Boost leaks in Odd Places

[Mike1992]

I made a leak tester and did a test, I seem to be pushing air from 3 area's I know of.

1. Breather on side of valve cover
2. Oil dip stick tube
3. Cam seals

Now WTF?

 

[notractiongst]

I made a leak tester and did a test, I seem to be pushing air from 3 area's I know of.

1. Breather on side of valve cover
2. Oil dip stick tube
3. Cam seals

Now WTF?

If i where you id do a compression test and leak down test

 

[Mike1992]

Compression is 136 across at only 90,000 miles

 

[notractiongst]

Compression is 136 across at only 90,000 miles

Did you check it while the engine was at Normal operating temp?

IF so it sounds like boost is leaking past your rings

Could also be Valve Seals tho

 

[oldman]

1. Start the pressure test from the LICP, if problem fixed it's the turbo seal. If not, go to 2.

2. Unplug the PCV hose from the intake manifold and plug it up and repeat pressure test. If problem fix change the PCV valve. If not, go to 3.

3. Do a wet compression test to see if numbers changes drastically. If so, bad rings. If not, I would guess intake valve seals.

Hope that helped.

 

[Mike1992]

Did you check it while the engine was at Normal operating temp?

IF so it sounds like boost is leaking past your rings

Could also be Valve Seals tho

No the engine was only half warmed up, do I do it at full operating temp?

The turbo is suppose to be like new I bought it off the site iwner luda, its a big 16g and it spins freely with very little play.

The PCV is brand new 2 days old.

I'll give your guys suggestions a try, but It seems as though I'm getting pressure within the cylinder head which is weird as F*&)

 

[oldman]

I'll give your guys suggestions a try, but It seems as though im getting pressure within the cylinder head which is weird as F*&)

You're exactly right about the cylnder head being pressurized. Those suggestions are possible places where intake air can leak into the crank case.

 

[Mike1992]

You're exactly right about the cylnder head being pressurized. Those suggestions are possible places where intake air can leak into the crank case.

So most likely its valves seals right? That's the only thing that would let air from the combustion chamber into the head. But, I got air coming outta my dip stick tube also arggg So much for a fixer upper.

 

[notractiongst]

No the engine was only half warmed up, do I do it at full operating temp?

yea make sure shes nice and hot things tend to expand when they get warm so you'll get a better seal

 

[Mike1992]

A local dsm'er just told me to block the PCV opening on the intake manifold, Im gonna give that a tryo tomorrow and see if that fixes the leaks from the head.

 

[oldman]

So most likely its valves seals right? Thats the only thing that would let air from the combustion chamber into the head. But, I got air coming outta my dip stick tibe also arggg So much for a fixer upper.

No no no. First, you are trying to say crankcase when you say cylinder head. Crankcase includes the part of the head you call cylinder head and the oil pan area. The three leaks you've list are all crankcase related, solve one you solve them all.

Boost can enter the crankcase in many different ways.

1. Turbo seal ->oil return line -> oil pan
2. Defective pcv valve.
3. The piston rings.
4. Valve seals.

 

[oldman]

A local dsm'er just told me to block the PCV opening on the intake manifold, Im gonna give that a tryo tomorrow and see if that fixes the leaks from the head.

WTF

2. Unplug the pcv hose from the intake manifold and plug it up and repeat pressure test. If problem fix change the pcv valve. If not, go to 3.

 

[Mike1992]

Thanks OLDMAN

 

[oldman]

Thanks OLDMAN

You're welcome.

 

[Mike1992]

OK capped off the port on the intake manny that connects to the PCV, replaced PVC with straight fitting and vented both valve cover breather ports via hose to the ground. I'm still getting air coming out of all of the below.

1. Breathers on valve cover
2. Oil dip stick tube
3. Cam seals

 

[oldman]

1. Start the pressure test from the licp, if problem fixed it's the turbo seal. If not, go to 2.

2. Unplug the pcv hose from the intake manifold and plug it up and repeat pressure test. If problem fix change the pcv valve. If not, go to 3.

3. Do a wet compression test to see if numbers changes drastically. If so, bad rings. If not, I would guess intake valve seals.

Hope that helped.

You have just eliminated #2, did you follow #1?

 

[Mike1992]

I'll have to try #1 tomorrow I need a piece of PVC pipe to connect my boost leak tester to my licp. I'll post up tomoroow night with the results.

 

[Mike1992]

Hooked up leak tester to licp and it holds to about 10 psi then the brake booster seems to be making a moaning noise and letting the air out. NOW !

 

[oldman]

Forget about the brake booster just disconnect the vacuum hose to the intake manifold and plug up the hole if you want to. What happen to the crank case issue? Stay focus.

 

[Mike1992]

Ok with that capped off i can pressureise the system to about 20lbs, when I use to only be able to get maybe 10. So i guess the turbo seal is leaking. Good call, kinda pisses me off though as I got this turbo from ludacris (the site owner) and he said like new. $325 So my guess is turbo seal whats yours?

And why the hell is my break booster sounding off like it has an air leak at about 10-12psi?

 

[oldman]

Ok with that capped off i can pressureise the system to about 20lbs, when I use to only be able to get maybe 10. So i guess the turbo seal is leaking. Good call, kinda pisses me off though as I got this turbo from ludacris (the site owner) and he said like new. $325 So my guess is turbo seal whats yours?

And why the hell is my break booster sounding off like it has an air leak at about 10-12psi?

Are you blowing smoke under boost? Did you check for oil in the licp? Did the 3 original leaks disappear? Pressurize the system from the turbo again and see if problem reappear as a final check. I hope Chris is not reading this.

 

[Mike1992]

I cant see if I am smoking under boost, my windows are hella tinted from the previous owner. There is a light skim of oil in the licp and theres some everytime i take my intake pipe off in the turbo inlet, its a very light coat. Yes the 3 original leaks quit completely from a pressure test to the licp, I had my oil cap off and could pressurize the system to about 18-20lbs then my BOV let off a little. I then hooked the licp back up and pressurized via turbo inlet and couldnt build more than 8-10lbs before the breathers on the valve cover started letting air out along with air from the dip stick tube. I PM'ed Luda and I hope he and I can get that problem resolved.

 

[Mike1992]

And why the hell is my break booster sounding off like it has an air leak at about 10-12psi?

After some searching, I found I forgot to put the check valve back in the line I replaced from the intake to the brake booster, so that should fix that loud ass moaning noise that was coming from the booster,

 

[oldman]

Mike, In speaking with several experienced DSMers today I've learned that it's normal for the turbo seal to leak some air while it's cold, once warmed up the seal will expand and seal. If you're not smoking out of your exhaust, then I think the turbo may not be a problem. You do seem to have some boost leak issues to deal with like the check valve to the brake booster. I would continue with the leak test from LICP and fix all leaks until the system can hold 20 psi.

What led you to the boost leak test in the first place anyway?

 

[Mike1992]

My brake booster moaning at 10 psi made me think I had a boost leak. I put the check valve back in and that went away. I get 22in of vaccum at idle and I boost at 11lbs now. The turbo had almost no shaft play when installed, now at about 300 miles it has alot of shaft play in and out and side to side, but still boosts 11 psi fine. I seem to only smoke on take off from what I can see. A boost leak test of the licp builds up to about 18lbs then the bov lets out and boost slowly, slowly decels.