U0100 & lean at idle + can't figure out boost leak test

[durkinnj]

Hi guys. My 2006 mazdaspeed6 is running like crap. I have a U0100 and also a lean at idle code. Everytime I go from 0 throttle and then try to accelerate, my AFRs jump, the car stutters and sometimes backfires/misfires for about 3 seconds and then the AFRs drop back to normal and the car takes off. This happens at first start from idle as well as after every gear change. If I power shift it basically eliminates this issue. What I am trying to do right now is a boost leak test. I uploaded two pictures. One is showing my setup. I have the boost leak tester hooked up at the air inlet where the filter usually goes. I have the two lines bent over and pinched that are also attached to that inlet. I have air coming out of the open pipe at the valve cover shown in that same picture. The other picture shows where air comes out of if I block that open pipe. Because air comes out of either location depending on how I configure it, I cannot listen for air leaks. The pressure I am using is between 5 and 8 psi. I'm not sure exactly how to do this boost leak test or maybe I'm doing it right and there is some problem letting air leak by somewhere. I've watched videos and searched forums but so far have not found any solution. Sorry for the long post.

 

[mstake6]

My understanding is that some air may enter the valve cover due to open valves. Mine did it too. When I blocked the VC vent port I found leakage through the VC gasket. The second pic is of the VVT solenoid and I think some slight leaking there is expected. I also couldn't get my system to hold boost pressure for long since it was going out the valve cover. I also had doubts about my testing, so I used a smoke machine to fill the intake tract then used compressed air to look for smoke when pressurized. Soapy water is good for more accessible and visible leaks, smoke will show sneaky leaks.

 

[Awafrican]

OP the hose you have bent off and pinched you have to still have connected but pinched pair of vice grips in a clth if you don't have a hose Pincher.

Yeh that's the vvt solenoid gasket, mine went as well you'll need a new VC gasket and vvt solenoid gasket. it does not come in the kit. also when you do the VC gasket there's a couple of spots you have to put rtv on or you'll leak.
you should be able to soapy water other connections to see if they're toast as well even with the vvt solenoid leaking.

heres a how to on boost leak testing
https://mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?threads/how-to-build-and-perform-boost-leak-tester.8853/

 

[durkinnj]

From what I can tell, I don't have any boost leaks. At least none that I could detect after a long time of checking. I started looking into sensors now and my first check is o2 sensors. I'm trying to figure out what readings I should be getting. From what I can tell, both of my o2 sensors are giving me 0V? Am I seeing that correctly? Right now I'm using the obdlink software because I haven't figured out how to use the forscan yet. Still working on it.