Volvo D12 & D13 Diesel Boost Leak Tester - Billet Aluminum - Semi Truck Turbo Leak Test

Restore Torque & Fuel Economy!

This high quality boost leak tester is designed to perform a boost leak test for your turbocharged engine.

This is an important tool that every turbo car owner needs in their arsenal of tools.  It is going to keep the turbo healthy by eliminating leaks in the boost path.  

Save yourself money and check your turbos pressure for leaks! Loss of power, poor miles per gallon and deteriorating performance are signs of losing boost pressure. This tester is designed specifically for your Volvo Truck and is made to restore your full potential of your trucks power. A turbocharger that has a boost leak for an extended period of time will fail prematurely. This important preventative maintenance check can save you a breakdown while hauling a load.

The turbo boost leak tester tests the complete intake system with your engine off. You can apply maximum boost pressure of 15 PSI and listen for any air leaks. When applying the pressure to this tester through compressed air, it will force air in every part that the turbocharger would normally pressurize.  

Application:

• 2004-2016 Volvo VN (D12, D13 Engine)
• 2004-2016 Volvo VNL (D12, D13 Engine)
• 2004-2016 Volvo VHD (D12, D13 Engine)
• 2004-2016 Volvo VNM (D12, D13 Engine)

Design Features & What's Included:

• Billet aluminum CNC'd and anodized with tire valve Schrader port and 1/8" NPT threaded gauge port
• High quality 3" to 4" silicone coupler
• Stainless steel shock-proof glycerin-filled 30 PSI boost gauge
• (2) Stainless Steel T-bolt Clamps with teflon lock-nut

Common Issues: 

• Faulty charge air coolers (leaking through various cracks)
• Intake Manifold cracks
• Intake manifold gasket leaks
• Turbocharger outlet pipe leak
• Charge air cooler piping
• Inspect intake grid heater for cracks

How do I know if I have a Boost Leak?  Common Symptoms are:

• P-codes, Check engine lights, system too rich
• Excessive Black smoke: (Less boost, More fuel = Un-burnt Fuel)
• Loss of power
• Loud Whistling noise
• Loud Air Leak when pulling grades
• Poor Fuel Mileage
• Typically the boost target will be lower than what is expected by the tune
• Boost onset could be erratic
• Slower than normal spool-up

What happens to the turbocharger if there is a boost leak?

Any leak will cause the turbo's wheels to over-spin and result in bearing to wear out eventually causing shaft play!  This happens faster with larger leaks.  This condition then allows for the turbo's wheel tips to make physical contact with the turbo housing.  It's over for your turbo at that point!

Simple Steps to Use the Boost Leak Tester:

1. Remove the intake hose/pipe off your turbocharger's inlet
2. Install the boost leak tester onto the turbocharger's inlet and secure with the T-bolt clamps
3. Pressurize the boost leak tester with an air compressor and a tire inflator tool.   The air compressor should be a minimum of 2 gallon volume.   The larger the compressor, the more capacity you have to fill the engine's charge pipes.   A bike pump or electric pump will not supply enough air fast enough to fill the system
4. *Caution! - When filling the system, start with a low pressure around 5 PSI.  Recommended to regulate the compressor to a lower pressure and only increase if filling is too slow.   The boost gauge reading indicates how much compressed air is in the charge pipes. The boost gauge allows you to read the bleed rate of charge pipes when you remove the pressure.   It is normal to see pressure loss average of 1 PSI every second.  Faster bleed rate at higher pressures and slower bleed rate at lower pressures
5. Listen for leaks.   Use soapy spray if necessary to identify smaller leaks.
6. Fix any leak points and then retest.  Increase by 5 PSI up to the normal operating boost pressure.
7. Go out and Boost!  Enjoy the restored power from your engine!

Disclaimer: By purchasing this tester you assume all risk when working with compressed air.   It is required to use certified safety goggles.   Also you need to know that the larger diameter of your turbo inlet, the clamp needs to work exponentially harder.   Example if a 2” boost leak tester is clamped down and test pressure is 10 PSI, then the clamp force needs to be 31 lbs.   A 4” boost leak tester is not double the force, but squared.   So the 4” clamp would need to support 125 lbs!   Turbo Boost Leak Testers, Inc. assumes no responsibility to any damage incurred to you or your vehicle from use of this product.

Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We pay return shipping if we sent the wrong item or it is defective. See Shipping & Returns for details.