Boost Leak Question
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
Boost Leak Question
This was briefly discussed as part of another thread. It appears that I have a boost leak when I hit roughly 24.5 psi. The leak seems to stay for a few minutes after showing itself, but then I'm able to produce boosts up to 24.5 again. For example, on my 20-mile/30-minute drive to work, I can make this leak "appear" four or five times, maybe more if I try. Does this self-healing leak ring a bell for anyone? I haven't done a boost leak test yet, but I'm leaning towards the RTV sealant at the OEM plenums due to the self-healing attribute. Thoughts?
To add a little info to this thread, I recently installed an S&B intake, 4" exhaust, bellowed up-pipes, RR billet wheel, RR CAC intercooler boot kit with new clamps, RDP reinforcing plenum inserts, AIH delete plug, and I removed the wastegate solenoid along with the red and green tubes. I don't have any gauges, but I recently began monitoring the boost using FORScan. Before all of this, I don't think I was producing enough boost to cause this leak, and I had no way to monitor for this leak.
To add a little info to this thread, I recently installed an S&B intake, 4" exhaust, bellowed up-pipes, RR billet wheel, RR CAC intercooler boot kit with new clamps, RDP reinforcing plenum inserts, AIH delete plug, and I removed the wastegate solenoid along with the red and green tubes. I don't have any gauges, but I recently began monitoring the boost using FORScan. Before all of this, I don't think I was producing enough boost to cause this leak, and I had no way to monitor for this leak.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 478
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From: Minnesota
Theoretically with all the work you've done the plenums are the most likely place to be leaking. And I don't think it's uncommon. But the only way to know for sure is to pump it up with the compressor until she lets go.
That being said is there a chance your waste gate is getting opened but is to sticky to close quickly? Or is it for sure cold side?
Just trying to give you some stuff to mull over until the heavy hitters chime in.
That being said is there a chance your waste gate is getting opened but is to sticky to close quickly? Or is it for sure cold side?
Just trying to give you some stuff to mull over until the heavy hitters chime in.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
I'm not sure about the waste gate. It's possible. I alluded to that in a previous thread, but it seemed unlikely that the waste gate would be opening. But with the way this leak seems to cure itself, a sticky waste gate seems like it would cause a similar leak.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
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From: Douglassville, PA
I recently replaced the plenums on my E99 and from what I saw there was little to no chance of mine leaking. I also don't see that it could reseal or close back up after letting go. I would build a boost leak detector and concentrate on boots or like Joe said. BTW tighten that leak detector tight and don't position yourself where you could get hit with it if it blows off.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,453
Likes: 2,936
From: Reed Point, MT
DP-Tuner with "codes" calibrations and a P1211 being set. The PCM will default to a base IPR map for a couple minutes when the code sets thus limiting the fuel until the code "clears" after a couple minutes of the condition no longer being present. The PCM still "sees" the problem but the Service Engine Soon light doesn't illuminate.
Just a thought.......
Just a thought.......
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
From Jody: "My tunes will just eliminate de-fueling for overboost pressure but you will still get the overboost pressure code."
I don't think my fuel is being limited until the code is cleared, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure why I haven't paid attention to this, but I'll watch the CEL and boost to see if my boost issue is corrected once the CEL turns off.
I don't think my fuel is being limited until the code is cleared, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure why I haven't paid attention to this, but I'll watch the CEL and boost to see if my boost issue is corrected once the CEL turns off.
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Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Reed Point, MT
I don't think it's boost causing your issue but I have been wrong before and I will be wrong again. I just thought it would be nice to have a "clean" guess than to simply blame a dirty mechanical failure.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
With the drop in boost happening at the same exact psi, and with it correcting itself every time, I think you might be onto something. Being in Houston, it's hard to test this theory during the day. I'll have to find an empty street tonight in the suburbs, recreate the "leak", sit & wait until the CEL clears, then re-recreate the "leak". I'll log everything with FORScan and report back.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
I can share some screen shots later if needed. I'm starting to think this is an electrical issue rather than a leak, but I very well could be wrong.
I made a strong run up to 91mph (not WOT, but probably 2/3). I held boost between 20 psi and 23 psi without any issue. My next run was WOT. I hit 24.5 or 24.6 psi and the CEL appeared. For the next minute I couldn't get above 5.9 psi. Once the CEL cleared I could build back up to 24 psi without any issue.
So, to summarize, once I hit 24.5 psi of boost, my CEL comes on for a minute and my boost is limited at 6 psi until the CEL clears. After the light clears, I'm back in business.
I made a strong run up to 91mph (not WOT, but probably 2/3). I held boost between 20 psi and 23 psi without any issue. My next run was WOT. I hit 24.5 or 24.6 psi and the CEL appeared. For the next minute I couldn't get above 5.9 psi. Once the CEL cleared I could build back up to 24 psi without any issue.
So, to summarize, once I hit 24.5 psi of boost, my CEL comes on for a minute and my boost is limited at 6 psi until the CEL clears. After the light clears, I'm back in business.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Richmond, Texas
It's been a week. I've duplicated this issue over and over, and I keep having the same result. WOT until I hit 24psi then CEL comes on for about 80 seconds during which time I can only get to 10-11psi. As soon as CEL clears I'm back to 24psi. Then CEL comes back. Over and over and over. If I go WOT while CEL is on, the clock seems to restart (I have to wait roughly another 80 seconds even though I only hit 10-11psi rather than 24). I can go 3/4 throttle and hold 20-23 psi all day without an issue, but to walk that line I have to watch my iPad, and I don't like watching my iPad every time I'm accelerating. Is this a defueling issue? A PCM issue? A tuner issue? I don't see how in the world this is a leak.