Boost leak? I can't tell....

[907DAVE]

Check your up pipes for leaks, sounds more like a exhaust leak than a boost leak. Boost leaks will produce more of a high pitched squealing, or a loud hissing sound.

Good Luck

[Robert6401]

If it is an exhaust leak? Is there anything I can do besides replacing the up-pipes? Those puppies are expensive.

[cleatus12r]

Actually, the Ford replacements will run you about $100 in parts. The labor is pretty intense (turbo r&r at 1.8 hours plus the time to do the pipes).

Originally Posted by Bob

I noticed that around 15psi the turbo seemed to have a pronounced flutter to it rather than just the normal high-pitched whistle, but once it got above 15psi it went away.

That's turbo surge and it's very bad for the turbo. Just sayin'.

[Robert6401]

Cody, I was able to get what I thought was turbo surge around 25psi just playing around in the perf tune, but it was more of a *chirp chirp* sound. The sound I was getting at 15psi was more like the sound you would hear if you blew into a table fan. Why would the turbo surge at 15psi? Isn't that really low psi for it to do that?

[Robert6401]

YouTube - 7.3 powerstroke turbo surge, turbo stall, compressor surge, or normal wastegate blowoff???

This is the closest sound I could find to what I was hearing at 15psi. Go to the 1:00 mark like he says in his description.

[Robert6401]

Wow, now I'm worried! If in fact, that was turbo surge, and I drove the heck out of it not really thinking it was surge, what kind of damage might I have done? How would I check for damage?

[907DAVE]

Check compressor wheel for "in and out" movement. Also check to make sure it is not scraping on the compressor housing.