What if the boost gauge has gone bad? The IC tubes could still be tight/connected but the gauge isn't properly reading pressure.
True enough but.. I've seen I/C boots that looked good, felt good but when you put demand on it.. one could have split/crack. I'd check the top Y pipe boot first, then the intake boots under the Y pipe cuz of the "engine covered in oil" bit.
>IF< a boot has failed the turbo can or will sometimes >Suck< oil out of the valve cover (CCV).
Purdy hard to say just whats gone south.. just hafta start somewhere.
How many miles on the 99 now?