BOV upside down, leak from bolt hole?

[joebor1776]

Hi,
I just removed my air filter assembly (K&N, no box) to do my first boost leak test. The previous owner installed the K&N filter and apparently installed the hard pipe that the BOV is attached to upside down. I can see two small bolt holes on the bottom of the BOV bracket (which is facing up). When I do the boost leak test, tons of air flows out one of these holes. My question is, should I try to block this hole to seal that leak, and if so, what should I use? This is a huge leak, and my car seems to be boosting pretty well--I didn't suspect such a big leak. I'm just wondering if it is maybe supposed to be leaking air from there. My BOV is not vented, btw.

Thanks!

 

[ROOKIE1]

Should not be any leaks .

 

[DSMunknown]

Permatex Ultra Black RTV Silicone Sealant.

 

[joebor1776]

OK, thanks to both of you. I will RTV that bolt hole.

 

[joebor1776]

Here's one more question, if you have a moment...
When I was removing the air filter assembly to do the boost leak test, I had to cut the BOV return hose (the hose that's a bit narrow in diameter than a radiator hose, with a 90-degree turn and a couple of other gentle turns). I went to Napa, Advance Auto, and another local place, and nobody can match it up. Am I stuck going to the dealer for this one, do you think?
Thanks!

 

[1AWD90]

Look into an after market J pipe or go to a local muffler shop and have them bend you up a piece of pipe and use your left over hose and t-clamps to make the connections.

 

[FL_TalonTsi]

Permatex Ultra Black RTV Silicone Sealant.

+1, thats what i used for my greddy type s and it doesn't leak at all.

 

[joebor1776]

Thanks, I will do that. I called Mitsu and they want 49 dollars for that little piece of hose. Holy cow!!

 

[ROOKIE1]

Becareful on the amount of rtv you use . To much will get squeezed and go through your system . On my 1g bov there was a small pin hole on the bottom or mounting plate (supposed to be there) do not cover that hole . I think it is an excess pressure release .

 

[98eclipsekidd08]

I just had that same prob. just use a little RTV high temp sealent and you will be good to go

 

[joe]

Thanks, I will do that. I called Mitsu and they want 49 dollars for that little piece of hose. Holy cow!!

I would just go to a parts store and see if they have some hose that is close enough in diameter to work. I think I ended using some heater hose. for 50 bucks you could get like 10 feet of it.

 

[joebor1776]

Hey Rookie1, yea, this hole I'm talking about is on the bottom of the bracket--it looks like a small bolt hole. When I pressurize the system, air shoots out of that hole. Are you saying I should NOT rtv that hole closed? I was wondering if that hole might need to be open, but I don't know enough about how the BOV works. Thanks.

 

[joe]

you should have no leaks. especially if you are recirculating your bov. So i would recommend some RTV also. You might want to consider trying to tighten the bolts also.

 

[joebor1776]

OK, thanks Joe, I'll give it a try. Thanks again.

 

[92awddsm]

OK, thanks to both of you. I will RTV that bolt hole.

You cant rtv the hole itself, it will not hold. You need to remove the bov, smear a thin layer of rtv around the perimeter and around the bolt holes of the bov. Now, allow the rtv to set up about 5-10 minutes, bolt the bov back to the icp, and allow to sit so the rtv can cure. Once cured, recheck for boost leaks.

 

[joebor1776]

OK, thanks! I will do that.

And I just got my length of heater hose from Advance auto and a pvc elbow from Lowes to cobble up a new bov reciculation hose. I appreciate all of the information.

 

[joebor1776]

Sorry to keep this going so long, but just an update--I took the BOV off and spread a thin layer of ultra-black rtv around the perimeter and around the bolt holes, let it sit for 10 mins and then cranked down the bolts nice and tight. About 8 hours later I tried the boost leak test again and air still shoots out of that hole. So I gobbed a bunch of rtv down the hole in the bracket and let it dry. It doesn't leak now, but I wonder if it will hold, and I am slightly worried about it getting drawn back into the turbo. Is that a likely problem do you think? Thanks.

 

[joebor1776]

Thanks. I pressurized it to 20psi today and it held, and I'm only boosting at maybe 12-15, so I guess it should be OK.