Air Coming from the Cam Area

[sp00ln]

I posted this in a current thread, but I got no response so I'll try here.

I did a leak test the other day to check up on things. I set it to TDC and got my soapy water out. I did the leak test and I found no leaks around any of the IC pipes/bov/couplers, but there was slight one on the TB where the seals are... I'll let that one go. However, my question is how long should the pressure hold? Mine dies off down to ~4psi if you stop putting air into it. I also discovered if you take off my oil cap and listen you can hear air in the head/cam area. Is that normal? Nothing is bubbling or anything, but you can just hear the air filling into there. And the car runs strong. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[ddavisaf]

Try the test again at about 30° BTDC. You want to hold about 20 psi in your system for no less than 30 seconds without putting more air into it.

 

[underpressure25]

Maybe you should also do a cylinder leakage test also on all 4 cylinders to make sure everything internally is all good. This will let you know how well you piston rings, and intake and exaust valves are sealing. Their are instructions on VFAQ under engines.
Good luck

 

[sp00ln]

Thanks. I'll do my best and give you guys the results. Thanks for the help.

 

[sp00ln]

Well, I went to Kragen and called NAPA and Autozone and no place carries the dual gauge for the leak down test. I guess I could try summit tho - Do you guys know what this gauge is called?

I did a leak test again, and I tried moving the crank while the pressure was being built into it. No matter where I put the crank, even in top dead center, the air wouldn't stop coming in to the head. However, I realized that my injectors were leaking - could the sound come from the leaky injectors? And how should I go about fixing the injectors?

I also should mention that my car DOES burn oil - Only a little bit though. I do have to add oil ever other month or so. It goes down to the bottom line of the dipstick from in-between every other month or so.

I'm going to get a friends compression tester sometime this week and run a compression test. I'll post the results as soon as I can.

Any advice would be great, thanks guys.

 

[GTM]

...

I did a leak test again, and I tried moving the crank while the pressure was being built into it. No matter where I put the crank, even in top dead center, the air wouldn't stop coming in to the head. However, I realized that my injectors were leaking - could the sound come from the leaky injectors? And how should I go about fixing the injectors?

I also should mention that my car DOES burn oil - Only a little bit though. I do have to add oil ever other month or so. It goes down to the bottom line of the dipstick from in-between every other month or so.
...
Any advice would be great, thanks guys.

Get yourself a 3' section of 1/2" ID old garden hose that has gotten hard, heater hose can be substituted but a bit too soft and will absorb sounds. Push one end to your ear and then probe your injector seals while under pressure. As a professional we would spray the seals with carb cleaner while the engine is running, understand this can be dangerous and common shop practices must be observed. If they are leaking then replacing the seals is not beyond the DIY operations if you use common sense.

The other aspect not mentioned is you can have some leaks from the turbo seals into the crankcase once the oil has drained away. If you are going to do a dry/wet compression test this would be a good time to check again for pressure loss past the piston rings when wet. Remember to do your compression check with the throttle wide open and 3-4 complete compressions for each cylr.

Cheers,
GTM