pump lines (plastic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoXbmx Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 check the lines going to the purge solenoid on the pass side, more specifically the elbows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 When I was tracing a boost leak on the RX I made a cap out of PVC and installed a tire valve. Then I hooked up my air compressor, pressurized a bit and listened for/felt for leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 you can spray brake kleen or carb cleaner near a suspected vacum leak if its leaking it should suck it in and change the idle a little bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 you can spray brake kleen or carb cleaner near a suspected vacum leak if its leaking it should suck it in and change the idle a little bit This, pull the belt off the fan and just don't run it long enough to overheat if the fan is screwing up your testing. Wait on second thought wouldn't it have an electric fan you could unplug? I don't know VWs but finding a vacuum leak shouldn't be all that hard, a can of brakeclean is all you need. If you want to get creative get a small thing of propane (you know the little ones for camping) short hose, and crack it open around possible vacuum leaks and find them easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboNova Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 do you have a ck engine light? it will throw bank 1 or bank 2 lean faults or secondary air faults for vacuum leaks. Also the mass air meters in most every vw is shitty and will throw lean faults as well. There was a recall for 2.8 passats for the vac line that went to the combination valves from the secondary air purge valve. The 2.8 has very few areas for a vac leak but there is one hose that is right behind the intake that is known to be soft and crack. like others have said, spray some throttle body cleaner on that hose and watch for idle surge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpfiend Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 This, pull the belt off the fan and just don't run it long enough to overheat if the fan is screwing up your testing. Wait on second thought wouldn't it have an electric fan you could unplug? I don't know VWs but finding a vacuum leak shouldn't be all that hard, a can of brakeclean is all you need. If you want to get creative get a small thing of propane (you know the little ones for camping) short hose, and crack it open around possible vacuum leaks and find them easily. as mentioned above you have to put the car in closed loop by disconnecting a sensor or it will likely compensate making it difficult to notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6 Speed S4 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 This, pull the belt off the fan and just don't run it long enough to overheat if the fan is screwing up your testing. Wait on second thought wouldn't it have an electric fan you could unplug? I don't know VWs but finding a vacuum leak shouldn't be all that hard, a can of brakeclean is all you need. If you want to get creative get a small thing of propane (you know the little ones for camping) short hose, and crack it open around possible vacuum leaks and find them easily. There is a mechanical clutch fan and 2 electic fans on the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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