[nextNME]

Just looking for some info, comments, pick your brain. Would a walnut blast and new charge pipe reduce boost pressure? Generally speaking.

The long story: This weekend I had a respectable shop flush and fill all fluids. No issues I could tell driving after that. Next day I did a walnut blast, installed an eBay charge pipe (stock diverter valve style), and a mishimoto oil catch can (ECS Tuning). Again no issues to note.

After the blast I replaced intake mani gaskets and throttle body gasket. But charge pipe o-ring was reused. This is the only “issue” that I ran into. Other than that it was almost a perfect weekend working on the car. Imagine that :-)

The new charge pipe o-ring was so tight inside the new charge pipe onto the throttle body, I could not push it on far enough to install the throttle body retaining clip, damaging it... hence why I reused the old one. Even the old o-ring was fairly tight and felt like it sealed with a snap, or “popped on” rather. So maybe that’s the first place to look. The diameter of the seal ring groove may be out of spec, on the new charge pipe.

Before this weekend the car was boosting about 14-15psi max JB4 Map1. 10-11psi with JB4 Map0.

Now 11psi max JB4 Map1. 7-8psi with JB4 Map0. No codes. Car runs very smooth. No surging boost, or dropping out. Butt-Dyno can’t really notice a loss of power. All behavior appears normal, just reads lower than it used to. I’ll have to get some logs.

Background: 96k miles, 2008 535xi N54, Burger DCI, JB4 (Map 1), MHD BEF, xHP Stage 3, eBay BOV. Within the last 1.5 years: plugs, coil packs, boost solenoids, vacuum lines, dci filters, vanos solenoids, check valves, injectors, valve cover gasket, oil cooler gasket, oil filter housing gasket, Burger PCV. Maybe more that I can’t remember?

Question 2 - how much play should be in the charge pipe to throttle body? Also how much play in the charge piping from the intercooler to charge pipe? (Both areas will allow a small amount of movement)
N54 eBay charge pipe (535xi) - YouTube

[dmckmc]

I'll give it a go...1)No. 2) Play seems excessive, especially at the throttle body. You likely have a leak given all the work you've done recently. I don't see in the video if you reused factory diverter valves, that can be another leak source with the new charge pipe. A few good logs should be able to confirm a boost leak if you want to post them in the support section. In a pinch some will use the o-ring from the oil filter kit, it is very close to the right size and often people can get it to work. Search here and other forums about the o-ring as you are not the only one who had difficulty there.

[BeatupVR4]

FWIW my Evolution Raceworks charge pipe on my 535 has the same amount of play. I installed a new OEM O-ring with it too.

If your intake valves were SUPER dirty I could see a walnut blast lowering "boost" but that's not usually the case on a car with a closed loop electronic boost controller.

Either perform a mechanical boost leak test or check to see if your boost solenoid duty cycles are maxed out.

[nextNME]

First time logging after maintenance. Let me know if you think there's a boost leak? Or any improvements that I can make.

Thanks!

Related thread:
Charge Pipe = -3psi of boost? (mostly stock 535xi) - N54Tech.com - International Turbo Racing Discussion

[nextNME]

Thanks for the replies.

Last night I double checked the nuts and bolts. Took the charge pipe off, inspected it, then put it back on. Everything looks okay. This morning I reset adaptations via MHD. Now boosting 14psi max again.

I also started a log review thread:
2008 535xi N54 - data log review - N54Tech.com - International Turbo Racing Discussion
Looks like boost is 1 to 2psi below target

[Terry @ BMS]

Seems like a leak. Boost is below target and FF is maxed out...

[Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

No reason for 2 threads.

Post the most up to date log- looks like you are back on target?

[nextNME]

Originally Posted by Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!

No reason for 2 threads.

Post the most up to date log- looks like you are back on target?

Thank you for cleaning things up.

Back on target? Sort of... The log file was today (03-05-2019), which was after I felt the car was "back to normal"... so we're looking at 1psi to 1.5psi (sometimes 2psi) below target as "being normal" for what I can see and feel. I do not have any logs prior to the charge pipe installation, recent maintenance, etc.

New charge pipe o-ring to be delivered Saturday.

I should also note that before the JB4 I was experiencing "wastegate rattle"... these are the stock twins.

[Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

Originally Posted by nextNME

Thank you for cleaning things up.

Back on target? Sort of... The log file was today (03-05-2019), which was after I felt the car was "back to normal"... so we're looking at 1psi to 1.5psi (sometimes 2psi) below target as "being normal" for what I can see and feel. I do not have any logs prior to the charge pipe installation, recent maintenance, etc.

New charge pipe o-ring to be delivered Saturday.

I should also note that before the JB4 I was experiencing "wastegate rattle"... these are the stock twins.

Ok- lets get the new o-ring in. A bit of play back & forth on the CP is normal too btw.

Re-log & will take a look

[nextNME]

New chargepipe o-ring installed. Much better fit. Same log behavior though.

Also how much play should be in the intercooler-to-charge pipe, pipe?

Intercooler to Charge Pipe movement - YouTube

[Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

Originally Posted by nextNME

New chargepipe o-ring installed. Much better fit. Same log behavior though.

Also how much play should be in the intercooler-to-charge pipe, pipe?

Intercooler to Charge Pipe movement - YouTube

Can u post the CSV too, not just the screen shot

[nextNME]

No problem.

[Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

Originally Posted by nextNME

No problem.

Yeah FF is still maxed & your still way under target.

There’s got to be a big leak somewhere...

I watched the YouTube clip - id double check the coupler / clamp from the up pipe to the fmic

[nextNME]

No new logs, but finally can post an update.... boost leak from the oil filler cap, on top of the valve cover. Is that even an area of concern? It was basically gushing air.

I got the boost leak tester parts and put 10psi into the engine/intake... first heard a “pop” the very first time the engine was pressurized.... not sure where that came from. Only spot I could hear or see leaking was the oil filler cap. It would not even hold 10psi unless I used my body weight to push it sealed. I squirted soapy water in most places and didn’t notice anything else. New charge pipe was not leaking at all.

Prior to this boost leak test the new seals include new charge pipe o-ring. New intercooler o-rings (both sides).

I have not driven the car since this boost leak test.

Another thing to note is that the mishimoto oil catch can was bone dry.... after about one month of use. I could hear and feel the pressurized air flowing thru the PCV and flapper valve, before it went into the hose going to the catch can. Not sure what I should be expecting there...

[Dave @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

Originally Posted by nextNME

No new logs, but finally can post an update.... boost leak from the oil filler cap, on top of the valve cover. Is that even an area of concern? It was basically gushing air.

I got the boost leak tester parts and put 10psi into the engine/intake... first heard a “pop” the very first time the engine was pressurized.... not sure where that came from. Only spot I could hear or see leaking was the oil filler cap. It would not even hold 10psi unless I used my body weight to push it sealed. I squirted soapy water in most places and didn’t notice anything else. New charge pipe was not leaking at all.

Prior to this boost leak test the new seals include new charge pipe o-ring. New intercooler o-rings (both sides).

I have not driven the car since this boost leak test.

Another thing to note is that the mishimoto oil catch can was bone dry.... after about one month of use. I could hear and feel the pressurized air flowing thru the PCV and flapper valve, before it went into the hose going to the catch can. Not sure what I should be expecting there...

If you haven’t driven the car much, it’s okay on the catch can - mine doesn’t collect a ton either.

Anxious to see some logs now that you’ve found the leak.