Will this tester work on my 2014 Buick encore. It is also a 2.4L Turbo

 

Boost leak test kits have been improved! The new kits are $5 more but include parts to adapt the kit for coolant system pressure testing as well.

 

Are you going to add a supplemental video to show how to pressurize the cooling system?

 

Darn, I just had ordered mine, what more are you including? Also, due to your kit I found a leak where the intercooler hose clamps to the throttle body! Just wasn't tight enough I guess because as I tightened more the hiss went away.

 

Are the additional parts something special or can they be located locally?

 

The additional parts for coolant testing are:

- A 5/16" hose: available locally
- A 1/4" to 5/16" barb adapter: most likely not available locally
- A 13mm fuel hose spring clamp to fit on a 5/16" hose: difficult to find locally but you can use a worm drive clamp (I don't like them personally)
- A 5/16" or 8mm plug. Probably not available locally. You can get them on Amazon, if you don't mind waiting a month to get them: https://www.amazon.com/Drip-Irrigat...N8T7/ref=sr_1_35?keywords=hose+plug+irrigation&qid=1553033566&s=gateway&sr=8-35

I'll ship anyone the coolant testing parts for $10 if they want them. Saves you an hour or two of running around stores trying to find them all.

 

Unfortunately, not all of us are in a position to have a compressor. Is this something that could work with a small tire pump? Perhaps one of those small ones powered from the cigarette lighter?

 

Unfortunately no, an air compressor is required for this. Besides that, an air pump would be far too loud to be able to hear any hissing sound.

I imagine you could use a tire pump for the coolant testing portion of it though, but you'd have to find a way to adapt the air tool plug to something the tire pump would use.

 

Video uploaded of how to use the extra kit parts to coolant leak test the engine.

 

Used the coolant one tonight, pumped it up until the cap let out a small hiss at around 21PSI. Let it set for 10 minutes. No leaks, pressure dropped maybe 1PSI at most.

 

Ok, so, I've installed the PCB valve fix kit v2 and I drove like 300km and I've check the ECU for error codes. There were 2 of them which I had before installing the kit. P1101 and P0171.
I do have a coolant leak near the thermostat which I am planning to replace this week I think. But is it possible to have those errors because of that? Or I have to check for boost leak somewhere?

 

Ok, so, I've installed the PCB valve fix kit v2 and I drove like 300km and I've check the ECU for error codes. There were 2 of them which I had before installing the kit. P1101 and P0171.
I do have a coolant leak near the thermostat which I am planning to replace this week I think. But is it possible to have those errors because of that? Or I have to check for boost leak somewhere?

Sounds like a vacuum leak somewhere. Check the corrugated hose (from intake manifold to turbo) for cracks.

 

My first and second attempt to locate my boost leak.

Any comments? I am currently at a loss.

 

There are a few noises that occur besides the high pitched one. I am getting ready to replace the idler and belt to hopefully quiet the AC when it's running and am also replacing the crank seal to silence the chirp. Is there anything in the vicinity of the throttle body spacer, besides the spacer itself, that might be the source of the leak?

I have already replaced the valve cover and the PCV orange nipple is still there.

 

There are a few noises that occur besides the high pitched one. I am getting ready to replace the idler and belt to hopefully quiet the AC when it's running and am also replacing the crank seal to silence the chirp. Is there anything in the vicinity of the throttle body spacer, besides the spacer itself, that might be the source of the leak?

I have already replaced the valve cover and the PCV orange nipple is still there.

Just because the nipple is there doesn't mean it doesn't leak, or that it's not cracked behind.



Sent from my BlackBerry Key2 using Tapatalk

 

No I have not and because of that I will not do any mods that increase my boost pressure.

 

Are you getting any check engine codes?

 

I have since then, but have corrected them so far. I do not think they are related as the leak is not something that occurs at normal boost levels.

The 171 was from when I checked on the orange nipple and accidentally pulled the clip out too far and subsequently lost the plastic ring when it and the o-ring fell out.

I've cleaned the MAF &, Turbo Boost sensors as well cleaning and re-oiling my air cleaner and that has cleared the other two.

P0420, p0171, P0?? I forgot the last one, but it was like P0129 if I remember correctly.

 

An old post I know but I finally got around to boost leak testing the 1.4 turbo... wow! Throttle body connection was leaking like crazy (fixed by tightening the clamp) and a significant leak along the front of the valve cover gasket.

I didn't get to the soapy water test as I have probably found most of my leaks and the valve cover gasket was spitting oil at me. So I'll fix that first.

No underboost codes even with these leaks so I assume my turbo is working well, even at 120,000 miles.

 

OK so valve cover gasket replaced with a Felpro blue silicone deal.. Much better, and no leaks. The old gasket came out in pieces.. Yes a genuine GM gasket.. geez.

Now the oil filler cap is leaking (no biggie), fixed some leaks where I connected up my home made fitting for the PCV bypass kit.

I have one leak at the base of a fuel injector.. These are just standard O rings yes??

I need to jack the car up to get to the intercooler connections but I ran out of time.

The thing is certainly holding a lot more boost than it was!

 

Good to hear its helping you to find these, mine has came in real handy!

 

Yeah I'm amazed how many places it was (and still is to a degree) leaking.

 

Have you ever published any guidelines as to what level of decay will start producing Lean codes?
I am at:
20 PSI to 15 PSI - 21 seconds
20 PSI to 10 PSI - 60 seconds
And am getting P0171 code only

Is running pretty good, smooth for the most part.

Cruzekit 3.4 installed 30K mile ago - put fresh PCV valve in the hose.
New Intercooler to Throttle body intake hose assembly ( previous one oil saturated and rip developed )
New turbo Assembly installed- Felpro Head gasket.
Purge valve seems fine. But by eliminated it anyway and plugged purge line just to see if any improvement, still got P0171
Soapy watered everything I could up top, not seeing or hearing any leaks. But my hearing is not great these days.
My last step is getting under the car and spraying up at the bottom of the intake manifold if I can even see it!

Is there a certain magical decay time if I hit it I can stop looking for boost leaks and maybe consider faulty O2 sensors or MAF sensors?

Video of Pressure decay.

 

Have you ever published any guidelines as to what level of decay will start producing Lean codes?
I am at:
20 PSI to 15 PSI - 21 seconds
20 PSI to 10 PSI - 60 seconds
And am getting P0171 code only

Is running pretty good, smooth for the most part.

Cruzekit 3.4 installed 30K mile ago - put fresh PCV valve in the hose.
New Intercooler to Throttle body intake hose assembly ( previous one oil saturated and rip developed )
New turbo Assembly installed- Felpro Head gasket.
Purge valve seems fine. But by eliminated it anyway and plugged purge line just to see if any improvement, still got P0171
Soapy watered everything I could up top, not seeing or hearing any leaks. But my hearing is not great these days.
My last step is getting under the car and spraying up at the bottom of the intake manifold if I can even see it!

Is there a certain magical decay time if I hit it I can stop looking for boost leaks and maybe consider faulty O2 sensors or MAF sensors?

Video of Pressure decay.

Probably not what you're looking for, but this is what I have:

Boost Leak links as of 06AUG2025