boost leak test failed, help please!

[kkskater]

Alright I tried doing a boost leak test but it wont hold psi. I hooked it up to the intercooler pipe right after the turbo. I was using a hand pump and I would hear little noises, like the noise you hear when you pump up a basketball, in the valve cover area. Also I heard a little noise around the vavle cover breather. It wasnt loud hissing though. The psi guage on the pump never went above 1. Is the hand pump too weak or what? Is there anything you have to do or close up to hold pressure?
The reason for the boost leak test is that when its cold I have way bad idle surge and my vaccume on the boost guage would fluctuate. I also am getting really bad knock readings and when at full boost the needle on the boost guage fluctuates very very rapidly between 20-22 psi. Does this sound like a boost leak? Any help would be great!

 

[kkskater]

also im running a maft blow through setup if that makes a difference.

 

[oldman]

1. Get yourself an air compressor.

2. Make sure the tester you made does not leak.

3. Disconnect the mbc or turn it all the way up.

4. Disconnect pcv hose from intake and plug up the nipple.

Repeat test. A boost leak test is a long process, you find some fix it and other will reveal themselfs when higher pressure is reached. Good luck.

 

[VBGSX]

Don't forget a spray bottle with a dishsoap/water mix.
Spray all the parts(hoses, BOV, piping, intake mani, injectors, etc) thoroughly.
Once you put pressure to it, the leaks will blow bubbles for you to find.

If you can't get a compressor, go spend a quarter in the local gas station's tire compressor. Back in the day I actually used one to pressure test an intercooler I made.

 

[kkskater]

Ok, on a sucessfull non leaking system it should hold whatever psi you put in it and not make any noise after applying psi right? Well after I put in about 10psi i hear a hiss that sounds like its under my valve cover. My psi drops pretty fast back to 0. Any ideas? Thanks, Kyle

 

[oldman]

Pressure is some how getting into your crank case. This thread should help.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174682&highlight=boost

 

[sjgYFZ200]

Did a leak test for the first time yesterday, and couldnt get any air to stay in the system I had such a big hole, there was no gasket between my UICP and BOV

 

[steve]

I had such a big hole, there was no gasket between my UICP and BOV

I did my latest test yesterday after cleaning the intercooler, the flange for the BOV had warped. Even with a gasket it wouldn't seal correctly. Tried making a thicker gasket and that didn't work, I had to break my own rule and use RTV on the BOV flange to get a seal.
At 20psi the injector insulator in cylinder 3 started leaking. I won't worry about that one since I know the insulators are only a couple of months old and once the car starts the injector will have the fuel pressure pushing it into the insulator.

Steve

 

[oldman]

I did my latest test yesterday after cleaning the intercooler, the flange for the BOV had warped. Even with a gasket it wouldn't seal correctly. Tried making a thicker gasket and that didn't work, I had to break my own rule and use RTV on the BOV flange to get a seal.
At 20psi the injector insulator in cylinder 3 started leaking. I won't worry about that one since I know the insulators are only a couple of months old and once the car starts the injector will have the fuel pressure pushing it into the insulator.

Steve

Did your turbo seal leak like it's suppose to?

 

[steve]

Did your turbo seal leak like it's suppose to?

Smarty, Mine is one that seals just fine.

Steve