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????

 

[Wufei]

You're probably talking about the PCV line, how/where was it leaking?

 

[spinz4]

Ya it sounds like you just need a new PCV valve.

 

[Dan97gst]

It is the line on the left side of the valve cover, it isn't the line on the top of the cover it is on the side. As far as it leaking it was only leaking alittle bit, almost wear you couldn't hear it, I knew it was leaking because I put my finger over it and it built pressure and releasted when I took it off. Wouldn't air go through this anyways I mean it is hooked up to the intake.

I tested at about 15psi.

What about the bubbling oil sound?

Thanks Again

 

[WeaselHack]

As others have suggested, try replacing your PCV. The PCV is supposed to be CLOSED under boost but they clog easily and don't complete seal causing boost to leak into the valve cover. You can try cleaning it but if it continues to leak be sure to get a genuine mitsu replacement.

The bubbling sound has got me stumped....Can you isolate where it's coming from? I suppose it could be related to leaky pcv.

 

[Dan97gst]

it sounds like the oil is going up to the top of the valve cover and dripping back down. Well a least that is what it sounds like. How would you go about trying to clean the pcv valve. Also I looked at pictures of this valve on the net and it looks like the valve on the top of the cover and where it is leaking is from the other line on the top left side of the cover, but I guess this could be another type pcv valve i don't know. Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Novablue454]

I finally got around to making a boost leak tester tonight, and I did discover I have a large leak, however, now I have a bigger problem. I had the tester at the inlet on the turbo itself, but i couldnt tell if the leak was coming from the turbo itself, or from the lower IC piping. So i decided to pull the lower IC pipe off the turbo and put the PVC cap into it and not test the turbo. Well after i got it installed and pushed the line from the compressor onto the valve stem, the stem popped out and dropped down into the intercooler. uh-oh. Any ideas on how to get this out? Im supposed to be taking the car to a friend of a friends tomorrow night to figure out whats wrong with it, and i highly doubt its ok to drive with that in there.

 

[Tony90TSI]

Is it the stock side mount intercooler? If so then just unbolt the thing and turn it until the piece comes out. Sorry your profile doesnt have any info on mods.

 

[chico904]

I dont know if I understood this exactly, but cant you just take the intercooler off and shake it out?

 

[Novablue454]

yea, its the stock side mount. But im not sure how to get to it. Im assuming I need to pull off the black finned plastic (not sure of the right name for it) in front of the tire, and then i'll see some bolts?
Or is it something else?

 

[Tony90TSI]

yea, its the stock side mount. But im not sure how to get to it. Im assuming I need to pull off the black finned plastic (not sure of the right name for it) in front of the tire, and then i'll see some bolts?
Or is it something else?

Yeah that guard/air channel needs to be removed then you will see that there are 2 bolts holding that cute little guy in there. you will have to remove the hoses from it on the motor side though. Just take the clamp off at the intercooler and slip rubber hoses off. The intercooler will be ready to fall out then. Then turn it up/shake it till the piece falls out.

 

[chico904]

Yeah, pull that black inner guard (I dont know the correct name either) so you can get to it. You shouldnt have to pull the wheel, just cut it to the drivers side. Unscrew the clamp on the coupler that connects to the stock intake( which I'm guessing you have) and since you already have the lower intercooler pipe off the turbo, just yank it off, the take off the lower intercooler pipe and shake it out.

 

[Novablue454]

are you sure its just the 2 bolts? i pulled off the plastic piece in front of the tire, took out 1 bolt going towards the engine and one pointing up on the other side. Both hoses are disconnected, and the thing wont come out, or hardly move for that matter.

 

[Tony90TSI]

I am pretty sure its only 2 bolts. The reason is i see my stock one everytime i walk in my house. It sits there in the entry way doing nothing like the car its supposed to be in. I will try to find some pictures of it just to make sure.

Oops i am stupid. Looks like there are 3. The pic in this ad the intercooler is on its side facing the outside of the car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DSM-...ryZ33742QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Novablue454]

oh ok.
that third one also goes through the black plastic.

the head broke off while trying to get it out.

its 3:15am and Its still going to be a long night.

 

[Tony90TSI]

oh ok.
that third one also goes through the black plastic.

the head broke off while trying to get it out.

its 3:15am and Its still going to be a long night.

I am at work. So i will be here all night(6am your time).

You do see that there are 3 bolts right? Then the one small one on the bottom to hold the plastic up?

 

[Novablue454]

yea, i got it off. I was mistaken on the location of the 3rd, but i found it when i went outside. How do i add reccomendation points? theres no hourglass next to your name.

So far i've found 3 boost leaks.

 

[Tony90TSI]

yea, i got it off. I was mistaken on the location of the 3rd, but i found it when i went outside. How do i add reccomendation points? theres no hourglass next to your name.

So far i've found 3 boost leaks.

They have a section to post a thread in saying why you want it then the mods will "look into it".
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=101

Also doing the leak test get a squirt bottle and some water with a little soap. User the spray bottle to spray down the throttle body and piping to make sure its not leakings. Some small leaks cant be heard but enough of them can really hurt you.

 

[Novablue454]

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I'll go in clockwise order.

the first one there are 2 hoses going into a plastic piece which appears to be going into the thermostat housing. Im not sure exactly what this is.

the second one is coming from a tiny black circle screwed to the throttle body on the side facing the radiator. Once again, Im not sure what this is.

the third I cannot pinpoint. there is so much stuff on top of there, its hard to see anything underneath with the light im working with. It sounds like its coming from the intake manifold, a few inches to the right of the stock FPR. What is located there?

I didnt even know boost went through half of this stuff.

Any tips on what these are or how to repair them is greatly appreciated.

and once again, thanks for having patience with the noob.

 

[Tony90TSI]

Ok so you know this right off the first one isnt a vacuum line. Its the overflow which goes to an overflow bottle. I know you have seen it on the older cars but instead of motor mounted they are on the radiator itself. Keep that in mind.

 

[Novablue454]

yea, thats how i found 2 of the 3.

 

[Tony90TSI]

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1. is your bov and to the right is where the bov recirculates into the turbo. Makes sure that its not leaking around there as well.

2. This i believe is where your bov is supposed to have the vacuum line running from.

 

[Novablue454]

The BOV isnt leaking, thats not actually my car. I have slightly different IC piping and a TurboXS Type-H-RFL. Its not recirculating. And that, I know, is causing some of the problem.

 

[Tony90TSI]

The BOV isnt leaking, thats not actually my car. I have slightly different IC piping and a TurboXS Type-H-RFL. Its not recirculating. And that, I know, is causing some of the problem.

Ahh ok i was under the impression that the picture was from your car. My fault for assuming.

 

[Novablue454]

But in the meantime, MORE PAINT!!

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1-Overflow line to overflow tank.
2-Coolant Temp Sensor
3-Coolant line to intake manifold.

The blue lines are the two vacumn lines that are leaking.

 

[tallywacker]

yes it should hold air somewhere you are leaking keep looking and fixing