Boost and air leaks are a way of life for us in the workshop, but occasionally even we see odd ones that merit a photo or two.

 

So to start with the leak was too large to build any pressure in the intake system and this makes it harder to locate as there is no sound, so we insert a smoke bomb into the afm intake and then when we pressurise again the general location of the leak can be seen as the smoke is forced out of the leak point.

 

 

So having done the smoke test the general location was at the passenger side towards the back, so following a quick battery removal there now was more access to check it out.

 

 

So with the extra access we again did a leak test and immediately found the cause of the issue and this was a first for us, the pcv valve pipe was completely disconnected from the outer camshaft cover. By the look of the oil deposits the leak had been evident for some time.

 

 

Upon further investigation the pipe it found to be trapped by one of the plenum lower pipes? can only assume the plenum has been off in the past and when refitted the pcv pipe had become trapped.

 

 

So a view from further back again with the inset picture showing the problem and the location

 

 

 

Quite why or how this zed had been running and left to run like this is a mystery to us at the moment, maybe the owner will be able to fill us in more when he collects.

 

 

Jeff TT

Man you guys will never be beat eh!

 

Wel done for finding it :yes:

smithy

Nice heads up Jeff:thumbup1:

LOL.. that is the same pipe that was loose on mine..... not fully out but leaking...

 

and yes, oil leaking on to the turbo and smell of burnt oil...

 

Hey Jeff, did you replace the pipe or is there a fix for the old one?

That's crazy, how would you not notice that before putting the plenum back on? (not you Jeff just to be clear, rhetorical question!)

Good post.

Jeff the smoke bombs you use are the the standard ones for the gas trade?

 

I know in your past life you dabbled in that trade:whistling:

 

Only asking because we have pots of the things here in work and I have a boost leak I cannnot seem to locate!

 

Dave

So the best way to seal it back in?

There is more to come later on this.....:D

 

Jeff TT

Liking the idea of the smoke bombs and where to get them from. will make leaks a doddle to find!!

smoke bombs can be got from your local plumbers ...

but i'm not sure if they would leave crap behind thats not good for the car

 

 

Mark

Ok to follow on, once the passenger side pcv valve assembly was changed and fitted up we again did a boost leak test, to find as is often the case another leak, this time traced to the rear pcv valve pipe.

 

 

 

 

The rubber pipe was in poor condition and looking from a previous tape repair had been troublesome before.

 

So duly replaced and again we go for the boost leak test and again we now discover a further leak, this time a common one the s shaped pipe from the AAV, well the section that connects the valve to the balancer bar.

 

 

 

 

This was again previously been an issue from the look of it, so replaced again and we move on to another boost leak test.....you guessed it another leak, this time the drivers side pcv valve pipe, now this was a mess having been wrapped in tape, when we pealed it back a large section was missing!

 

 

 

So there you have it, finally no more leaks, the problem with multiple leaks is this is the only method to find them susccessfully, resolving one at a time, the biggest one first down to the smallest.

 

The smoke bomb I mentioned earlier was meant to be smoke matches as below, they are completely safe to use with in the intake and will leave no residue, they really do help with the big leaks and this is where they work best.

 

 

 

So a Conzult session and you can bet this is one zed that is going to feel mighty different now, no wonder it came in on a recovery truck!

 

Jeff TT

Jeff the smoke bombs you use are the the standard ones for the gas trade?

 

I know in your past life you dabbled in that trade:whistling:

 

Only asking because we have pots of the things here in work and I have a boost leak I cannnot seem to locate!

 

Dave

 

Sorry I meant smoke matches but yes they are both from the gas trade and either should be ok, the smoke bombs just last a little longer.

 

Jeff TT

So trying not to sound stupid but you light 2 matches, put them in the intake, stick your boost leak bung into the intake and pressurise the system as you would a normal boost leak test??

So trying not to sound stupid but you light 2 matches, put them in the intake, stick your boost leak bung into the intake and pressurise the system as you would a normal boost leak test??

 

Pretty much yes, I actually tape a couple of matches to the back of the bung, light them and quickly insert the bung back into the intake, wait a few second and then pressurise away.

 

Jeff TT

Edited September 23, 201114 yr by JeffTT

Pretty much yes, I actually tape a couple of matches to the back of the bung, lite them and quickly insert the bung back into the intake, wait a few second and then pressurise away.

 

Jeff TT

 

Thanks Jeff! Fantastic write up and a great how to!! :bow: