Smoke Test
Smoke Test
(OP)
I have heard the term "smoke test" as a diagnostic tool, but was not sure what it is for. Is it to measure the opacity of the vehicle exhaust or is it some sort of test to find air leaks into the passenger compartment?





RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Smoke Test
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Smoke Test
I am sure the term can have many meanings depending on when and where.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Smoke Test
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
fitting face masks
track ventilation effectiveness
find leaks
We used a lot of smoke when we built the new plant. Check ventilation and employee training.
Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com
Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.
RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
Also is it a type of test to blow smoke up someones, ummm well you get the picture.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
I think while well entrenched in automotive marketing, I think it is much wider spread than that.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Smoke Test
Peter.
RE: Smoke Test
It's all still based on blowing exhaust gases through a bit of tissue and seeing if it goes black or not.
- Steve
RE: Smoke Test
RE: Smoke Test
In a long departed job we would use various "smoke analysers" for rocket exhaust plumes. Seeing lots of iron, chromium, aluminum or other metal species in the exhaust was a sure sign that something was going (had gone) wrong.
RE: Smoke Test
It had in fact been completely disassembled and cleaned, with carburetor cleaner, then alcohol, then soapy water.
After which, some chalky deposits remained in the emulsification tubes, and some carbonaceous deposits remained in the transition jets.
Their presence was detected with the smoke.
They were mechanically removed.
Their absence was verified by the smoke.
Then the carburetor was reassembled and reused in the normal way.
That (Ford/Motorcraft) carburetor would have given the HSE folks fits anyway; the normal procedure for adjusting the float level required measuring the float level with the entire top of the carburetor removed, on a running engine. You were supposed to stop the engine to bend the float tangs, because bending them on a running engine would squirt gasoline from the float needle up into your face; this, I know.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Smoke Test
Oh, Mike, don't spoil the legend.
For some HSE types it wouldn't matter. But this written in the manual would make the vision complete: "Tuck lit cigar behind ear whilst adjusting the float level"
RE: Smoke Test
It apparently first originates with Lucas electrical parts and wiring looms. Paul Lucas is also known as the Pince of Darkness and credited with inventing the short circuit.
Most early British cars use Lucas electrics and when these fail is usually because of an escape of smoke.
It is noted that once the smoke escapes the circuit no longer works and the logical conclusion is that smoke is a vital component and if lost must be replaced in order to restore functionality.
For Lucas electrics there is a replacement smoke kit available:
h
More recently it is a phenomena also associated with ICs where special blue smoke is used.
Google "Replacement smoke" and you will find a Wiki article called "Magic Smoke" plus many authoritative discussions of the phenomenon.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com