Help! Boost Leak Test Results

[rstray]

Ok so i just did a boost leak test, and hears what i got....When i pressurized the system i got bubbling in the motor area, and then my radiator cap was hissing...someone please help me here. I dont know what to do now. Also, when i pressurized the system, my boost gauge didnt move. I hope thats not bad...someone please tell me whats going on with my car. I also seem to have some rattling near the timing/serp. belt. any ideas? Let me know what you guys think...thanx!

 

[ddavisaf]

Whoa nelly. This doesn't sound right....
Here's what you need to do. Retest the system using soapy water over everything. Fix each boost leak as you encounter it until you get to the throttle body. Move the tester to the throttle body elbow and start testing again with soapy water. Pay attention to the injector seals, intake manifold, throttle body seals, etc. . .
Next, I want you to run a compression test. The bubbling coolant seems extremely out of place.
I also think you need to replace your pcv. That is of course if you're running the pcv like it comes stock.
Post back with your compression test results and any questions you may have.

 

[rstray]

I will do a compression test today and let you know...since i didnt hear any leaks from the turbo to the intake manifold, should i just start there with the next boost test?

 

[ddavisaf]

You're not always going to hear the leaks. That's why alot of people use the soapy water, or carb cleaner. You'll see the leaks using the liquid. Watch for bubbles. Start fresh from the turbo inlet and work your way towards the intake manifold.

 

[rstray]

checked the pcv and seemed ok...i cleaned it with gas. i could hear the valve open and close when i shake it. anyways i thought i would also mention that ive been having alittle oil come out of the oil cap.

 

[ddavisaf]

The seal on the oil cap turned to plastic. Just replace the seal it's 2 bucks from satan.

 

[rstray]

How bad is the bubbling in the motor and the hissing out of the radiator cap?

 

[92awddsm]

How bad is the bubbling in the motor and the hissing out of the radiator cap?

Well, the only way for the pressurized air to get into the coolant system is a leaking head gasket.

 

[rstray]

shitty, ive never done a head gasket before...is it hard/expensive?

 

[rstray]

like how much are we talking?

any suggestions to which brand?

 

[92awddsm]

like how much are we talking?

any suggestions to which brand?

Factory mitsu at a very minimum. What turbo do you have and what boost levels are you running?

 

[rstray]

i got the 14b, but i may move to a 16g, and im running 15psi

 

[92awddsm]

14b and 16g will be fine with a stock composite mitsu gasket. If you decide to run 18+ psi, then the mls would be a good choice. I can almost gaurentee that once you get some time in the car, you will eventually go to or above 18psi. I said the same with my 16g(16 psi max) 2 years abo but now I have a 60-1 and run 24-25 psi at a minimum. Your best bet for future upgrades is to go ahead and install a mitsu mls hg. You can get one from sbr cheaper than the dealer so check them out first. Also, have the head machined flat and make sure you coat the hg with copper spray just as extra insurance from any possible leaks with the mls gasket.

 

[rstray]

Thanks guys for all your help. Im going to go and do another boost test and a compression test now. ill post my results asap.

 

[ddavisaf]

www.jacksonautomachine.com
Ajusa/JAM upper gasket kit, 118 dollars shipped next day.
The ajusa looks to be better than the stock composite headgasket. We just put one on here, then ran into another problem... soo... I can't verify that it is or isn't better. But it's another option for you to look into.

 

[rstray]

ok, i did another boost leak test after cleaning out the pcv, and i still get gurgling in the motor. So i did a comprssion test. Heres what i got: 151-150-156-150....I hope thats ok....i mean, before i put a new head gasket in, is there any other way to make sure thats the problem?

 

[ddavisaf]

Do you still have the coolant line hooked up to the throttle body?

 

[92awddsm]

Do you still have the coolant line hooked up to the throttle body?

There is no way for the air pressure in the intake pipes to get into the fiav, unless the throttle body has a big crack in it and that would be obvious.

You can pressure test the coolant system to see where it is leaking. You should be able to rent the tester or you can purchase one for a reasonable amount.

 

[ddavisaf]

That's where I was heading
I reckon I can quit with the questions and get more to the point.

 

[rstray]

yes, i still have the coolant line hooked up to the throttle body. whats the fiav?

 

[92awddsm]

It is the fast idle air valve. It is the plate bolted to the bottom of the throttle body that the water lines hook to. Unhook the lines and loop them and see if you still have bubbles in the coolant during a boost leak test.

 

[rstray]

thanx for the advice. i will try another test asap.

 

[CSEclipse]

yea let me know how your test turn out... i just got done doing a boost leak test, its bubbling in the motor but its not hissing out the radiator cap and it wouldn't go past 7 psi... plus on top of that i have a intercooler leak too so im thinking maybe i have a blown headgasket or something? heres a sound clip BoostleakCheck ... btw, it dosent start bubbling until the end

 

[ddavisaf]

yea let me know how your test turn out... i just got done doing a boost leak test, its bubbling in the motor but its not hissing out the radiator cap and it wouldn't go past 7 psi... plus on top of that i have a intercooler leak too so im thinking maybe i have a blown headgasket or something? heres a sound clip BoostleakCheck ... btw, it dosent start bubbling until the end

Run a compression test. Sounds like your piston rings are allowing air past. Also check your PCV. If you're oil feed is in the head, then you can get air through the pcv, through the oil feed line, down the oil return line and into the oil pan.
Fix the intercooler leak (JBWeld) and re test.

 

[92awddsm]

Run a compression test. Sounds like your piston rings are allowing air past. Also check your PCV. If you're oil feed is in the head, then you can get air through the pcv, through the oil feed line, down the oil return line and into the oil pan.
Fix the intercooler leak (JBWeld) and re test.

Do you know how much pressure it would take for the air to go into the crank case, past the cam journels, into the oil feeds and then into the oil feed to the turbo? Thats what is has to go through before it ever gets to the oil return. Im sure you would blow the vc gasket into a million pieces before boost would travel to those extremes. And dont even count on rear or front seal, oil pump seal, cam seals, or bs seal being intact after that much pressure.

A better idea is that it is going past the turbo inlet oil seal and straight to the return and into the pan bubbling in the oil. But then again, the static oil level should be below the return line location so why would it bubble? Maybe it is bubbling in the feed side which would have an anti return or even in the filter which has the same.My guess is either worn turbo seal and/or bearings or leaking head gasket.

And then again, you could have too much oil in it and it is covering the oil return that is in the oil pan.