Boost leak check

[GRoutzahn]

Recently I have been seeing worsening symptoms of having a boost leak. Besides my truck smoking more, higher EGTs and worse mileage my Commander won't read over 22lbs of boost now.

So I decided to rig up a contraption to put the system under pressure. I couldn't find a post detailing what parts to use to pressure the system so I figured I'd contribute.



First, I pulled the boot off of the turbo and put a 2" PVC slip cap inside the boot and tightened the clamp down.



On the other end I pulled the boot off of the intake horn and then put the male end of a 2" PVC 90 degree street elbow inside of a 2" rubber shower drain connector, put these inside of the boot and tightened the clamp down. On the female end of the elbow I put in a 2" x 3/4" bushing (2" is male slip fitting, 3/4" is threaded female). I then hooked up a 3/4" x 2" nipple. Onto the 3/4" nipple I hooked up my 30lbs pressure gauge that I use for testing gas lines (3/4" female on one end w/ a schraeder valve on the other).



Then I put about 25lbs of pressure on the system and watched the gauge drop. Sprayed some soap water on the connections/boots and found out that the boot coming off the the turbo was leaking like a mother. Got a new one coming from DPP for $28 shipped.



Booya.

 

[rbattelle]

That's a clever way to test the system!

Any ideas why the boot started leaking? Did it simply wear out?

Ryan

 

[GRoutzahn]

Thank you. I'm just glad that my contraption worked and I found the leak.



I think that the boot just wore out. When I sprayed it w/ the soap water, almost the entire boot was leaking, one end to the other, all the way around.



The way that the boot is made, I'd say it's a good idea to check it out. Poor design.

 

[DE Jeeper]

It is very common with any power increaser that increase the boost that the turbo hose will fail. I even had a blue silicon hose blow on me. Part of the problem is the length of the hose. It just expands and contracts with the boost and eventually hits is cyclic limit. Before I went to twins I switch the hose from one long one to 2 small ones with a piece of al tube inbetween.



Aaon

 

[WUnderwood]

boost leaks can be a pain to find, I made a contraption like yours and found them all in an afternoon.

it sure does make you feel good when you do find boost leaks, and you keep telling yourself that you ARENT going crazy thinking "is my truck running hot?"

 

[GRoutzahn]

boost leaks can be a pain to find, I made a contraption like yours and found them all in an afternoon.



it sure does make you feel good when you do find boost leaks, and you keep telling yourself that you ARENT going crazy thinking "is my truck running hot?"

Haha. No kidding. It was so gradual that I kept unconvincing myself.