cheap propane source to do vaccum leak test on car

londonTiger

Car is idling rough, the revs bounce a bit sometimes, other times as much as 600-800. Need to work out where the leak is coming from because Ive had a few catalytic convertor and lambda error messages for runnign too rich and I really dont want to blow another £120 on lambda because it's running too rich.

Propane cans seem to be quite expensive, some of them are cheap in aerosol cans but the ignitor/valve is £30+

Eric the car guy suggests using intake/manifold cleaner as it has propane in it. ALthough proceed with caution as throttle body cleaner is more likely to turn to flames from engine heat than propane.

Anyway, anyone found a cheap source of propane that could be used for this job?

BeenThroughItAll

What in the hell would you need propane for to do check for vacuum leaks? Is this a wind up?

OddballJamie

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

What in the hell would you need propane for to do check for vacuum leaks? Is this a wind up?

Got a feeling he's planning on spraying it around the engine bay and waiting for the idle to change.

forgotmyname

I would love to see the insurance claim. How did the fire start.

I was spraying a flammable gas/liquid around the engine bay when the fire started.

Buy a vacuum gauge?

bod1467

I presume he'd also check for domestic gas leaks using a match/lighter?

captainawsome

Depending on the car your method may not work. The car could pick up on the mixture and adapt to suit before any difference was noticed, I would also not use propane, something more like brake cleaner would be my choice. Pay a well equipped garage to carry out a smoke test to find your leak.

Richard53

If all you are doing is spraying stuff around and listening for a change in engine note, then WD-40 sprayed around all suspect joints works well and is far safer.

colino

Or you could have it looked at by someone with a clue and who will probably condemn your MAF.

Tucker

If you must... try this:

http://www.gasdeal.co.uk/product/6kg-propane-cylinder/

Includes the bottle and delivery!!

forgotmyname

Includes the bottle and delivery. Not when its out of stock it wont.

Also because he doesnt have a cylinder to exchange there will be a hire charge for the cylinder about £50?

Gloomendoom

Don't most aerosol products use propane as the propellant?

Deodorant, hairspray...