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Exhaust leak

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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 01:15 PM
  #1  
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Default Exhaust leak

I need the all knowing help from C3 Tech again. I have an exhaust leak on the left side of my 82. I need to know if there's a way to detect where exactly it's coming from. It's definitely in the engine compartment but I don't know if it's coming from the manifold, the doughnut gasket, or the emissions tubing. The tick is annoying at idle. I don't hear it at speed. I want to get it fixed as it makes the car sound bad. I don't want to have to pull the exhaust manifold unless I have to. I have the skills to fix it, I just want to isolate it first. Thanks.
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 01:50 PM
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on my '81, the flange where it mates to the exhaust pipe broke at the welds. there's no donut gasket on the left side, the manifold exit is shaped like a donut, buts its all one piece. I replaced mine with a set of headers
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 03:48 PM
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If you take a piece of hose, doesn't really matter what kind, and stick one end in your ear, you will be able to use the other end to isolate exhaust leaks, any kind of weird noises.

Scott
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 05:06 PM
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Seafoam

Seriously, it might work. Someone else hear on the forums used it 'clean' his engine out and said he found an exhaust leak because of the smoke from a bad donut...

Carl
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 09:11 PM
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seafoam can fix anything,its better than duct tape
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 09:34 PM
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Just tighten the exhaust manifold bolts. The 'garden hose' stethescope is a good idea; it can narrow down the area of the manifold(s) that are of concern.
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 10:02 PM
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Thanks for all of the tips. As soon as TS Lee passes out of here I'll put these to the test.

So far not much wind just a steady rain. The worst should come through tonight and tomorrow morning. I really feel bad for the tourists that wanted to spend the last weekend of the summer on our snow white beaches.
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Old Sep 4, 2011 | 03:29 AM
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I had the same issue on my 82, only it was on the passenger side. It turned out to be a split air tube on the inside of the #4 cylinder, split right where the tube met the exhaust manifold. I went with headers (it was a good excuse for me). I used a mechanic's mirror to find it.
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