I built and used my boost leak detector (Thanks Trey), pumped it up to 20psi, and found what I believe to be a leak in the bottom of the passenger side intercooler tube. I removed the tube and upon inspection found no cracks in the tube.



I'm sure the leak wasn't travelling from the bottom or top boot. Is it possible that the tube has some type of leak that I just can't see? Do these things fail? Any idea for a fix instead of a replacement? For example, could I simply wrap it in duct tape?

I also found a leak where the boot meets the passenger side spider. Tightened the boot clamp - no problem.

Also found a leak at the air intake heater - need to know how hard I can torque down on the nut.

Thank you for your help.

 

Typically if they fail, you can see it. If you're worried, pressure test the tube itself. You can seal off the ends using your boots and some PVC caps, or a plumbing drain plug, etc.

 

What leads you to believe your leak is in that spot? I'd be surprised to find one of those cracked personally. They're pretty much suspended in air by the CAC boots, no?

Hopefully it's not your intercooler with the crack.

 

Pressure test is the best way. It will tell you where the leak is if there is one. Use the boots to attach a plumbing cap, pressurize it on the other end (another pressure tester?) and dunk it in a tub of water.

If it is leaking, rough up around the area with the hole or crack, clean it with electronics or brake cleaner spray, and use JB weld (inside and out) to close the leak.

OR buy a new pipe.

 

Well folks. Pressure test suggests there is no leak in the tube. A word of caution though. When you don't have a gauge on the pressure test fitting, be sure to watch the pressure being output by your compressor. Otherwise, if you don't have a leak in the tube, the CAC tube turns into a bazooka with the closed end of the tube being the projectile. Ask me how I know.

So that leads me to one of two conclusions - the easier of which is that I was wrong and the leak is in fact coming from the bottom of one of the boots. The more complicated is that the air leak is coming from something immediately below the approximate middle of the tube. I wouldn't know what is in that location so I'm hoping someone can chime in.

It's dark out so I'm going to reassemble in the morning and see what happens.

Also hoping someone can tell me if I can just torque down on the air intake heater to close that leak, or if I need to replace a gasket there.

 

IF I remember correctly, the CAC is aluminum, and the AIH is steel. You should be able to snug it up, but not too tight. The best idea is to put a new gasket (or is it an oring?) on the AIH.

I don't remember because I removed the AIH entirely. I put a plug in there.

 

map sensor hose, mine hangs down a little and touches the pipe. or could you have a little valve blow-by causing pressure in the exhaust and ebp sensor tube? could be a long shot but all i can think of considering the location.

 

I would double check that leak with the CAC tube installed and try to get a lock on it.

As far as the AIH, I would replace the O-Ring. Shoot clay an email. When I needed one he just sent it to me, no questions asked, just paying it forward.

Now is a great time to get a delete plug in there as well.

 

Are you connecting directly to the turbo to do your checks? If you connect to the air intake farther up, you can pressurize the crankcase and blow vavle cover gaskets, turbo seals, ect.