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.
