Helpful Tips

[RedRider]

Post your helpful tips here.
We all have tricks we use in diagnosing problems, maintenance and car care.
If you have a way to help a member out, share it here.

 

[RedRider]

Watching Spike this morning I saw a tip on how to find a cylinder missing / spark plug not firing.
Dude used a water bottle, poked a couple holes in the lid and sprayed it on the exhaust headers. Steam rose up from the cylinders that were firing. I can't tell you how many times I could have used that trick back in the day. Don't know how well it would work on an exhaust manifold, but I imagine you might be able to tell if you spray the water close to the exhaust port.

 

[Kennyray]

Watching Spike this morning I saw a tip on how to find a cylinder missing / spark plug not firing.
Dude used a water bottle, poked a couple holes in the lid and sprayed it on the exhaust headers. Steam rose up from the cylinders that were firing. I can't tell you how many times I could have used that trick back in the day. Don't know how well it would work on an exhaust manifold, but I imagine you might be able to tell if you spray the water close to the exhaust port.

I have used that trick on 4 cylinder motorcycles, works well.
I have also used a 1/2 piece of PVC pipe for a stethoscope for checking for engine noise.

 

[RedRider]

I've always used a short piece of hose.

 

[Longshot270]

Don't need the water trick on my bike. If it stops firing it means I just pedal home


#1 tech tip

Sledgehammers fix frustration of fixing a car, unfortunately it makes the repair cost go up.

 

[64shortbed]

Watching Spike this morning I saw a tip on how to find a cylinder missing / spark plug not firing.
Dude used a water bottle, poked a couple holes in the lid and sprayed it on the exhaust headers. Steam rose up from the cylinders that were firing. I can't tell you how many times I could have used that trick back in the day. Don't know how well it would work on an exhaust manifold, but I imagine you might be able to tell if you spray the water close to the exhaust port.

I have used that trick on 4 cylinder motorcycles, works well.
I have also used a 1/2 piece of PVC pipe for a stethoscope for checking for engine noise.

I've always used a long extention to here engine noise.