Oil change = Boost leak??
 

Just got my FD and the first thing I always do when I get a new car is change the oil. So I did - no problem with that. The only problem is that it seems like now I have a big fat boost leak immediately after changing the oil. It almost sounds like the old POS Greddy BOV I had on my eclipse ... much louder now too. The only thing I can think of is that when I had my hand in there messing with the filter I must have knocked off a vacuum line or something, but I can't find anything wrong. I'm just now learning my way around this awesome mobile, but it has to be something right in there by the filter. Anyone have any ideas for me? 6-7 psi blows. =)

Do you have a boost gauge? Are you sure you have a boost leak?

The most common problem after an oil change is popping the vacuum line of the pressure sensor on the left side fire wall (from spinning the opil filter off and on). The car usually runs really rough as well. Check the hose at both ends (sensor and throttle body).

Yeah definitely a boost leak (have a gauge). Used to run a solid 12 psi, now barely 7.

I'll keep checking for loose hoses in the vicinity of the filter. I'm sure that's gotta be it ...

Anyone else? Just hoping someone else has had this happen and maybe shares their solution.

This really sucks. Changed the oil and have since spent 4+ hours trying to find out wtf happened.

Now spend 4 hours on the other side of the engine and I bet you'll find your boost leak :)

Seriously if you can hear it its not a vacuum hose but one of the big hoses going to the ic, y pipe, intake, or blow off.

Good luck,
Fritz

Yeah that's what I thought - I'll keep looking. Had another idea ... what if I somehow put way too much oil ... would it cause this kind of problem? I'll go double check everything again ...

How much oil did you put in?? Should hold 4 quarts, or 4.5 if an R1/R2.

I don't think too much oil would cause your problem. I think Fritz has the right idea.

It's weird, I just can't find anything. Of course it's hard to pinpoint the leak because you can only really hear it under load. Is there some easy way to do a boost test i.e. pressure the whole system without driving the car?

when this happened to me instead of check where the leak was coming from, i changed my vacum hoses with silicon ones:) Of course thats just me....

You won't hear a vacuum hose leak under boost. I agree with Fritz-- you need to check your intake connections.

Just a thought: you might want to check your TB elbow first, since that is right in the way of removing the oil filter. You may have inadvertently broken the o-ring seal where it attaches to the TB, or worse yet, somehow cracked the TB elbow (if you still have the stock plastic piece).

It sounds like you have a cracked pipe or rubber link in your intake that is pressurized, after the turbo.

Take out all of your intake pipes and rubber links that are pressurized and examine them. Do this carefully so you can spot tiny tears in them more readily. In one leak I had to squeeze the pipe softly in order to spot a fissure.

I had around 5 boost leaks arise from the links and pipes themselves. Chances are it is this, so check this first. The plastic hard pipes are known to crack but I've really never experienced any boost leak from them and neither have any of my friends.

Garrett

Make sure your AWS hose is still firmly clamped to the intake elbow. This can get bumped or whatever while replacing the filter.