Boost Leak Pressure Test
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Boost Leak Pressure Test
I recently purchased a used Vortech V2 Supercharger with a front mount inter-cooler. I'm running a 3.6 pulley and when i had it tuned we were only seeing 7.8 psi. James0933 recommended that i do a leak test on the inter-cooler system. A friend of mine has a smoke machine to fill the system with which is nice but not necessary.
Entire test took me about 15 minutes once i had the necessary parts.
Tools/Parts Needed:
3" PVC cap the outer diameter is 4" to plug where my air filter is located.
Smoke machine or spray bottle of soapy water.
Tire valve stem
Compressed air
Air chuck
Drill
Just to be clear I am in NO WAY a technician or experienced mechanic, I just enjoy wrenching on my own toys so please remember that and offer your own input or recommendations.
That being said i am curious as to how much pressure can be added to the system and if there is a potential to damage any parts with to much air pressure. I don't see any reason that anything could be damage during the test.
First thing i did is drilled a hole into the PVC cap and installed the valve stem so that i could add pressure to the system. Then I removed the air filter from the blower and installed the cap in its place.
This step is not necessary but i removed a vacuum line from the intake manifold and started to fill system with smoke, checking for any leaks with little pressure in the system.
Then i added a small amount of pressure to the system by adding compressed air into the valve stem with an air chuck. Start slowly and check for smoke or use your spray bottle with soapy water to spray areas where a leak could occur. Mine was leaking at both the inlet and outlet of my inter-cooler.
Smoke Genie
Fix any leaks you see and then do another leak check to be sure nothing is missed. Sorry for poor picture quality but this is a simple test that anyone can do with a few simple tools. PVC cap was purchased from Home Depot.
Entire test took me about 15 minutes once i had the necessary parts.
Tools/Parts Needed:
3" PVC cap the outer diameter is 4" to plug where my air filter is located.
Smoke machine or spray bottle of soapy water.
Tire valve stem
Compressed air
Air chuck
Drill
Just to be clear I am in NO WAY a technician or experienced mechanic, I just enjoy wrenching on my own toys so please remember that and offer your own input or recommendations.
That being said i am curious as to how much pressure can be added to the system and if there is a potential to damage any parts with to much air pressure. I don't see any reason that anything could be damage during the test.
First thing i did is drilled a hole into the PVC cap and installed the valve stem so that i could add pressure to the system. Then I removed the air filter from the blower and installed the cap in its place.
This step is not necessary but i removed a vacuum line from the intake manifold and started to fill system with smoke, checking for any leaks with little pressure in the system.
Then i added a small amount of pressure to the system by adding compressed air into the valve stem with an air chuck. Start slowly and check for smoke or use your spray bottle with soapy water to spray areas where a leak could occur. Mine was leaking at both the inlet and outlet of my inter-cooler.
Smoke Genie
Fix any leaks you see and then do another leak check to be sure nothing is missed. Sorry for poor picture quality but this is a simple test that anyone can do with a few simple tools. PVC cap was purchased from Home Depot.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
I had my boost routed there also between the PCV and the Intake Manifold. Got a lot of criticism. Also got a little oil in the line. so i moved it to the vacuum source under the intake manifold facing the driver side fener pointing straight down. really easy.
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