How do I make / buy / use / troubleshoot a boost leak tester? [merged]

[Turbo Monk3y]

All boost leak tester threads are combined here.

i read somewhere maybe the Vfaq about making or buying a boost leak tester of some sort but never found it.... the reason being my acceleration seems slower than normal and all ive done to my stock car so far is take out the air box put on a K&N filter and cut the dump tube i have my boost guage sitting in a box not hooked up yet. and since those 2 mods it when i go wot on the car i can hear the turbo spool up and it sounds nice but i can also hear a sound as my rpm increases the SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH sound does too. the sound comes from the same area as the BOV i think maybe i got a #@%#@%#@%#@% stock bov and it cant handle over 11-13 psi??? Then i shift and it makes the nice BOV sound WHOOOOSHHHH... but my car seems to be a little slower.. any ideas before i go check every tube clamp and tube????

 

[nightspeed87]

may have to get one myself...

 

[dieseltech]

I'd use the air compressor and get a squirt bottle with soapy water in it. Soak all of your connections liberally with the soapy water and look for leaks!! Super easy and can be more accurate than your ears

 

[unlinkedeclipse]

I agree with Dieseltech. It's the same with flat tires and whatnot.

It's terribly easier to isolate bubbles from a hiss.

Edit: though going this route, I don't think it would matter which air up method you used at that point.

 

[dieseltech]

Agreed. It just seems like a lot of work to fill up the volume of the entire intake system and not to mention having a cylinder that has both intake and exhaust valves open. It will take some serious arm strength to acomplish this. Hopefully ,after you regain conciousness from pumping so long, the bubbles will still be there

 

[unlinkedeclipse]

The best thing to do would be the little compressor and watch for bubbling WHILE it is pumping air in. Tt will be more accurate, quicker, and a lot less work.

 

[S_Ranger]

Well I performed tests using 2 different methods. I used the bike pump and couldn't hear NOTHING. So I just thought not enough pressure. Went to the local gas station and hooked the air line to my tester and still nothing. What's strange is that my boost gauge doesn't fluctuate like I'd thought it would, and that's with the bike pump and the air compressor at the gas station. Anybody wanna throw something in?

BTW, that was funny dieseltech.

 

[matt98eclipse]

I have a 420a turboed with a t3/t4 turbo. Im not sure how to do a boost leaks test!! Any of u guys have any pics or links on how to do a boost leak test. Thanxs

 

[fourreGsixty3]

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/ICtester.html, and http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2160683

Dustin

 

[TSImonkey]

There's lots and lots and lots of threads on this, do a search

 

[matt98eclipse]

thanxs guys

 

[powerwagon]

OK I know is question that probly been asked a 1000 times, but I have been serching for about 2 hours with no luck. So here it goes what is the proper way to do a boost leak test?
The reasons for me to do this are obvious, but the main reson at this time is my boost is reaching 15 lbs and holding. I am running a turbox MBC turned all the way down and still having the boost reach this high

thanks and sorry that this is a repeat question
Dan

 

[xioca]

It doesn't sound like a boost leak to me. Make sure all your MBC lines are hooked up right and it's all the way on the wastegate nipple. You could even unhook the wastegate arm and make sure the flapper moves, or just run a direct line from a pressure source to the wastegate and make sure its functioning, opening at stock levels.

 

[want_a_gsx]

quick question...

i know a boost leak tester helps with finding leaks on ic pipes, etc, but
will it help me find out if the intake/exhaust valves are leaking?

how about the pistons/rings?

thanx

 

[96GSTkiD]

okay guys i ve been doing some reseach and i cannot find a thread about a boost leak test form start to finish they always run off topic does anyone have a link to a good boost leak test. And also if anyone has the guild to make the boost tester , it would be cool if someone would add the link somewhere THX guys.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/ICtester.html

Easy boost leak tester. Turn the air compressor down to about 20-25psi and let the car warm up to let any gaskets expand before you hook the tester up. Take the intake off the turbo and tighten this down and fill it with air. Then spray all of the couplers and anywhere you think might leak down with soapy water. You should be able to hear the leaks thought. Try searching a little harder. I put in "boost leak test' and got 12 credible threads that have the same link I put on here.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

hehe glad i didnt have to search to find that link!

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Neither did I. I have posted it so many frickin time's that I can type it from memory.

 

[TurboDreamzGST]

Ok im getting ready to run a boost leak test....i have the tester and i have an air compressor.....my question is, the air compressor i have can hold up to 300 psi and you can adjust how much psi is being put out....if i set the output pressure to the same amount of pressure that my car can hold, will this be the correct way to do it by just plugging the compressor into the tester and listening for leaks?

 

[CanadianTSi]

You need to pressurize the whole system and have someone watch your boost gauge so you know where your at.

 

[TurboDreamzGST]

ok but if i set the out put on the compressor to lets say 16 psi which my car runs....and i allow the whole system to fill up with air while keeping the compressor going....will that be good so i can listen for the leaks?

 

[CanadianTSi]

Gonne be hard to hear leaks with the compressor going...

Just set it to 100psi or whatever and fill the system then turn it off.

 

[TurboDreamzGST]

the good thing about my compressor is that it stays on until it reaches about 200 psi and than shuts off at 200 psi unless i set it higher.....now once it shuts off at 200 psi it allows itself to stay off until it reaches 100 psi and than it will kick back onto to compress back up to 200 psi.....but will my method work by setting the output pressure on the compressor to 16 psi and allow the full system to fill up and just continuously leave the compressor pushing 16 psi into the system while im checking for leaks?

 

[hewhoisknot]

I thought the same thing when I did my boost leak test. But nope not the case, just get someone to help you watch the boost gauge. If I remember correctly the pressure inside the intake system got higher then the 20psi I planned for, it just kept buildin and building.

BUN

 

[Defiant]

I'd use no more than 30psi. You want to test the system, but not blow it up. And that's enough pressure to make plenty of hissing.

 

[blackbyrd]

Yes, set the output regulator on your compressor to 20-25psi ish normaly. With that large of a compressor it probably won't refill before its filled up your intake. You can also screw in a little 5 dollar gauge into your boost leak tester, so you dont have to have a second person on the gauge inside the car. I also use a little hand squeeze blower with a quick disconnect, that allows you to control it rather well.