Checking for SMIC leaks: Dunk in water?

Prelude Guy · Apr 8, 2006

Hey all,

I want to check my OEM SMIC to see if it has any leaks before I install it. I was thinking about capping off all of the inlet/outlets, except one, then dunk it into a tub of water.

Is this a good way to test for leaks? If not, what else do you recommend? I searched and found ways to test it while it is still on the car. No ways to test when it is out of the car.

Thanks,

Andy

ThrowTail · Apr 8, 2006

Put some soap and water around the suspected leak areas, blow in one side and cap the other side up. If you see a sudden change of bubbling you have a leak. I use this method with pipes mostly.

Dolby109 · Apr 8, 2006

If you plug all of the holes and blow in one really hard, then wake up later its probably ok

Joel 180 · Apr 10, 2006

Prelude Guy said:
Hey all,

I want to check my OEM SMIC to see if it has any leaks before I install it. I was thinking about capping off all of the inlet/outlets, except one, then dunk it into a tub of water.

Is this a good way to test for leaks? If not, what else do you recommend? I searched and found ways to test it while it is still on the car. No ways to test when it is out of the car.

Thanks,

Andy

Yep! just dont try and do what my engineer did and put 30psi throught it - made the barrel of water explode all over the shop!

IMAGOODDRIVER · Apr 10, 2006

dude blow in to it and cap it off real fast to trap a lil air in it and dunk it in to the water tank youll be fine any bubbles come out then you know what to do from there

Td5turbo · Apr 10, 2006

^^^^Are you joking me? It isnt like Zip-Lock bag...your body can only produce like 4psi and before your can cap that little about of pressure air will be long gone. I would just cap all the ends with hose and PVC endcaps. In one of the PVC endcaps, drill and tap a hole and put a nipple in that hole. Then attatch a hose from the nipple to a air compressor. Put about 10psi into the intercooler and place the whole thing underwater. If it leaks anywhere other than the caps or nipple, then you will be able to locate the leak. The whole setup will cost around $15 and take under an hour to perform.

Edit* Put the intercooler is HOT HOT HOT water. Like soak the intercooler in almost boiling water for 15min or more and then perform the leak test. The hot water will help the metal expand to where it would be when your driving around. If you want to find the smallest leaks possible, put it in ice cold water becase it will allow the metal to contract and open up any hairline cracks (this might damage your intercooler because it might expand a crack so big that it will need to be repaired.

2Fass240us · Apr 10, 2006

You could try what I'm doing: take it to a radiator shop for pressure and flow testing. I'll let you know what I find out from doing this.

-Andy

Joel 180 · Apr 11, 2006

Td5turbo said:
Edit* Put the intercooler is HOT HOT HOT water. Like soak the intercooler in almost boiling water for 15min or more and then perform the leak test. The hot water will help the metal expand to where it would be when your driving around. If you want to find the smallest leaks possible, put it in ice cold water becase it will allow the metal to contract and open up any hairline cracks (this might damage your intercooler because it might expand a crack so big that it will need to be repaired.

top idea!

S14_freak · Apr 11, 2006

IMAGOODDRIVER said:
dude blow in to it and cap it off real fast to trap a lil air in it and dunk it in to the water tank youll be fine any bubbles come out then you know what to do from there

Thanks for making my day...............:rotflmao

Checking for SMIC leaks: Dunk in water?

Prelude Guy

ThrowTail

Dolby109

Joel 180

IMAGOODDRIVER

Td5turbo

2Fass240us

Joel 180

S14_freak

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