Tracing compressed air system leak

Pascal · Mar 21, 2026 at 11:46 AM

Trying to find a way to find a leak in our compressed air system. Air compressor runs fine and builds pressure in the tank but once the tank outlet valve is open, pressure drops and never builds again. Tried to listen for air leaks, sprayed soapy water on visible connections. No luck.

it s long hose run from the compressor in the ER to the horn solenoid valve in the skylounge, including a second accumulator tank and a drain pipe going back down to the ER…

i considered using pressurized water but draining it all afterward may be be tough and the leak could cause water damage

Has anyone used an automotive smoke generator ? Provides up to 7 PSI or pressure.

Norseman · Mar 21, 2026 at 4:28 PM

Smoke in the system then look for a leak at night using a flash light at each joint/connection.
I had to use the same method to find a small diesel exhaust leak, I could smell the exhaust in day light but couldn’t see it, at night I could with a flash light, very small leak, but I was ****..Still is.

Capt Ralph · Mar 21, 2026 at 8:35 PM

I had to remove one of our original air hoses to the fly-bridge air horns.
The steel jacket had rusted thru and the hose developed a micro fish lip in a bend, after the helm window mullion.

I wonder if Lucas; Smoke in a can, could help. You push a Jag and should know about this.

If I recall; There is an emissions smoke leak kit that the better shops threaten to use but I know nothing about it. Every now or then my GMC develops an error code of a small emissions leak. I just clear the code from my c-phone and keep rolling.

You may also want to push some nitrogen (or freon) in and a hand held gas detector may detect it.

Capt J · Mar 21, 2026 at 8:51 PM

If you're losing that much air, you should be able to hear it or spray windex on fittings and find it.

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Tracing compressed air system leak

Pascal Senior Member

Norseman Senior Member

Capt Ralph Senior Member

Capt J Senior Member