Short - great design, found leaks I never would have otherwise
Saga below:
I was working on a BMW with lean codes 171 and 174. After replacing one snorkel, and then the other, rebuilding and resealing the DISA, and replacing/repairing other obvious hoses and connections, and still having the codes, I decided to try a smoke test before pulling the intake manifold. I was surprised to see so many paint can style testers. I know they can work, but aside from the cosmetics, I find opening and closing paint can lids more of a hassle than twisting off a cap, and paint cans are rather flimsy. Some of the paint can and other adapted container style testers had uninsulated bolts for the power connections sticking out the sides. This is unacceptable. I could be careful or cover them with tape, but that is a negligent design that I did not want. I looked at the lower cost smoke testers that appeared to be designed for the purpose, and was stunned to see that many of them use a typical 120 volt computer cord socket for the 12V connection. That's just an accident waiting to happen, and a very poor design, so I wouldn't buy anything from a company that sells that style, even if their other models that don't have it. Of course, there are ones that approach or exceed one thousand dollars, but I wasn't ready for that (be careful; some of those $1000 machines are the exact same as the poorly designed $200 machines sold to people that don't know better). I saw this one, but it seemed so small and inexpensive that I wasn't sure it would work. After exhausting my search of sensible options, I decided to try it.
What sets this model apart from every other budget smoke tester I saw is that it is purposely built for smoke testing, does not use a 120V plug for its 12V power, and does not have uninsulated power connectors sticking out anywhere. Adding to its complete design is an air regulator, air shut off valve, oil level indicator, and hanging hook. All of these elements are in a nice package without anything awkwardly sticking out too far, like on some of the pieced together types. I have read complaints about the hook spinning, but I think that's a feature, similar to other automotive tools that have cords and hoses. The swivel hook allows the tool to move with the cords and hoses instead of having them get wrapped around it while working under the hood. The one I received included the smoke tester, its power cord, a hose to connect the tester to the car, a valve tool (for emissions valves, which are reverse threaded, as I have read and seen), an adapter for connecting smoke to an emissions line, a quick disconnect air hose adapter, a hanging hook, and an America-themed bandanna/neckgator.
After filling up with baby oil and connecting to the cars battery, there was plenty of smoke in 15 seconds. Right away I found a poor connection to the sucking jet pump (yes, that's the name on a BMW) due to an old, hardened hose. With that fixed, I found a rotten hose at the back of the intake manifold that supplied the exhaust flap at the tailpipe (found on 330i). I hate to admit it, but then I saw one of the new snorkels leaking because I wasn't careful enough when I installed it (for the third or fourth time after all of this troubleshooting). After all of this, still codes. I connected the smoke tester again and looked and waited and looked. A faint wisp of smoke was coming from somewhere I couldn't identify. I don't know if I needed to, but I let the smoke tester take a break for a few minutes and tried this another few times. I jacked up the car and removed the plastic cover under the engine. I could see faint smoke, but still couldn't detect from where. Since I couldn't see anything from the top of the engine, I used a snake camera to look underneath. Finally! I saw smoke with the snake camera, in a place the snake cam could barely fit. The other end of the sucking jet pump (yes, that's its name) hose was leaking at the very bottom of the intake manifold. I would have never found this with propane or carburetor cleaner. This saved me from pulling the intake and replacing every rubber part under the hood. Well, the car still had codes, but the leaks were fixed, which then allowed a replacement mass air flow sensor to turn them off. With all the leaks I found, I don't think the MAF alone would have done it.
With the BMW conquered, I check a 2001 Dodge van which has intermittently given a small EVAP leak for years. Within five minutes I found the leak without spending money on a fuel cap that wouldn't have fixed the problem.
A couple of hours of smoke tester operation over a few days used very little baby oil. I topped it off, but you can probably have 20-30 minute sessions with the oil still visible in the sight glass.;
