Smoke test "on the cheap"

[ROH ECHT]

Added a new vid to my U2B channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJjOyEkoyI

Any helpful comments welcome...I did another test a while back and discovered a leak at the MAF using other ways and method of sealing things up...this is much better and will allow reuse in the future.

I couldn't blow smoke into it very easily unless I periodically went back and unplugged one of the two exhaust plugs. Then I could go back and add more smoke. Tomorrow I will leave one of the exhaust plugs out and just add as much smoke as I can deal with...then plug it all up and add pressure to about 20 psi and seal it and see if it holds the pressure. If the pressure drops...I will search and hopefully find where from if I can.

But I found no leaks this time and think I may have a sensor issue causing the +8% LTFT "off idle"....you may remember sealing the MAF leak I found earlier reduced the LTFT from near +15% to +8% "off idle". Trying to figure out why I have to be light on the throttle to keep it at 12 in Hg to get good mpg. If I drive normal the vac goes above 12 in Hg quite easily and mpg suffers.

 

[ROH ECHT]

Today I attempted to pressurize the system and couldn't, it wouldn't even get near 5 psi but was holding a tiny bit of pressure....and I heard air coming from the turbo area. So I added 2 cigs worth of smoke, pressurized as good as I could, and sealed it. I first only smelled the smoke but finally I saw smoke coming from under the intake to turbo connection but couldn't pinpoint exactly where the smoke was coming from, but definitely leaking. Next, I will remove the intake and heat shield and try again locating the leak, but not today. I hope it is just the rear breather tube gasket or EVAP connection. It didn't seem to be any of the N75 or WGA vac tubing.

 

[ROH ECHT]

I removed the intake and p-flo heat shield to have a better view. Still the smoke comes from down near the turbo but I couldn't determine where from. I now think it is either the K04 turbo outlet flange or the forge WGA...as it wasn't from the rear tube or evap connections to the turbo inlet. So I will wait until I do a tire rotation later this month, and I can then remove the inner wheel liner and hopefully find the friggin leak.

But for now I am uncertain if I can leave the MAF unplugged until I fix this leak and this is my question; Can I leave the MAF sensor unplugged until then?

Thanks, would put my mind at ease. It runs sluggishly different with the MAF plugged in in comparison to it being unplugged today. I do plan on keeping it plugged in once I find and fix the leak.