Seriousness...

[Sinful6]

On my WE4, I have developed a problem. It used to be I would get on it, and almost peg the boost gauge(20lb gauge). But, slowly that has disappeared. (I run 19lbs on the street) In early August, I would mash the pedal, and it read 17 lbs. ,A week ago, I mashed the pedal, and the boost went to 14 lbs. and I think it was slowly creeping up on 15 lbs. Now, today(still set at 19lbs.) I mashed it, and the boost gauge went to 12 lbs., and SLOWLY creeped to 13 lbs. I know I have a driver side header leak, but I dont know if this is causing it or not. My father suggested a blown headgasket, I told him I didn't hear a pop or anything, and he laughed and said you don't hear headgaskets blow(is this right?).

What do you guys think is causing this?
And, can a header leak cause this?

I can tell you I have Hooker headers, 3in. THDP, and I currently havea R93 chip in it.

Please feel free to ask any other combo questions(I dont have a scan tool on this car, so I can't tell you specific numbers).

 

[blackbuick87]

Your wastegate puck may not be sealing and allowing boost to bleed off, or the spring could be getting weak

Yes a leaky header can cause a loss of boost. Fix it!

 

[Sinful6]

I have an ATR adj. external wastegate on my THDP. I have never really had any problems with it, but I have heard they are prone to pinched diaphragms. Just recently(maybe a month), I found the literature for it, and adjusted it. maybe it pinched it then? or maybe I adjusted it wrong. I will keep it as a possibility. Thanks!

 

[Sinful6]

Aww cmon, thats the only idea you guys have?

 

[87LtdT]

My advice would be to fix what you know is wrong...the ds header leak, and see if that fixes your low boost problem.

Where there is smoke there is fire...

Bob

 

[salvageV6]

You have a cat. conv.? Or leaky intercooler hoses. Do a real good inspection on them. They make a very good wastegate.

 

[UNGN]

Do a compression check if you even remotely suspect a blown head gasket. It's not the usual cause of low boost, but there is a slight chance it can be.

I would check for a plugged wastegate solenoid, first.

If the headgasket is blown, take that opportunity to get rid of the hooker headers. Sell them on Ebay and buy a repaired set of stock manifolds/crossover.

 

[DR BOOST]

I have an ATR adj. external wastegate on my THDP

was that a typo? im confused.

surej

 

[Sinful6]

Salvage, I have a test pipe, no cat.

And my last compression check was August 5th, checked good except DS rear was at 135.

I know that those headers suck, and on the stock ones I have in the garage, I know of at least 1 crack on the DS, and I didnt check the PS. What kind of metal is good to weld this so it wont crack as easily?

 

[Sinful6]

BTW, I looked, and my wastegate solenoid isn't hooked up(two black plugs sticking out). I have a tube from my ATR wastegate merge with the tube from the turbo into a manual boost control valve. Is this right? I was just reading the post on the WG solenoid, just wondering.