sluggish with low boost

[2141pete]

A couple days ago my srt4 started acting sluggish it will only hold about 10 to 12 pounds of boost 12 if you get in it hard. I thought it was b/c my wife put cheap gas in it but I've filled up with premium twice since then. I've still got 30,000 on the warranty so I could take it to the dealership but if it's somthing simple I would rather just do it myself. It also has oil on the bottom of the air box and where the charge pipe goes into the throttle body.

any help appreciated. Thanks, pete

[Turbodog97]

Boost leak? Make sure all your pips cuplers and etc. are tight.

Edit: You didn't drive it hard with a non-premium grade right?

[TEXSRT4]

hows the weather been? when it gets cold, the boost levels drop. it gives the impression that power is lost.

if you do drive hard with low octane, the computer will just pull boost and timing, its perfectly safe, just not as fun!

[Turbodog97]

Originally Posted by TEXSRT4

hows the weather been? when it gets cold, the boost levels drop. it gives the impression that power is lost.

if you do drive hard with low octane, the computer will just pull boost and timing, its perfectly safe, just not as fun!

What?? There's no way that can be perfectly safe. What about knock? You can use it but I would suggest not boosting. i.e. during the Katrina/Rita gas shortage I used nothing but middle grade to save money but never boosted.

[TEXSRT4]

on the contrary my friend. computers are a wonderful thing! upon monitoring detonation, if it senses knock it pulls timing, adds fuel by increasing the injector pulse, and drops boost. all of this will allow the car to opperate safely. however, the power will diminish drastically.

[2141pete]

I checked all the hoses I could without taking anything out. Does anybody know if that oil is just blowby or could it be somthing else? It starts rite where the clamp holds the charge pipe on the throttle body.It is a little colder now but it was cold before and I didnt notice a difference and it runs the same inb the after noon when it's warmer.As i've said before this is my first brand new vehicle ever I'm used to older carburated stuff. I'm a mechanic at my job but every vehicle is exactly the same,26 tons with a 903 cube engine thats older than me. I appreciate the help I'l try to check the rest of the hoses but what is the easiest way to get to all of them?

Thanks again Pete

[Turbodog97]

How much oil was it? Just a small bit is normal. With the two fillups did you completely fill up the tank or just top it off because using the lower grade sounds like it could be a problem, like I said. It still sounds like there must be a small leak somewhere. Or maybe a vacuum leak. Tighten down all connections and look for small cracks and holes.

[2141pete]

it's enough oil to lead all the way down the charge pipe but it doesnt leave a big drip spot and not enough to make the dipstick read low either. The first time I filled up from empty to get all the crappy gas out the second time I was at about 3/4 tank.

[2141pete]

Well I checked all clamps and hoses and looked for cracks and splits but only found the clamp that holds the charge pipe to be loose(it was the only one that wouldnt go any tighter) It seem's to have lost the sluggish feeling but is still only boosting around ten pounds.