So I had a boost leak...

RetroGamerJP · 01-06-2008, 03:07 AM

I was getting the limp mode during partial throttle and cruising conditions so I began to suspect i had a boost leak. I was not sure if it was my AA BOV or faulty lines so I fabricated a device to help me pressurize the system. I removed the intercooler to do so. Ideally it would have been great to pressurize from the input side of the intercooler and everything after, but it's extremely hard to get to that side with the intercooler installed so I removed and and started at the pipe directly after the cooler.

As soon as I hooked up the air I found my leak. It was a cracked vacuum T. I also found that my AA BOV was leaking a very small amount from the adjustment screw on the top. A little plumbers tape solved that.

needless to say I do not get the limp mode any longer.

steve@logic · 01-06-2008, 03:53 AM

Good job! I have seen a similar setup used by our tech.

bulletproofuno · 01-06-2008, 07:26 AM

wish i knew this much about cars...lol

daves335i · 01-06-2008, 09:01 AM

(sniffle, tears in my eyes)...

This reminds me sooo much of my Audi S4 days, including your boost leak detection kit, which I had one of myself, and had to use several times.

Are you running Procede V2? How much PSI did you put into the system to find the leak?

BTW, I'd suggest that someone put this post in the DYI section. Looks like we're gonna need it in the future as people push more and more boost through the N54.

M3to335 · 01-06-2008, 09:05 AM

Yeah the top screw off the BOV's can be a little bugger. Tape always seems to fix the problem. My BOV was also getting stuck 1/8 open and blowing out all that precious air pressure. I just took it apart, squirted some WD-40 in it, checked it with my wet-vac and bam, works perfect.

Sniz · 01-06-2008, 09:48 AM

I'll buy that off of you....seriously.

RetroGamerJP · 01-06-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daves335i

(sniffle, tears in my eyes)...

Are you running Procede V2? How much PSI did you put into the system to find the leak?

I am running V2...

I found the leak with only 5 - 10 PSI and then fixed.
I then put in 25 PSI to confirm all was well. It held with no problems.

NPDAN · 01-06-2008, 12:17 PM

Kudos on the trouble shooting skills....

O-cha · 01-06-2008, 12:29 PM

Wow I'm surprised that T caused you that much trouble. Can't tell from the picture but it must be closer to broken then cracked? Where is it from?

e90AW335i · 01-06-2008, 12:54 PM

Pretty smart gadget you made. Glad you found and fixed the problem.....

DrewKo · 01-06-2008, 01:14 PM

Do you have any idea what caused the crack in the vacuum T?

Sniz · 01-06-2008, 02:49 PM

well I went to Home Depot and only found 2" and 3" end caps........was that end cap you bought a 2" inside diameter by any chance?

RetroGamerJP · 01-06-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-cha

Wow I'm surprised that T caused you that much trouble. Can't tell from the picture but it must be closer to broken then cracked? Where is it from?

it is the splitter I put in place for the boost guage... right off of the diverter lines

RetroGamerJP · 01-06-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sniz

well I went to Home Depot and only found 2" and 3" end caps........was that end cap you bought a 2" inside diameter by any chance?

sorry... it is a 2" cap... fits into an 2.5" Silicone Sleeve

AWD Addict · 01-06-2008, 03:00 PM

a tiny crack in the T would have leaked enough to throw a CEL?

OpenFlash · 01-06-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWD Addict

a tiny crack in the T would have leaked enough to throw a CEL?

It would have leaked enough air to keep the top of the bypass valves fully pressurized. Without enough pressure on top, the valves would leak enough to cause a CEL.

Shiv

AWD Addict · 01-06-2008, 03:43 PM

Thanks Shiv.

Sniz · 01-06-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp335i

sorry... it is a 2" cap... fits into an 2.5" Silicone Sleeve

thanks.....Now I need a few extra pieces of silicone sleeve and some new worm clamps or T-bolts. I broke one of the worm clamps on my intercooler today.........cheap piece of crap! Now I have a serious boost leak

Mr. 5 · 01-06-2008, 04:28 PM

To the OP,
How much pressure did you know to put in the engine?
What's the max in psi?

AWD Addict · 01-06-2008, 04:28 PM

The screw clamps work best if you put them in places where you can get to them.

CanadianTSi · 01-06-2008, 05:21 PM

I bet you at least 30% of the cars on this board have a boost leak right now.

This should be common practice for all Turbo car owners, making a tester is simple and doing the test is simple.

Sniz · 01-06-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianTSi

I bet you at least 30% of the cars on this board have a boost leak right now.

This should be common practice for all Turbo car owners, making a tester is simple and doing the test is simple.

Removing the intercooler isn't simple, for me it requires removing the front bumper which isn't hard, just time consuming.

I'm getting the final parts for my test kit tomorrow.

01-06-2008, 03:07 AM	#1
RetroGamerJP Lieutenant 58 Rep 401 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Competition Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlanta GA iTrader: (3)	So I had a boost leak... I was getting the limp mode during partial throttle and cruising conditions so I began to suspect i had a boost leak. I was not sure if it was my AA BOV or faulty lines so I fabricated a device to help me pressurize the system. I removed the intercooler to do so. Ideally it would have been great to pressurize from the input side of the intercooler and everything after, but it's extremely hard to get to that side with the intercooler installed so I removed and and started at the pipe directly after the cooler. As soon as I hooked up the air I found my leak. It was a cracked vacuum T. I also found that my AA BOV was leaking a very small amount from the adjustment screw on the top. A little plumbers tape solved that. needless to say I do not get the limp mode any longer. Attached Images
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01-06-2008, 03:53 AM	#2
steve@logic 3 Rep 87 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Good job! I have seen a similar setup used by our tech.
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01-06-2008, 07:26 AM	#3
bulletproofuno Banned 3 Rep 170 Posts Drives: blk on blk e92 335ic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	wish i knew this much about cars...lol
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01-06-2008, 09:01 AM	#4
daves335i Private First Class 7 Rep 116 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, New York iTrader: (1)	(sniffle, tears in my eyes)... This reminds me sooo much of my Audi S4 days, including your boost leak detection kit, which I had one of myself, and had to use several times. Are you running Procede V2? How much PSI did you put into the system to find the leak? BTW, I'd suggest that someone put this post in the DYI section. Looks like we're gonna need it in the future as people push more and more boost through the N54. __________________ 07 BMW 335i Sedan, JB2, Jet Black, Premium, Sport, Heated Seats, Hardwired V1 01 Audi S4 Stage I (APR) (sold) ??-01 Nothing worth mentioning
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01-06-2008, 09:05 AM	#5
M3to335 Whats that smell? 149 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	Yeah the top screw off the BOV's can be a little bugger. Tape always seems to fix the problem. My BOV was also getting stuck 1/8 open and blowing out all that precious air pressure. I just took it apart, squirted some WD-40 in it, checked it with my wet-vac and bam, works perfect. Last edited by M3to335; 01-06-2008 at 11:11 AM..
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01-06-2008, 09:48 AM	#6
Sniz Lieutenant General 682 Rep 10,584 Posts Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (1)	I'll buy that off of you....seriously. __________________
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01-06-2008, 12:17 PM	#8
NPDAN Colonel 100 Rep 2,572 Posts Drives: AW DCT M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: So.Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [8.00] 07' E92 335i [0.00]	Kudos on the trouble shooting skills.... __________________
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01-06-2008, 12:29 PM	#9
O-cha Brigadier General 232 Rep 4,726 Posts Drives: Mcoupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In front of you iTrader: (2)	Wow I'm surprised that T caused you that much trouble. Can't tell from the picture but it must be closer to broken then cracked? Where is it from? __________________
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01-06-2008, 12:54 PM	#10
e90AW335i Major General 144 Rep 6,608 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ...... iTrader: (4)	Pretty smart gadget you made. Glad you found and fixed the problem..... __________________ I install all tunes, intakes, o2 simms, and most cosmetic mods. PM me for a quote.
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01-06-2008, 01:14 PM	#11
DrewKo Lieutenant Colonel 46 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: 335i Montego Blue Saddle Brown Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	Do you have any idea what caused the crack in the vacuum T?
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01-06-2008, 02:49 PM	#12
Sniz Lieutenant General 682 Rep 10,584 Posts Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (1)	well I went to Home Depot and only found 2" and 3" end caps........was that end cap you bought a 2" inside diameter by any chance? __________________
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01-06-2008, 03:00 PM	#15
AWD Addict Chief Executive 394 Rep 2,920 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spd Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	a tiny crack in the T would have leaked enough to throw a CEL?
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01-06-2008, 03:43 PM	#17
AWD Addict Chief Executive 394 Rep 2,920 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi 6spd Coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	Thanks Shiv.
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01-06-2008, 04:28 PM	#19
Mr. 5 Modder Raider 802 Rep 8,633 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surf City, HB iTrader: (31) Garage List 2007 e90 335i [8.00]	To the OP, How much pressure did you know to put in the engine? What's the max in psi? __________________ e36 M3 Coupe, e36 325i Sedan e90 335i--SOLD Best 60-130-------------9.15 Seconds------------------WWW.MR5RACING.COM
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01-06-2008, 05:21 PM	#21
CanadianTSi Captain 207 Rep 607 Posts Drives: 2014 535 xDrive Diesel Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0)	I bet you at least 30% of the cars on this board have a boost leak right now. This should be common practice for all Turbo car owners, making a tester is simple and doing the test is simple.
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