boost leak test problems

[nfinkbe]

Hello everyone i just got a 97 gsx like 2 weeks ago and i was doing a leak test on it to make sure everything was in good condition. I made the tester and put it on the turbo inlet and used a bicycle pump with a gauge to pump air into it. It would not hold ANY pressure and i heard what sounded like either bubbles or drops or oil near or in the head. If any one can help be out that would be great.

 

[nfinkbe]

please i really need help cause i dont know if it is bad or not that it is making that sound. also i installed a boost gauge last week and i am seeing 18 psi then it drops to around 16. i have a hacked dump tube, hacked air box, and have removed the bcs restrictor. i know im not really supposed to be running over 15 psi for more that a couple seconds on stock fuel, but if i stay on it it sometimes holds at 18 which i thought wasnt possible because the stock bov couldnt hold but like 13 psi. anyways any and all help would be appreciated.

thanks,
Tate

 

[WhiteCloud]

You need to buy/make and hook up a manual boost controller. Check http://www.vfaq.com/index-main.html under the Intake section for directions on how to hook one up. The tech article section of this site also has directions. This will allow you to set your boost lower so you don't grenade your turbo because of running high boost.

As far as the system not holding any pressure--how were you introducing pressure to the system? Bike pump? Compressor? Make sure you were pressurizing properly. Then try to isolate the leak(s). Hook up a leak tester directly to the throttlebody elbow, or block off your upper intercooler pipe and leak test it to see if you have a bov leak.

I don't know how you're running this much boost on the stock 2g bov, but you should control boost as soon as possible.

 

[nfinkbe]

yeah as far as the boost goes i have not been taking it over 15 psi for fear of hurting the turbo. i am going to make a mbc as soon as i can so that i can set it lower.

i am using a bike pump that has a gauge on it to put air into the turbo inlet. the thing that i was worried about was 1. the bubbling oil sound and 2. that there was no pressure being held at all. Do i need to turn the car over and see if i can pressurize it then?

 

[99gst_racer]

Hello everyone i just got a 97 gsx like 2 weeks ago and i was doing a leak test on it to make sure everything was in good condition. I made the tester and put it on the turbo inlet and used a bicycle pump with a gauge to pump air into it. It would not hold ANY pressure and i heard what sounded like either bubbles or drops or oil near or in the head. If any one can help be out that would be great.

Use an air compressor.... The little bike pump cant compress enough volume quick enough to hear any leaks (if there is one).

 

[nfinkbe]

i will try that out. Also after i installed my boost gauge and my car is off the needle sits around 5 psi. is this normal or is there something wrong with the boost gauge which may account for the high boost readings? the only thing is that when driving it seems to be working fine. like when i am not accelerating or decelerating it sits at 0 and when i decelerate it goes to vacuum.

 

[oldman]

It would not hold ANY pressure and i heard what sounded like either bubbles or drops or oil near or in the head.

That's the sound of oil bubbling in the oil pan, is the car blowing smoke? If so, what color and under what circumstances?

 

[nfinkbe]

the car is not blowing any smoke as far as i know i will get someone behind me and get them to check though. Also when i took the intake pipe off there was a slight oil reidue inside the end of the pipe as well as the slightest bit of residue in the turbo inlet. Is this because i have not done the valve cover oil catch can or is it because of something else?

 

[oldman]

the car is not blowing any smoke as far as i know i will get someone behind me and get them to check though. Also when i took the intake pipe off there was a slight oil reidue inside the end of the pipe as well as the slightest bit of residue in the turbo inlet. Is this because i have not done the valve cover oil catch can or is it because of something else?

Only way to know for sure is to clean it out, re-route the breather, plug up the intake nipple and check it again in a couple of days. Basically, you're leaking air into crank case. Focus on where that leak is first then go back and complete the leak test.

1. Move your tester to the TB elbow. If bubbling stops, it's going through the turbo seal.

2. Remove the pcv hose from the IM side and plug up the nipple. Problem fixed, replace the pcv with an OEM one.

3. If problem persists, it's either your valve seals or piston rings. Perform a dry and wet test.

Make sure you leave the oil cap open during any of these pressure tests so you don't blow anything else.

 

[oldman]

i will try that out. Also after i installed my boost gauge and my car is off the needle sits around 5 psi. is this normal or is there something wrong with the boost gauge which may account for the high boost readings? the only thing is that when driving it seems to be working fine. like when i am not accelerating or decelerating it sits at 0 and when i decelerate it goes to vacuum.

The gauge is probably off. Turn the key to ON position without starting the car and tell us what the reading is.

 

[oldman]

Just want to add that it's sometimes normal to have air leak through the turbo seal during a cold boost leak test. The key is whether the car smokes and oil in the ic/licp. Don't want you to freak out if it turned out to be the seal. You too Paul.

 

[nfinkbe]

thanks i will do all of that stuff and get back with yall. Its raining now so i cant do it yet but i will eventually get to it.

 

[nfinkbe]

ok i wasnt able to do another leak test today but i did go and but an air compressor from walmart so i will be able to do it more efficently tomorrow.

I did check out my boost gauge. When the car is turned off the gauge reads like 4-5 psi. when i turn the key on but not the car it still reads 4-5 psi. Now when i turn the car on it goes up to 10 vacuum then settles at like 6 vacuum. btw when i got the gauge the needle was at the 4-5 psi mark. Did i just get a jacked up gauge? its an autometer ultra-lite if that helps any.

 

[Natedaman_99]

Yes your gauge is broke. Well atleast its out of calibration. It should sit at zero PSi when the car is off. So that is going to be why your boost readings are high. I know i got a boost gauge that read 7psi when i got it and i sent it back. But i dought you can do that since you installed it.

 

[nfinkbe]

i might be able to because i got it from a local speed shop where i know the guy so hopefull he will help me out.

 

[nfinkbe]

oki did the test again with the air compressor and i have a leak at the throttle body. I believe its in the back of it near the area that the throttle cables hook to the throttle body. So how do i fix this? am i gonna need a new gasket or something along those lines.

thanks
Tate

 

[oldman]

oki did the test again with the air compressor and i have a leak at the throttle body. I believe its in the back of it near the area that the throttle cables hook to the throttle body. So how do i fix this? am i gonna need a new gasket or something along those lines.

thanks
Tate

TB shaft seals. http://www.ca.dsm.org/faq/tb-shaftseals.html

 

[nfinkbe]

awesome thanks for the info. i searched the forums and also found that it might be good to just replace the tb with a used 1g tb for better performance. what all is involved with this. i remember seeing some kind of write up on it but i cant find it at the moment. thanks.

 

[jayboogie]

spray water (soapy works better, regular water works fine) on the area you think your boost leak is coming from. this will tell you if you are correct or nottttt... good luck.

 

[1badgsturbo]

Sorry to highjack but I didn't want to start another thread. I just did my first boost leak test today, and when I pressurize the intake tract, the only place I can see bubbles and hear air escaping, is around the bottom of the throttle body underneath the tps sensor. So my question to the experts here is do you think it's my seals or tb gaskets or what? Thanks in advance for any help BW

 

[oldman]

Sorry to highjack but I didn't want to start another thread. I just did my first boost leak test today, and when I pressurize the intake tract, the only place I can see bubbles and hear air escaping, is around the bottom of the throttle body underneath the tps sensor. So my question to the experts here is do you think it's my seals or tb gaskets or what?

TB shaft seals. http://www.ca.dsm.org/faq/tb-shaftseals.html

There are two shaft seals, one on the throttle cable side and one on the tps side, one seal for each end of the shaft.

 

[1badgsturbo]

So you think it if the seals for sure? I read that faq link thanks, I just don't want to do that unless it's really the only option. On a side note if it is the seals what kind of damage will it do if any to the engine driving it around like it is? I really appreciate the help

 

[nfinkbe]

should i go ahead and get a 1g throttle body and get new gaskets and such? i found one for around $45, is that a good deal or should i be worried that it is not in good shape? I guess im just asking what prices are for used 1g tb's.

 

[oldman]

So you think it if the seals for sure? I read that faq link thanks, I just don't want to do that unless it's really the only option. On a side note if it is the seals what kind of damage will it do if any to the engine driving it around like it is? I really appreciate the help

Upon reading your post again, I'm not so sure if your talking about the shaft seal. if you can post pics pointing to where it's leaking would help.

should i go ahead and get a 1g throttle body and get new gaskets and such? i found one for around $45, is that a good deal or should i be worried that it is not in good shape? I guess im just asking what prices are for used 1g tb's.

It's a common upgrade for 2G. As far as what is involved, I can't comment because I've never done one before. I'm sure if you do a search you should be able to find the answer. I would think at least you need to port the intake manifold inlet to 60mm.