Boost leak and running lean. No idea why

[theshaggystump]

So for the past couple weeks my Sonic has had some type of a boost leak and running somewhat rich when starting up and under boost. My first thought was a cracked intake manifold. Pulled the manifold, JB'd and clamped all the seams, to no change, other than cracking my PCV hose in the process. Replaced the hose and still leaking boost and running rich.
Decided last night to do a boost leak test. Pressurized the system and heard absolutely nothing. On my way home from the garage after the test, my car WOULD NOT boost over 3lbs. My inital thought was the wastegate stuck open.
Well I go and turn my car on this morning and get a CEL. Scanned the pending codes using my ultragauge and found P2227, P0106, P0236. The codes are for the barometric pressure circuit, MAP, and turbo boost sensor. Cleared the codes and drove to work totally fine. No more CELs and car was making boost (I saw up to 18lbs), but it still runs rich above ~8lbs and leaks boost.
If anyone can help me figure out what the hell is going on with my car that'd be amazing. Im running out of ideas.

TL;DR: Boost leaking and running rich. No audible leak found after leak testing. Made almost no boost at all on my way home from doing the test. Found CEL P2227, P0106, P0236 this morning after starting, cleared them, and had boost again. Still leaking and rich.

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[EyeluvSmegma]

So for the past couple weeks my Sonic has had some type of a boost leak and running somewhat lean when starting up and under boost. My first thought was a cracked intake manifold. Pulled the manifold, JB'd and clamped all the seams, to no change, other than cracking my PCV hose in the process. Replaced the hose and still leaking boost and running lean.
Decided last night to do a boost leak test. Pressurized the system and heard absolutely nothing. On my way home from the garage after the test, my car WOULD NOT boost over 3lbs. My inital thought was the wastegate stuck open.
Well I go and turn my car on this morning and get a CEL. Scanned the pending codes using my ultragauge and found P2227, P0106, P0236. The codes are for the barometric pressure circuit, MAP, and turbo boost sensor. Cleared the codes and drove to work totally fine. No more CELs and car was making boost (I saw up to 18lbs), but it still runs lean above ~8lbs and leaks boost.
If anyone can help me figure out what the hell is going on with my car that'd be amazing. Im running out of ideas.

TL;DR: Boost leaking and running lean. No audible leak found after leak testing. Made almost no boost at all on my way home from doing the test. Found CEL P2227, P0106, P0236 this morning after starting, cleared them, and had boost again. Still leaking and lean.

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Just for fun, did you check the MAF connection? And the boost sensor connection? Ive had the same codes a couple times when unplugging, stuff sith the battery connected.

 

[panos7]

I have almost identical problems...could you tell me how you pressurized the system? Thanks in advance

 

[theshaggystump]

I have almost identical problems...could you tell me how you pressurized the system? Thanks in advance

I bought a boost test kit from ZZP, although any tester should work. We had to get creative to get it to fit since I have a 3" intake pipe and their plug is for the OEM 2" pipe.
Ive checked around the sensors and the only one that looks gunked up is the little white one you can see in the picture. Not really sure what its for or if it would cause this issue. On a side note does that look like I've blown out my valve cover gasket?

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[Stew]

If you've done the bypass mod you might want to check around there. I thought my intake manifold had split a little causing a leak but it turned out to be a plastic 90* vacuum hose fitting that had become brittle and cracked.

 

[Gimpster]

As to your question on the valve cover gasket, my car looked a lot like that when I just did the water pump. It wasn't the valve cover though, oil/coolant was getting down to the crank and being slung around :\ my thermostat was absolutly covered in crap too, that whole area was in general.

I had a couple issues. Water pump was failing, and I think the exhaust cam phaser was leaking oil. Another post in this just a few down on how to fix the latter. I just went ahead and replaced both phaser seals since I was there, and I havent seen any indications of leaking or slinging oil.

Take a look at your hot charge pipe in front of the crank/AC pulley. If its covered in crap, might be a similar issues.

So long post to say: might be your VC gasket, might not

 

[panos7]

If you've done the bypass mod you might want to check around there. I thought my intake manifold had split a little causing a leak but it turned out to be a plastic 90* vacuum hose fitting that had become brittle and cracked.

Which fitting was it?

 

[Stew]

It was one I had added to connect vacuum lines, it wasn't a factory piece.

 

[theshaggystump]

As to your question on the valve cover gasket, my car looked a lot like that when I just did the water pump. It wasn't the valve cover though, oil/coolant was getting down to the crank and being slung around :\ my thermostat was absolutly covered in crap too, that whole area was in general.

I had a couple issues. Water pump was failing, and I think the exhaust cam phaser was leaking oil. Another post in this just a few down on how to fix the latter. I just went ahead and replaced both phaser seals since I was there, and I havent seen any indications of leaking or slinging oil.

Take a look at your hot charge pipe in front of the crank/AC pulley. If its covered in crap, might be a similar issues.

So long post to say: might be your VC gasket, might not

Ill take a look around there and see if i see anything unusual. We're you experiecing any loss of coolant as well? Mines been doing it forever, just reeeeeeally slowly.

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[theshaggystump]

It was one I had added to connect vacuum lines, it wasn't a factory piece.

Did the mod a while ago and had a vacuum cap blow off the T connecting the hoses. Fixed that quickly with some spring clips

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[Gimpster]

YES, I was experiencing coolant loss AND oil mixture from the water pump. If you do the WP yourself, you'll see that there are a few longer bolts come out covered in oil since they extend through the front cover. I don't know how, I assume WP gasket failure, they were mixing somehow.

I wish I had taken a picture, but the pump was just caked in a dexcool/oil crusty shell. It was then a hot mess of that oozing to the crank pulley and getting slung all over.

Ill take a look around there and see if i see anything unusual. We're you experiecing any loss of coolant as well? Mines been doing it forever, just reeeeeeally slowly.

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