[Sniz]

Finally got around to posting this. With the help of Adam (clem) we put together a quick and cheap boost leak test for my car.

in Adam's awesome garage.......

notice the cans of Sunoco race fuel.......love this stuff, smells so good. Me in the background. Sorry for the crappy pics, Adams camera was having focusing issues apparently.



Here is how it was done:

I have a Helix FMIC which uses 2.5" ID silicone couplers, i'm going to assume that all other aftermarket FMIC kits use the same size.

- Drive to Home Depot or Lowe's

-Park

-Purchase a PVC end cap w/ a 2.5" OD

-Purchase a quick release compressor "nipple"

-drill a hole in the end of the cap that will allow the nipple to be very very tightly screwed into the end cap, size of drill bit will depend on the nipple you purchase



-drop both sides of the intercooler allowing better access

-we used the sophisticated hanging green wire shown below to hold the passenger side of the FMIC a good 12" or so below the bumper, this will require the removal of the "hot" side coupler and the loosening of the "cold" side coupler to allow the FMIC to rotated



-using a few worm clamps or any type of clamp, fasten the end cap w/ nipple into the "hot" side coupler very tightly. We had this end cap shoot out once, loud as h*ll when it blew and we both puckered our you know whats .

-tighten everything up, set your compressor to around 20psi and pressurize the system, you willl hear all types of weird sounds from the engine/piping when the pressure hits.



-shut off the compressor and ANYTHING else making noise, you want your work environment to be 100% quiet other so you can better hear small pops, hisses, etc.

-LISTEN.......anything you hear may be a boost leak, I had a small boost leak in the stock plastic/rubber coupler on the charge pipe....it sounded like a bubbling as the oil inside the pipe was trying to escape. This was the cause of a high RPM limp I was getting. After tightening the clamp just a half turn, the leak was ended and my car was happy.

-once you have determined where any leaks are and fixed them, put everything back together.

If this was unclear, just ask, i'm in a hurry and already late for a work appointment.

[TheAcAvenger]

Really nice work Sniz

[5soko]

AWESOME write up!!!

[BoostedBMW]

Nice work guys... that's a great idea using a PVC cap with a compressor fitting screwed into it. Ahhh, it must be nice to have access to a lift you lucky bastards!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by BoostedBMW

Nice work guys... that's a great idea using a PVC cap with a compressor fitting screwed into it. Ahhh, it must be nice to have access to a lift you lucky bastards!

thanks!

and yes, it really really is nice

[Brian GT PRO]

notice the cans of Sunoco race fuel.......love this stuff, smells so good.

LOL You, my friend are one sick puppy Welcome to the club I love the smell too haha!

BTW that is a VERY nice garage!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Brian GT PRO

LOL You, my friend are one sick puppy Welcome to the club I love the smell too haha!

BTW that is a VERY nice garage!

LOL, i'm gonna start wearing it as cologne

that garage is my heaven, we both washed our cars INSIDE right afterwards....gotta love that in the winter. Also happens to have radiant heated floors.

[BavarianBullet]

"That's no garage...that's a space station."




Nice work guys!

[Kbueno]

Great write-up Sniz..been waiting for this. How hard is it to drop the intercooler..is this something easily done?

[Clem]

Yes those ultra sharp, high quality pics came from my state-of-the-art Canon. Shakey!: Must have sniffed too much of that sweet race gas or something.

And yes, that is .080 weedwacker line holding the IC. Only the best for you, Matt!

[Clem]

Originally Posted by BavarianBullet

"That's no garage...that's a space station."

LOL. Yes, @ 1800 s.f. it's bigger than my house and arguably more useful. The guy I bought the place from had his priorities straight

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by BavarianBullet

"That's no garage...that's a space station."




Nice work guys!

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by 335lvr

Great write-up Sniz..been waiting for this. How hard is it to drop the intercooler..is this something easily done?

yup very easy, there are only 2 bolt/screws holding the intercooler up there, then loosen/remove the silicone couplings and slide it down. Very easy, at least on a lift!

fyi- if you have a stock intercooler, you will have to get new clamps once you do this as the stock clamps are not reusable.

[Hit_Apex]

Just wanted to bump this thread. I had a boost leak at the same coupling as Sniz described above and was getting unexplained limps around 4500 rpm. I didn't rig up a leak down but was able to tell there was a leak because the boost pipe that connects the DV tube to the IC had a light coating of oil on the *outside*.

Anyone diagnosing a boost leak with an aftermarket IC should inspect the outside of all pipes and tubes around the couplings for oil or rig up the awesome leak down described by Sniz.

[zenmaster]

Any of you guys with boost leaks happen to check the wastegate duty cycle? Would it be worth correlating leaks with those measurements (at whatever RPM)?

[O-cha]

Boost leak needs to be a lot bigger the a small hiss @ 20 psi to cause a limp. You're going to have people going nuts wanting boost leak checks now.

[Jred22]

Drive it under water.

[Mr. 5]

Good job Sniz!
Added to the DIY list.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by O-cha

Boost leak needs to be a lot bigger the a small hiss @ 20 psi to cause a limp. You're going to have people going nuts wanting boost leak checks now.

understood, but it did stop the limp I was getting over 5500rpms. Most boost leaks will be more noticeable I would think. Hel, you should have heard it when the cap blew off w/ the system pressurized, almost crapped myself.....now THAT was a leak.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

Good job Sniz!
Added to the DIY list.

[Sniz]

bump......looks like there are a few of you out there that could use this

[Mahhvinn]

great stuff sniz!