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????

 

[flinguist]

There's a vfaq for making a leak tester also. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/ICtester.html

 

[Psycron]

The hardest part seems to be finding a piece of hose that will fit the cap snugly. I will check Damman or ACE Hardware to see if I can get what I need. Btw I was using the guide from the vFAQ site; was just wondering if any of you made yours differently since I was having a hard time getting the stuff I need. Thanks all.

 

[99gst_racer]

Yeah, it's sized for the Mitsu turbos (ei. T25, 14B, 16G, etc....)

 

[girlieracr4g63]

I just went to Lowes, and picked up the coupler in the plumbing section. The valve I got from NAPA. It cost alittle bit more, but there is no way in hell it can blow out.

The coupler I got...

Made by- AmericanValve
11/2" to 11/2"
Couple of clamps, a cap also found in plumbing section(drill hole on it) and your set.

 

[CyberEye]

I just went to Lowes, and picked up the coupler in the plumbing section. The valve I got from NAPA. It cost alittle bit more, but there is no way in hell it can blow out.

The coupler I got...

Made by- AmericanValve
11/2" to 11/2"
Couple of clamps, a cap also found in plumbing section(drill hole on it) and your set.

That's what mine looks like, except I stole a valve from work Though When I put air through it, my boost gauge didn't move *shrugs*

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Did you do the cap offs? Mine works fine.

 

[CarTrader29]

I'm probably going to do this tomorrow. Whats wrong with using rubber valve stems?

 

[Meh987]

Don't forget to use soapy water on all the connections between pipes and common leak areas.

 

[DaygoErm]

I am going to have a bi*** finding one to fit the inlet on this ....

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Home depot has a 4 inch coupler... It'll work!

 

[Psycron]

Heres mine with my fancy pants gauge

I think this will work...not finished putting the stem in it yet. It's actually three parts since I had to mix and match.

 

[CarTrader29]

Heres mine with my fancy pants gauge

Is that a 3inch to 2inch coupler? 2inch fits fine on a 14b?

 

[mattspyder]

where the hell do i get a valve stem for the tester, im confused if it needs to be like a tire valve stem where it has a little pin in the middle so when u take the compressor off the air wont come out or can it be just so air gets in and when u take the compressor off the air will come flowing right out,
i went to home depot and i couldnt find anything i asked them and a guy looked at me like i was high or something. i even broke it down barney style for him., telling him i wanted a valve stem so i could pump air through this,,
anyone got any suggestions where i can go to get something that will work@!!

 

[TurboDSM86]

dude i sent you a detailed message yesterday. you need to go to autozone..aka ricer zone or any other auto parts store. leave the valve stem core in it. that way you can put air in and it doesnt come out when you take the hose off of it. did you get the pvc peice you needed? did you get the radiator hose that you needed? did you listen to anything i told you about going to vfaq.com?

 

[mattspyder]

YEAH i got all of that the only thing i couldnt find was the valve stem.... so auto zone has them???

 

[TurboDSM86]

yes...

napa
autozone/ricerzone
car quest

even wal mart probably has them....

 

[mattspyder]

sweet just went to napa and got me one of those valve stems, now to put it together and see what the hell is leaking in my car
thanks guys

 

[Darksyne]

Mine isn't nearly as complicated as some of these. Mine is two pieces:

2" Rubber PVC cap
Screw-in valve stem

Tested to 25psi

 

[Tallen]

Wow you guys make this way too complicating. Just block the turbo off and go in through the PCV line.

 

[Darksyne]

Wow you guys make this way too complicating. Just block the turbo off and go in through the PCV line.

The PCV valve is supposed to seal when pressure is applied to it from the nipple side.

 

[MindBlowin03]

Mine isn't nearly as complicated as some of these. Mine is two pieces:

2" Rubber PVC cap
Screw-in valve stem

Tested to 25psi

Thats exactly what mine is. Ive tested up to 22psi on mine w/o problems.

 

[tsi_daggie]

so what is a good pressure to test the systems at. i have heard 22 and 25. what is the most i should put into the system?

 

[adam355]

so what is a good pressure to test the systems at. i have heard 22 and 25. what is the most i should put into the system?

Yeah, I was wondering this too because I have heard you want to put at least 15 psi in and I'v also heard you don't wanna go over the 20 psi mark.

 

[guamgsx]

I have been runing real rich lately so I used a leak tester to check for any boost leaks. I found a boost leak at my turbo outlet and no where else. But, my car would not build up boost with the tester connected. I felt around for air leaks and found that the air was coming out of my valve cover breather. So i was wondering if this is common or maybe one of my valves were open and letting the air threw. Any help will be nice thank you.

 

[oldman]

Bring the engine to TDC so all intake valves are closed. Do a compression test as well to make sure the rings are ok. Also make sure air is not getting in throught the pcv valve.

 

[karbon]

Also disconnect the vacuum hoses on the intake manifold (brake booster, FPR vacuum source, PCV return hose, and boost control vacuum source) to eliminate all possible chances of it leaking through those. Also cap the vacuum port on the bov. Another idea is to test the intake in steps by getting another coupler and making a plug out of a female PVC coupler and a cap and cementing it together. Test the intercooler bby itsself, test from conpressor inlet to intercooler, test from UICP to throttle body, etc.