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Need help interpreting leak down sound
I did a leak down test on my engine, and while three of the cylinders were solid (2-5% leakage), I got three others with 15-25% leakage. The bad cylinders were 2, 4, & 5, so one on the left side of engine and two on the right side. For all three of these bad cylinders I heard kind of a pulsing, gurgling sound coming from the upper, LEFT side of the engine. Hard to make out but close to the top valve covers on the left side. No significant sound from anywhere else. What could this mean?
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JW... typically one listens to the exhaust pipe (for leaking exhaust valves), intake (for leaking intake valves), and case breather (for leaking rings.) A pulse and gurgle... that sounds organic!
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I don't think pulse/gurgle is significant, the point is the sound is coming from one place, which is near the top left of the engine, near top valve covers but below the intake manifold. I wasn't sure exactly where in intake valve leak would be heard.
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Have you checked the head studs?
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Head studs were recently replaced as part of a top end rebuild. What part of the intake would one listen to for leaking intake valves? I haven't adjusted the valves since the rebuild and thinking I might have valve leakage but don't know where the air would escape if the throttle is closed?
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Intake valve can be heard through the intake, try near the air cleaner.
Exhaust valve through the exhaust, put your ear at the muffler tail pipe. Rings through the oil fill. Head studs usually through the alt fan. |
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If this was just done, did you rering it and hone the cylinders or replace them? You should re-torque the head studs and adjust the valves too, then check the leak down again. |
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I could have sworn Wayne's 101 book said leak down should be done on a cold engine but maybe that was for the valve adjustment. I'll look again. The logic is that the clearance specs are set for cold, not hot.
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You have 3 good and 3 no so good, you have a problem. Hot or cold you should have similar readings across the board.
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since 911's don't have wings id consider that the tried & true method of leakdown with a cold motor should be the choice. I realize a hot motor should make for higher numbers due to components expanding, but those may be skewed if previous efforts were done cold.
im not an aircraft mechanic, or a Porsche mechanic, but do spend a bunch of time a local shops as I have no life. |
There is a big difference between hot and cold.
I like it hot. Next- drive it around the block and try it again. Make sure you are at TDC or close as possible An AC engine only ask about 1/2 HP per a cubic inch. ( Way derated ) Plus - They are loose and wore out day one by auto standards. |
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However, if the leak-down test is performed on an engine that isn’t warmed up, then the test may not give accurate results. Tech Article by Wayne: Pelican Technical Article: Time to Rebuild? - Part II |
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I may have only made it partially clear that however you set your baseline numbers, cold, warm or smoking hot that commits you to that method moving forward. if you base a healthy motor on a warm reading it should be stated as to how warm. most shops do it cold so they do not have to burn knuckles or explain where exactly the number are derived. a cold motor may not tell you what you want to hear, but it's a good, solid basis to set an even playing field, without numbers skewed by a warm, hot, or somewhere in between motor when tested.
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My bad, after going back to my references I realize the cold engine requirement is for valve adjustment, not the leak down test. I will go back and redo the leak down on a warm engine and see what happens.
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