Quick question about boost leak test

[blkdsm]

Hey all, while trying to rule out the intercooler piping/turbo seals during a boost leak test, I wanted to start testing from the throttle body. However, once I move my tester to the throttle body, all the air comes out the turbo inlet.
Am I supposed to cap the turbo inlet off too or am I missing something here?

 

[robbo185]

you are supposed to start from the turbo inlet

 

[blkdsm]

you are supposed to start from the turbo inlet

I want to bypass it to rule out any possible leaks from the turbo seals or intercooler piping/couplers and narrow down the places of posisble leaks.

 

[7"exhaust_tip]

Sounds like you are doing it backwards son.

 

[bluetlr2001]

Sounds like you are doing it backwards son.

I agree. Are you putting the leak tester on the throttle body or on the intercooler pipes goign away from the throttle body. If your on the throttle body you should not hear air coming out the turbo.

 

[blkdsm]

I agree. Are you putting the leak tester on the throttle body or on the intercooler pipes goign away from the throttle body. If your on the throttle body you should not hear air coming out the turbo.

I'm putting the leak tester on the throttle body elbow going into the throttle body after disconnecting the upper i/c pipe. Wouldn't doing this bypass any leaks in my intercooler piping?
What's leaking if air is coming out the turbo?

 

[bluetlr2001]

since teh air is going in your turbo your valves may be open, or bent. Because the air has to be getting in your cyclinders and coming out the exhaust mainfold to get to the turbo. But you shoudl hear it more in the exhaust than the inlet. I would turn the motor over some, ether by hand or just crank it with the key. there is a place to line it up to were your valves shoudl be closed but i cant remember were thats at.

 

[tunethis]

I did a test on my throttle body elbow and I didn't get any air from the turbo inlet. When I put my leak tester on the turbo inlet, it showed the same leaks. It's best to start at the turbo since it'll still show you leaks in or on the throttle body + leaks in the piping. Did you read all the instructions on doing a proper boost leak test?

 

[AlaskanDsm]

he was trying to eliminate the piping/ intercooler to just check the throttle body. if there are no leaks there then when you test from the inlet of the turbo and have a leak, you know that its only th piping/intercooler and can narrow it down from there.

 

[blkdsm]

since teh air is going in your turbo your valves may be open, or bent. Because the air has to be getting in your cyclinders and coming out the exhaust mainfold to get to the turbo. But you shoudl hear it more in the exhaust than the inlet. I would turn the motor over some, ether by hand or just crank it with the key. there is a place to line it up to were your valves shoudl be closed but i cant remember were thats at.

Could this possibly be a sign of bad valve stem seals? I don't hear anything when I listen in the tailpipe. I am also not smoking while driving or from a cold startup as these were the symptoms I read for bad valve stem seals.
About turning the motor over, I read somewhere that some people turn to 30*ATDC but I see just about everyone not doing that and having no problems with valve overlap or anything.

Did you read all the instructions on doing a proper boost leak test?

Yeah I have read proper instructions for a blt. I have already tested from the inlet and heard air inside the crankcase. I was attempting to test from the throttle body elbow to eliminate the possibility of a bad turbo seal and air going past that but I can't pressurize the system at all when I relocate the tester to throttle body elbow.

he was trying to eliminate the piping/ intercooler to just check the throttle body. ..

Yup this is what I was tryin to do.

What are some other sings of bad valves? The car runs smoothly and fine, and I had the timing belt changed at a reputable dsm shop a yr ago.