How to check for boost leak

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

What is the best way to track down a boost leak? I have a hunch its my IC inlet Y-Pipe, Pulled the rad and the IC came with it and for clearance I unbolted the ypipe. a little rectangle o ring was inside but it doesnt fit well. I can hear a hiss at higher RPM that wasnt there before. my BOVs still work and its making pressure but i know its leaking. Under the hood I cant hear anything over the intake itself, is there a way im not thinking of to figure out where exactly its leaking? I have to put the car in drive and have my wife hold the throttle open and power brake it to get them to spool enough to hear the leak but again, under the hood its too loud to track it down by ear. I am going to RTV my IC gasket but yesterday I passed someone and it seemed like the leak got worse for a moment so Im thinking what ever it is is flexing open with pressure.

 

[BradM]

The obvious way is to isolate the inlet pipes and smoke test.

 

[Cheesehead]

I went through this a few years ago and it drove me nuts. I just ended up biting the bullet and had new upgraded hot pipes installed (not sure if you have done this yet) and it was fixed. Wasn't too happy to shell out the money to buy the parts and have them installed, but the car was waaaaaay faster! Wish I had done it sooner.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

Good ol fashion clamp check did the trick, I'm an idiot. Lowest hose (front turbo outlet) was completely loose. Wonder it didn't blow off. All fixed sho is back to 100% (87%, PTU is still crunchy)

 

[ShatteredMJ]

Glad you worked it out. It’s always like that the minute you seek help you figure it out. The easiest way to find leaks is smoking the manifold through the MAP sensor inlet until smoke is coming out of the intake filter.

 

[SM105K]

I know the rear coupler and or the rear charge pipe can fail.....

 

[ShatteredMJ]

I know the rear coupler and or the rear charge pipe can fail.....

It’s always the stock intake Y pipe. It cracks and makes a vacuum leak noise that doesn’t affect performance but drives you nuts. FYI, anon lurkers.