I am currently having an issue with my idle speed fluctuating after warm up (the truck is supercharged). I have always heard that you could spray starting fluid around different areas of vacuum and if the idle changes then you have a leak. With the set up I have the intercooler mounts to the top of the blower (Allen Kit) and the snout bolts up close to the same area. I was spraying in this area from the front and the engine shut down. When the motor is cool (from five or so minutes of drive time) the idle is good and spraying in this area only causes a slight idle speed change. Once really warmed up there is a noticable difference or an engine shut down. I have been told that the starting fluid is a corrosive and should not be sprayed on these parts as it may cause a(the) problem. Can anyone give me some insight on this.
I have had problems since this blower was installed some/most of which have been resolved except this one. My gas mileage was 12/13 before the blower install then around 10 just after with several issues but now it is running better (except for the idle issue) the gas mileage has dropped off to 7mpg.

 

Carb cleaner will find your leaks as well with out the "drying out" effect caused by the starting fluid.....it's makes it a lot more safe all the way around! Not sure what the over all problem is. Maybe some type of sensor is out of adjustment....
Good luck!

 

There are no sensors in the area I am spraying. The only thing there is where the intercooler and the blower snout bolts to the blower.

 

Propane works too and you won't blow your eyebrows off if you get too close to an ignition source like you may/will with carb cleaner or ether.

 

I am not really asking what to use. I used the starting fluid and this is the only area that reacted. My question is; is the starting fluid corrosive enough to cause this to occur (I really can not imagine that it is)? I have only been spraying it in short burst's, not soaking anything down. I just tried it again after moving my truck to the other driveway and the engine sped up with a short 1/2 second spray. I know exactly where to spray to get the reaction. I don't have to spray a large area.

 

Yeah, starting fluid will burn just fine to show vacuum leaks. It's not harsh enough to damage any metal though.

 

So if you know where to spray then that is where your leak is. It's sucking air in that area....guess I'm confused on what the question is.....pics would be a big help !
If the question is all about whether or not ether will harm your parts the answer is no not in the doses you're describing

 

That was the question. I was told that I should not have been using the starting fluid to check for vacuum leaks because it is corrosive. I don't want to get into who said what but I just wanted to confirm this before the statement or question about the starting fluid came up again if/when repairs are needed.