Vacuum Leaks

[Deep]

I just spent 2 hours in my cold garage trying to track down vacuum leaks, such a pain in the ass. I replaced most of the lines but there are a few I can't reach behind the intake manifold. The car is running a little better but I'm gonna try to replace them all. Does anybody have any tips or tricks to help find leaks?

[project trueno]

don't know what they're called, but you know those scopes doctors use to listen? i think stethoscopes...?

get something similar and connect a long vacuum hose to it, as a probe, and poke it around the engine bay, it helps a lot

..or you could buy those electronic headphone gadgets from Snap-On, they amplify hisses and leaks.....but they also amplify $$$$$$$$$

[arcasmachineracing]

Pour some water (mabey w/ a really small amount of soap?) down if you can, and with you shoplight/flashlight try to look for bubbles... I dunno kinda obvious... Sorry I can't help much...

Good luck tho dude!

[Phi]

if there's a vacuum leak, wouldn't the engine SUCK in the water that you intend to use to trace (ie. high vacuum environment at idle) ? or do I have it backwards?

[OEMonkey]

do you have a rough idle?
warm up the engine and hook up a vac gauge. a healthy engine will produce a constant, steady reading of 17-22"hg. that number would be lower with a vac leak accompanied by high idle rpm.
but to answer your question, I've used a vac pump, stethoscope, propane enrichment or just carb cleaner, and used a smoke machine once. usually just use my ears, eyes and hands. vac leaks can be found in other places other than the vac lines.

[Deep]

Yeah I do have a rough idle and the vacuum reading is a little low, its higher since I replaced most lines. You're right though, there could be other sources for the leaks. I've also tried propane and carb cleaner.

Thanks for the advice guys.