Checking for Vacuum leaks.....

PuppyDawg

New Member
Nov 20, 2003
197
0
0
Boston,MA
Please bare with me guys...i'm new to the stang thang....but when you say check for vacuum leaks due to my 88gt 5.0 surging while it's cold....what specific components am i looking at? I know somebody said to check the EGR to start....what ELSE should i check?....and when i do check them....what am i looking for?....thanks and sorry for the stupid questions....
 
you can check you engine vac at the vacuum tree (drivers side firewall). you should have 16- 20" on a healthy motor. make sure all the lines on the tree are hooked up and not cracked, etc.

you may have to just do a visual inspection on the hoses. two methods i know of for testing lines: spray carb cleaner on the lines; when the idle changes, you have found a leak. never works for me.
other way is to use propane around the lines. same result when you hit an open line.
never done that.
be careful with them both. possible fire/explosion hazzard.

on my 88, it had a bunch of crappy lookin lines under the plenum (upper intake manifold).

for checking the EGR, with it idling, pull the vac line to it. the valve should be closed at idle, so the car should idle the same. now take a vac line off of something else (but not something important that would affect the engine's performance). hook this line up to the EGR. the idle should turn to poo, since you are now introducing exhaust gas into the intake.
good luck.