Pressure under valve cover while boost testing..pull cover off?

truwarrior · 06-30-2005, 10:17 PM

The only place I think my car is leaking pressure is into the valve cover area. Should I pull the valvce cover off to find out where the air is getting in? If so where should I look?

gman991057 · 06-30-2005, 10:49 PM

First off, why do you think this? and if the pressure is entering the crank case/vavle cover excessively you will most likely start sending your dipstick into the air and as long as your engine has good compression via a compression check I would say you have a PCV valve that is stuck open and allowing pressurized air into the valve cover. What is you car doing that is making you think this?

gman991057 · 06-30-2005, 10:51 PM

bad Piston rings will blow by your pressurized air into your crankcase but i would perform a compression test to find out if it is engine related. Goodluck

truwarrior · 06-30-2005, 11:14 PM

I'm just not happy with my EVOIII, FMIC, DSMLink etc.

I can put atleast 17+ psi in during a boost leak test but then it drops to 0 psi in about 20 secs.

My A/F ratios is 11:1 no knock.

Compression is 150,160,150,150

Sometimes it feels quick and some times slow as hell especially when I have passengersin the car. Idel is off sometims too usually after the engine heats up.

I'm gonna add 3 degrees of timing across the board with DSMLink tomorrow and see how much that helps...

gman991057 · 07-20-2005, 05:40 AM

doesnt sound like your turbo/intercooler/dsmlink has anything to do with why your car is running bad. If you do have a boost leak then your car would be running rich and therefor be running like crap. Fix the leak then check it again make sure its gone then retune and see how it feels. More timing may not be the answer

oddrob · 07-20-2005, 07:15 AM

If its getting alot of air into the valve cover area, you may also have a bad PCV valve, check that to make sure its free.

truwarrior · 07-20-2005, 08:36 AM

I don't think I have any boost leaks. The PCV is so so, it leaks very slightly...I guess I'll replace that next or block it off.

I'm not running rich.

oldman · 07-20-2005, 09:55 AM

1. Move the leak tester to the TB elbow. If problem solved, air is entering the crankcase via turbo seal which is sometimes normal during a static pressure test since there are no oil pressure on the other side, as longer is the car isn't smoking out of the exhaust. If problem persists, go to 2.

2. Disconnect the pcv hose from the IM and plug up the nipple on the IM. If problem solved, the pcv is leaking more than you think, replace it with an OEM one. If problem persists, go to 3.

3. Compression test both dry and wet to rule out the rings. If the rings checked out, valve seals would be the only thing left which will allow air to enter the crankcase.

good luck.