Product Review: UltraSonic Leak detector
Inevitably any coach that has pneumatic (Air) systems will encounter leaks. Some leaks are slow and not very relevant, but some leaks can cause your air tanks to deplete in a matter of just 20 minutes or less. These fast leaks should be resolved as it causes excessive work on the air pumps and detracts from the enjoyment of your coach after you turn off the engine. One irritating problem that can occur is the suspension system will cause the coach to lean to one side after being parked. I'm sure you've seen some high end motorcoaches that lean to one side. A sure sign of an air leak in the suspension system.
To chase down these pesky leaks a common technique is soap and water. The air leak bubbles and can easily be seen in the soapy bubbles. But it's difficult to get to all the connections, particularly ones tucked away, or near electrical wiring. And a compartment full of air connections will need every air connection and air device tested with soapy water. A better approach is to use an ultrasonic leak detector. These devices are specifically designed to find leaks by listening for the unique sounds that air leaks make, a sound that is usually not detectable by the human ear. I starting using the Marksman II and found it to be an excellent tool for this exact purpose. Recently I chased down several pesky leaks and was able to pinpoint them to the technician at Marathon Factory for them to quickly replace the failing components. This saved me lots of money as the technician didn't have to spend lots of time looking for the leaks.
The MarksMan II allowed me to wave it around a compartment, such as the one outside under the drivers seat and quickly determine if there was a leak anywhere in the compartment. If one was detected, then i could spend more time to pinpoint exactly where the leak was located, then confirm with the old soap/water technique if needed. If no leaks were detected in a compartment, then no need to waste more time, move on to another area. A very efficient way to identify leaks. Fixing leaks is usually not the hard part, but finding the leaks can be a colossal time consumption.
Without a doubt I can confidently say that the Marksman II paid for itself in the first set of leaks I was able to find.
