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Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: Jordan_J on April 14 2011, 04:49:10 PM

Title: Vacuum fluctuation at idle.
Post by: Jordan_J on April 14 2011, 04:49:10 PM
It moved up and down a couple of pounds really once the car has warmed up but until then it runs fine. Also when I let of the gas and am just rolling it does it. What could cause this?

Cam?
Head gasket?
Vacuum leak?
Title: Vacuum fluctuation at idle.
Post by: Steve Wood on April 14 2011, 05:31:33 PM
Inches of mercury  :)

It should read fairly steadily at idle, cruise or any steady throttle position as long as there is no load change.

Typical might be 15" at cold start up  increasing to maybe 17" as it warms up...all at idle.

going down the road at 70 mph, it maybe 12" and drop to 6-8 going up a hill.  

If you step on the gas, it may go to zero, or onward into boost.

If it is jumping around at idle without the gas being touched, then it could be a leak, bad valve, poorly damped gauge, or something else.

My numbers are ball park guesses as the engine combination, altitude, engine condition, etc. can all affect the vacuum being pulled.

Most gauges probably don't move much more than an inch on a healthy engine if a quality gauge is used...that is my experience, anyway
Title: Vacuum fluctuation at idle.
Post by: Jordan_J on April 14 2011, 09:13:47 PM
Awesome thanks for the info Steve!

Would there be any other key symptoms to a bad valve?

One thing I noticed is the RPM occasionally will jump up and down like 200 rpm which leads me to think it's a vacuum leak somewhere.
Title: Vacuum fluctuation at idle.
Post by: Steve Wood on April 14 2011, 10:39:49 PM
you can do a compression check to see if you have a leaky valve...someti mes if it is an exhaust valve, you can hear/feel it in the exhaust
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