Tools that help technicians work
more effi ciently can help increase
vehicle uptime. Scott Maves,
service manager at Packer City
International Trucks Inc. in
Appleton, Wisconsin, appreciated
the time savings the Redline
Detection Air Brake NanoLeak
Finder off ered.
“Th is tool saved us
so much time it paid
for itself aft er the fi rst
two times we used it,”
Maves says.
Maves’ technicians
used this
tool for a variety
of repairs. For
example, they
had a municipal
dump truck that
was less than four
months old and under
warranty that would lose its
compressed air system pressure
when it sat overnight. Th e truck
was in and out of the shop several
times, and they had spent over
20 hours looking for leaks with
soap and water, and still hadn’t
been able to fi nd the leak. Maves
says that with the NanoLeak
tool, they were able to pinpoint
the root cause of the leak in less
than an hour.
“On another new vehicle, we
also spent a considerable amount
of time trying to fi nd a leak that
was caused by the vehicle protection
valve. We never could have
found the leak with soap and
water,” Maves adds.
Th e tool ships with foam inserts
in a box, and the detection wand
comes in a heavy plastic protective
case, Maves says. He notes
that the packaging was so nice
that they still use the box it came
in for storing the unit when not in
use. Th e NanoLeak Finder arrives
ready to use.
Users just need to fill the
machine with the provided leak
detection solution. The unit
includes an easy-to-follow manual
that outlines the use, care and
troubleshooting along with product
support numbers that users
can call if needed. Maves says
that the unit is easy to use, and
with minimal training and practice,
technicians of any level can
use this tool.
While Maves hasn’t used a
previous version of this tool,
he notes that they have used a
Redline smoke machine to fi nd
leaks in the intake and exhaust
systems on diesel engines.
“It works great, which is why
we were so eager to try out the air
system leak fi nding tool,” he says.
Overall, Maves appreciated the
time savings this tool off ered in
testing and diagnostic time.
“The return on investment
is outstanding and comes very
quickly,” he concludes.
Redline Detection
Air Brake
NanoLeak Finder
The reviewer appreciated the time
savings this tool off ered.
By Stefanie Von Rueden, Assistant Editor
Tool Review
Product description
The Redline Detection
Air Brake NanoLeak
Finder quickly tests
and precisely pinpoints
leaks in air brake,
air suspension and
air-powered accessory
systems, according
to the company. The
patented technology in
the machine creates a
signature vapor that,
in conjunction with the
handheld NanoLeak
Locator, pinpoints the
precise location of air
brake leaks instantly.
Clear, audible and visual
signals speed diagnosis
and pinpointing
of leaks. With a simple,
one-minute test cycle,
the Redline Air Brake
NanoLeak Finder will
flash a green or red,
a “pass” or “fail” light
indicator for fool-proof
testing, regardless of
technician, truck or
trailer variables. The
Air Brake NanoLeak
Finder utilizes test
pressure up to 9.3 BAR
(up to 135 psi). The unit
runs on compressed air
and 12V DC and weighs
only 18 lbs (8.16 Kg).