How To Perform An EVAP Smoke Test To Look For Leaks 

Hey guys, the laser light idea came from Cody over at Cody's Auto Diagnostics...check him out here! ru-vid.com/show-UC7AtpaCPv1QXYa-yE2sPQbQ

This is a great EVAP smoke test video. I am a auto tech and I would definitely go to a class this guy was teaching.

Absolutely AWESOME tutorial! Very refreshing to get automotive instructions without also getting motion sickness from bad camera work. THANK YOU!!

Typically outstanding fact-filled demonstration. Well done, Sir Mike.

Best video on Evap testing & smoke machine usage on U-Tube! Nice job!

"I really appreciate you guys watching". No, Mike. We REALLY appreciate your vids! Fox N/W Scotland.

Your videos are Great! You explain everything in detail and show what equipment or tools that are needed!

Been working on cars for about 5yrs I done about everything and I hate evap codes! You broke it down perfect thank you

Thanks for a great video. It was very informative and well explained. I’m trying to troubleshoot a small EVAP leak and this was perfect for helping me understand how the system works.

Thank you Mike. Good job. Have a blessed and safe week to you and your family.

Hands down the best instructional video I found.

Great video and was the best articulated explanation I needed to verify what I thought I needed to do

As always, excellent and informative. Thanks!

Mike, thank you for the really great walk-through, it was very informative! I would have liked to have seen a real test on a vehicle that actually had a known leak that you knew where it was to see what it looks like.

You did a very great job on explaining this! Many videos just talk and talk and no actual showing. Cheers!!!

Like always a very thorough explanation CHEERS enjoyed the stepped procedure

Wow thanks man. Out of all the evap videos I've seen you answered my question. Hopefully I can now figure out my p0441 code.

Great video. Just the info I was looking for. Thanks

Fantastic walk through. Clear and concise. I have a PO442 error code on my 2012 F150 Lariat 5.0 I feel I can confidently now trace the leak. Thank you !

Very good and informative video Mike, thank you!

Thank you for the video! It was a big help!

Great video Mike! I Like the home garage videos, keep it up

Thank for telling how to test for a Leak and setting up the Vent valve manually.

Excellent video with the perfect amount of educational information. I have seen too many videos from others that are either too long because they dwell on useless information or others that are too vague and don't offer enough information. Of course, I have seen some videos that give incorrect, bad and sometimes dangerous information. Those should be reported and banned but that is another topic. I thought your video was very educational, to the point and covered everything in a short amount of time. This is an excellent video, IMO. Congratulations and thanks for what I consider to be an excellent presentation. Also, I use a laser pointer and it has enabled me to find leaks that I may not have seen without it. Of course, I'm 60 years old and my eye sight isn't as good as it once was. lol

Thanks Mike. Well done.

My friend is letting me borrow his smoke tester, thank you for showing me how to perform one.

Great info. Thank you and the laser light is brilliant

I feel educated after watching this. Nice video!

Great video and information Mike. Thank you.

That is fantastic video. Thank you 😊

Great video Mike. Never thought of the laser light before. Will try it next time. Stay safe.

Thank you so much ! this is the video for my DIY evap test

You are good. Great communication skills. I see teaching in your future

great video, very helpful. Thanks

Great video!

Great job young man.

Very informative video and good instruction. Lost me with the $1,200 machine but appreciate the tip for closing the vent without a scan tool.

You're the best!!👍

Thanks for the information !

Very great detail buddy, thanks!

Very well done, Mike .... Thorough information and presentation easy to follow details. Thank You!

Thank you, very good info.

Love this video. Perfect 👍

very well made and informative 👍👍👍

Thanks! Very helpful 👍

Thanks a lot for sharing knowledge. Regards sir.

Great video. Very informative..

very educative. Thank you

Great detail video.

Yes, I believe Cody was the one who suggested using a laser light to Mario. Awesome tip. Great lesson Mike.

Wow, excellent.

Thanks a lot for the tip , Go Tech👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Autool st206 .$ 289.00 have had for 4 years . Works fine for me retired 67 with very limited income. Have found and repaired a po442 and po456 on my 06 subie sti . Also used to find exhaust leak on 99 toyota rav4

Thank You!

Another great diagnostic video Mike. I seem to remember seeing some smoke machines that had duel smoke test modes for evap and other areas/parts. Anyway, good to see you again, take care stay well.

Thanks!

thanks for your time

Great Job

Thumbs up from me, specifically for the last part when you mentioned about intermittent problems. Good vid.

Hello Mike,I have a 2010 F150 4.6 that has error code 466 and 455 and when I checked the Evap vent solenoid by applying voltage from separate battery source it functioned normally. When I checked for reference voltage at connector with key on engine off i had 0 volts.I checked the purge solenoid connector and had 12 .15 KOEO. Both of these sensors should have 12.15 volts from parallel connection (same green wire color)when key is on and PCM controls switching thru ground side. This failure of canister vent would also explain the 455 (gross leak) code wouldn't it. I am right to just focus now on looking for break in circuit. Thanks for great video.

RU-vid, put this video at the top of the SEO algorithm

Great info, thanks. I have a 1991 toyota celica that i want to check through, it smells very rich whilst warming up, has poor fuel economy, and there is always a rush of air when i remove the gas cap to fill up, is this normal? Otherwise, it runs well, plenty of power etc?

GrEAT JOB BRO

Nice video 👍👍

Very good we'll explained

Super clear and concise tutorial. Thank you! Subbed!

Hey Mike with the Magic Smoke Good one See Ya soon I hope

I've replaced that exact purge valve solenoid for 2016 traverse twice now. Same result for both times, engine light will stay off for a few weeks and then throw the p0496 code again. Any ideas/recommendations? I haven't replaced gas cap yet, guess that would be the next cheapest. However, what would cause a new purge valve solenoid to work like it should for a few weeks and then get stuck open?

Great video. I have a 2019 VW Jetta. I'm smoke testing and see smoke coming out of the round vent next to the canister. The vehicle is turned off. Is this a sign that the valve is open and bad?

Awesome thank you.

Thanks for the video! Sorry I didn't get if the car has to be running to perform the test. I have a 2003 Kia Sorento, but I'm not sure were to put the hose...!?! Thanks

I appreciate the video and it was very well done. If I could make a request it would only be that you zoom in and show the actual thing you're holding up in your hand, or show a separate shot of it sitting on a workbench so we can see what it looks like up close

If you don’t have a laser or you want a bigger area of light use a projection alarm clock. I did that as it was getting dark outside. Don’t know if sunlight is a factor or not.

If you’ve watched all of Mike’s videos on the EVAP system and you still don’t know how it operates,you either haven’t been paying attention or you have a comprehension problem. Great video as always Mike! 👍

what does the vent in a scion xb look like? and can you just seal it up just for the test?

Great info, thanks. Maybe someone can answer this. My understanding is the entire purpose of the EVAP system is to prevent gas fumes from going into the open air, ie outside the tank. And in fact those fumes are trapped and drawn back into the engine through the purge solenoid, and burned like fuel. Which was the first thing referenced in the video. So why is the vent solenoid in the Open position? Thanks.

What adapter do you use to hook up to the evap service port?

Good job. I refill my machine with baby oil. A lot cheaper and smells good. Another thing is I bought a smoke machine for smoking intakes for vacuum leaks. Much cheaper than a evap smoke machine. You just have to add a inline check valve so gas fumes cant back flo into the machine. And test the check valve before each use.

That machine will be so convenient!!!

Need some guidance here, I did a smoke test for vacuum leaks on my Ford and one of the places smoke was coming from was the vent holes on the bottom of the diaphragm part of the egr. The smoke isn’t coming through the little vacuum line though, because that still holds vacuum and opens and closes the egr properly. The smoke is coming through the intake side of the egr. Further investigation showed that I could suck a decent amount of air through the egr even when it was closed. Anyone know if this is supposed to vent this way? Any guidance or advice would help a lot

Thank You

Awesome pin.

Great video, I smoke tested my 2009 pontiac g8gt and I have to use a latex glove and ty-wraps to seal of the throttle body. Shouls I be getting smoke out the throttle body. Perge valve is closed and vent valve is close.

Super helpful. Been chancing an evap leak in a 2004 Corolla for a while and I didn't understand the vent valve was normally open or how to close it. Any guess what the least expensive scan tool is that has the ability to close the vent valve and read the pressure?

So if disconnect the power from the purge selenoid there should be no suction but if the power plug is connected you should feel suction correct?

Nice one Mike as always good info as normal enjoy the videos more brain teaser nxt keep my mind active in lockdown cheers

Great video but you lost me on the part with manually closing the vent valve. Are there any other videos you have showing what you mentioned in the video?

GREAT VIDEO!!! The hardest part I find using a smoke tester is closing the system. I don't own a snap-on Solus... That is yet.. So my daughters car has the P0456 and P0457. Ride is a 12 model Avenger with the 4 banger engine. Moving past the typical cap I've checked the following. 10" of vacuum holds indefinitely on the purge solenoid. When applying 12vdc on and off she opens and closes and holds vacuum as it should. Next, I visually checked the seals inside of the evaporative pump. Nothing out of the ordinary? Reassembled everything. My smoker is mineral oil based and has been my go to tool for engine sealing and is very effective. My question is how can I close the system on a 2012 Avenger to accurately perform the smoke test?

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot that doesn't pass the EVAP self test. Using a Launch Scan tool. But I'm not getting any EVAP codes. My FTP reading when the engine is off is a -0.10 hg. Once the vehicle runs and I monitor it, the pressure goes up to about 0.29hg. The only code I have is for a p0172. Is it common for EVAP issues to.make an engine run rich? I've ruled out bad 02 Sensors (replaced already) and Injectors. Thanks for any input. My Temp reading at ECT 1 is at 183-185 F. Should be at 195. I did get an intermittent p0116. I will be replacing my thermostat since it's inexpensive. I don't know if that's also contributing to my issue.

Thanks for the video. $1500 for a smoke machine! Yikes. I built a DIY one with parts I had around the house, and made a video of it. Laser light tip is a great idea. Good to know that some cars have a self evap test... didn't know to check for that.

hi mike thanks for the great video ... are oxygen sensors present just in petrol cars or even in diesel cars ???

Mike, Mike, Mike, I need more shirts. We need a final Jeopardy question.

I have a 2001 Silverado 5.3l what do you think my leak would be from p0442 small leak only turns on every other week or 2 weeks what would you guess that's coming from if you had to guess?

Mike is teaching, everyone be quiet. :)

will any laser light work? also i take the vent valve and plug it after i smell the smoke, i have to get another smoker as my home made blew up and caught fire. but my s10 still give p0440 so i have to now wait for another code to see if i get another code to help guide me to the point. i did not see any smoke the last test i did.

I was working on my 96 Explorer, Had a P0455. Turns out the 1/2" steel evap tube from the purge valve to the canister was full of rust holes :lol:. I was smelling gas. I recently replaced the tank too. Going to replace with a 12' rubber fuel line.

Thankyou

Hey Mike. Good to see you again. What kind of car are working on in this video?

will a smoke test work ok form the evap test port? i tried to do one the other day from that test port and the smoke was going somewhere but i just could not see it. so i might have to get a laser light or maybe a red light or blue light what might work better? what would be a good cheaper dyt smoker to get for the occasional tests will i have to find the purge valve and block that? or if it is leaking i guess i will see smoke from the TB area that would tell me the purge valve is bad? for the vent valve i know i will have to close. i do not have the tool to command so i take the hose off and plug that valve. i have to get or make a smoker. i did make one out of a glass jar and it worked well until it broke the other day and started burning. thanks

Please I have question, since check engine light comes on after long investigation in Toyota/ sienna2021, do you have an idea if the smoke comes out thru rounded plastic(Vapor Canister Filter) has small fins this located around the filler neck by fuel cap ? Is that leaking or normal during smoke test ?