BOV make me run lean?

[LarryJoe]

So today I got the famous PO170 code. I've done a lot of searching on it but none of them answers my question. I have a leaky ebay bov (until my 1g bov gets here). I know it is leaking because if I boost on the highway I can hear it constantly making a honk noise. And it's hard for me to get past 8psi. So I guess my question is, if it's leaking and constantly throwing air into my intake would that give me a lean condition thus causing that code? I figured my MAF wouldn't expect to have air from my bov being constantly thrown into my air intake so this is the only reason I ask.

 

[lumberjackracing]

Is it not recirculated? If it is its not sucking outside air it is just sucking already metered air from your intake.

 

[LarryJoe]

Yes it is recirculated. Yeah I never though about it already being metered. Maybe just my front o2 went out like peoples normally do when they get these codes. My car seems to lose power after 4500rpm too.

 

[jtmcinder]

What air filter do you have? Or, cutting to the chase, do you have a K&N and over-oiled it?

There are lots of possible causes for that code. One is dirty MAF. Just had this today on the Evo.

 

[LarryJoe]

I'm using the one that came with my intake off ebay until I can get a K&N one. I checked my MAF once already yesterday and it was fine. Ever since my recirculation tube popped off and I started hitting fuel cut it hasn't been running the same. I reset the ECU and the fuel cut went away. I figured my loss of power is due to my leaky ebay bov.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Have you done a proper boost leak test, to check for leaks?

 

[LarryJoe]

Yeah I've done a leak test. Couldn't hear any. The only one I'm pretty sure of is my ebay bov. Like I said if I boost in 4th or 5th gear my bov seems to have a constant honk sound to it. Plus it doesn't sound like a greddy bov at all. It just has a honk to it. But why would a boost leak give me the PO170 code?

 

[jtmcinder]

Well, a boost leak under boost can be a vacuum leak under vacuum, sucking in unmetered air during closed loop. When the system needs to use a lot more fuel to achieve stoich than what would be expected given the metered air (i.e., fuel trims are very positive), it throws that code.

 

[LarryJoe]

Well hopefully my 1g bov will solve this code and my power loss issue. If not I'll replace my front o2 sensor.