Engine Fire Damage

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Jun 8, 2011 | 09:58 PM

#31

dustybumpers

FTE Legend

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 56,542

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From: In my own world

You are looking for a rise in engine rpm. The soap added to the water thickens the water so that it bridges the leak, which rises the rpm. I have had good luck with this method, but prefer carb cleaner. My dad used propane. All methods work, some are just a little messy

Jun 9, 2011 | 12:33 PM

#32

81-F-150-Explorer

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Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 8,786

Likes: 28

From: Northern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by weskan

81 F150 Explorer, in post #18, you advise to spray soapy water and look for bubbles in order to find a vacuum leak. When I first read this, I was saying "Whaaaa?" in my head.

I believe Ray1986 did too. I think Ray was just looking for a concession to the point that a vacuum leak will not blow bubbles.

Both procedures will work to find a vacuum leak. The indicator is not bubbles-- it is a change in the way the engine runs.

I will conceed to that error after reading post 18 again. Most likely I was thinking of diagnosing a exaust leak when I said blowing bubbles in post 18.

I explained it better in post 28. Soapy water will either blow bubbles = Positive flow or pressure, or suck = negative flow or vacuum. This you can see.

Then dustybumpers has a good point, as it can seal minor leaks temporarily as is mentioned in dustybumpers post.

The amount of soapy water used will not harm the engine, which is what I thought his posts were about. What he was reffering to is Hydrolock, where the engine cylinders try to compress the water. The water is not compressable in a liquid state and therefore will damage things. The amount of water from a spray bottle is very minute and not enough to cause damage.

More about hydrolock here:
Hydrolock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thank you for being mediator.

I still think using the stethoscope method (Which is my prefered method) or the soapy water technique is prudent in this case, since he had an engine fire already.