Exhaust leak from HELL
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Race Director
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From: Manassas VA
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St. Jude Donor '14
Exhaust leak from HELL
YES FROM HELL!!! I can't find that damn exhaust leak from hell. I only hear it while I'm accelerating around 1700RPMs and up. There’s a put put put steam engine sound on the driver's side. What can I do to pin point the leak??? Everything is tight.. I don't see any black exhaust marks nor can I feel the leak. The leak must be enormous because I can hear it over the power effects.... :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: 
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:39 PM 12/15/2002]
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:39 PM 12/15/2002]
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Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
:cheers: You probably need to get it on a lift. Sounds underneath the car can be coming from anywhere!
I have found pronlems where my front Y pipe slides into converter
Jack
I have found pronlems where my front Y pipe slides into converter
Jack
Thread Starter
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From: Manassas VA
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St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (jackdaroofer)
I just took it off the lift.. :) My father and I tightened and check every bolt from the headers down to the mufflers.. My knuckles don't have any skin left!!! J/k Those header bolts!! yuck.
I was hoping there was some kind of "magical" / secret way to find the leak.. I'll put it on the lift tomorrow and see if I can find it.
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :(
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:41 PM 12/15/2002]
I was hoping there was some kind of "magical" / secret way to find the leak.. I'll put it on the lift tomorrow and see if I can find it.
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :(
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:41 PM 12/15/2002]
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Glen Burnie Maryland
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
Not quite sure what to tell you but will be keeping an eye on this one since I too have this problem and cannot find it either, new gaskets and tightened all the bolts, Still leaking NO CLUE :seeya
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Sun City West Az
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Gr94C4)
Not quite sure what to tell you but will be keeping an eye on this one since I too have this problem and cannot find it either, new gaskets and tightened all the bolts, Still leaking NO CLUE :seeya
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From: Michigan in the summer, Florida the rest of the time
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'11
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
Back on the lift and use a paint brush with soapy water on all the joints? As long as the exhaust isn't too hot, you should be able to see bubbles forming.
Another, less safe, method is holding a lit cigarette up to the joints and watch if the smoke curls around the pipe or gets blown away.
Good luck! :cheers:
Brad
Another, less safe, method is holding a lit cigarette up to the joints and watch if the smoke curls around the pipe or gets blown away.
Good luck! :cheers:
Brad
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St. Jude Donor '10
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
well since the exhaust is already leaking....why don't you send the Power Effects this way so I can bolt em on the Callaway til you find where the leak is :D :D
Thread Starter
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From: Manassas VA
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St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (SurfnSun)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: umm.. no.
;)
[Modified by Bluewasp, 11:00 PM 12/15/2002]
well since the exhaust is already leaking....why don't you send the Power Effects this way so I can bolt em on the Callaway til you find where the leak is :D :D
[Modified by Bluewasp, 11:00 PM 12/15/2002]
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From: Cedar Rapids IA
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
Probably most reliable way to find elusive leaks is to beg, borrow or steal an ultrasonic leak detector. These are used in most dealerships and better body shops to find air leaks around windows. One of these little gems will make an inaudible leak sound like an F-15 doing a full battle power afterburner take off through the earphones. We use them to find small air leaks and bad steam traps at the plant I work at and they make a difficult and sometimes dangerous job easy. I know Snapon makes one, so I suppose Mac and other professional tool vendors have them also. You don't even want to know what the NASA grade unit we use at work costs, but the others are not untouchable. I know a couple of mechanics that have their own.
[Modified by GS583, 10:07 PM 12/15/2002]
[Modified by GS583, 10:07 PM 12/15/2002]
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (GS583)
Probably most reliable way to find elusive leaks is to beg, borrow or steal an ultrasonic leak detector. These are used in most dealerships and better body shops to find air leaks around windows. One of these little gems will make an inaudible leak sound like an F-15 doing a full battle power afterburner take off through the earphones. We use them to find small air leaks and bad steam traps at the plant I work at and they make a difficult and sometimes dangerous job easy. I know Snapon makes one, so I suppose Mac and other professional tool vendors have them also. You don't even want to know what the NASA grade unit we use at work costs, but the others are not untouchable. I know a couple of mechanics that have their own.
[Modified by GS583, 10:07 PM 12/15/2002]
[Modified by GS583, 10:07 PM 12/15/2002]
[Modified by Bluewasp, 11:37 PM 12/15/2002]
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From: Anthony TX
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St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
Bluewasp
I have found a couple of elusive leaks by putting the vehicle up on stands (tall enough to get under the vehicle) and have someone inject WD-40 or some sort of spray oil into the intake track while you watch the exhaust system. the smoke from the oil will leak out of the bad seal. I put the little red spray tube from the WD-40 can into the accrodian coupler tube, under the hose clamp on the throttle body side. Rev up the engine to (1700rpm's) and have the person spray the oil at the same time. The smoke will exit at the leak point.
Let us know how you make out!
Bill C :D
[Modified by Bill Curlee, 11:21 PM 12/15/2002]
I have found a couple of elusive leaks by putting the vehicle up on stands (tall enough to get under the vehicle) and have someone inject WD-40 or some sort of spray oil into the intake track while you watch the exhaust system. the smoke from the oil will leak out of the bad seal. I put the little red spray tube from the WD-40 can into the accrodian coupler tube, under the hose clamp on the throttle body side. Rev up the engine to (1700rpm's) and have the person spray the oil at the same time. The smoke will exit at the leak point.
Let us know how you make out!
Bill C :D
[Modified by Bill Curlee, 11:21 PM 12/15/2002]
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From: Manassas VA
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St. Jude Donor '14
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bill Curlee)
Bluewasp
I have found a couple of elusive leaks by putting the vehicle up on stands (tall enough to get under the vehicle) and have someone inject WD-40 or some sort of spray oil into the intake track while you watch the exhaust system. the smoke from the oil will leak out of the bad seal. I put the little red spray tube from the WD-40 can into the accrodian coupler tube, under the hose clamp on the throttle body side. Rev up the engine to (1700rpm's) and have the person spray the oil at the same time. The smoke will exit at the leak point.
Let us know how you make out!
Bill C :D
I have found a couple of elusive leaks by putting the vehicle up on stands (tall enough to get under the vehicle) and have someone inject WD-40 or some sort of spray oil into the intake track while you watch the exhaust system. the smoke from the oil will leak out of the bad seal. I put the little red spray tube from the WD-40 can into the accrodian coupler tube, under the hose clamp on the throttle body side. Rev up the engine to (1700rpm's) and have the person spray the oil at the same time. The smoke will exit at the leak point.
Let us know how you make out!
Bill C :D
Rob
[Modified by Bluewasp, 5:35 AM 12/16/2002]
Burning Brakes
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From: Spanish Fork Utah
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Bluewasp)
Bluewasp:
I was having a very loud sound at about that same RPM. In my case, I solved it. Turns out that on the exhaust pipes before the cat, there are pipes inside of the pipes. Those inner pipes were making the noise. A muffler shop was able to torch-cut a few holes up and down the pipe and then weld it to the pipe inside. After that, it hasn't occured since. I don't know, maybe it's worth a shot.
Good luck man.
Shayne
[Modified by sspackman, 6:41 AM 12/16/2002]
I was having a very loud sound at about that same RPM. In my case, I solved it. Turns out that on the exhaust pipes before the cat, there are pipes inside of the pipes. Those inner pipes were making the noise. A muffler shop was able to torch-cut a few holes up and down the pipe and then weld it to the pipe inside. After that, it hasn't occured since. I don't know, maybe it's worth a shot.
Good luck man.
Shayne
[Modified by sspackman, 6:41 AM 12/16/2002]
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (sspackman)
I had an exhaust leak my dealership couldn't solve. After a few months, I was doing my D44 install and so the exhaust had to come out. Well, it seems the bolt on the drivers side part of the exhaust was loose, where the cat back bolts up. It only took a touch of the wrench to break this connection loose. When I reinstalled the exhaust system, the noise went away.
I had the car up on jacks before listening in, and never found anything. Noise was only there when engine was under heavy loads/hills.
[Modified by Goody, 8:11 AM 12/16/2002]
I had the car up on jacks before listening in, and never found anything. Noise was only there when engine was under heavy loads/hills.
[Modified by Goody, 8:11 AM 12/16/2002]
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Exhaust leak from HELL (Goody)
Buy some Seafoam and follow the directions. It's meant for de-carbing your engine, it's basically a detergent. It smokes like crazy when it boils out, and you'll have a good minute or two to search over the car, and you should be able to find ALL your exhaust leaks. My other car had a leak I didn't even know about.. it was small enough that I couldn't hear it at any RPMs.
I still need to do this on the vette, because it has a loud exhaust leak somewhere.
I still need to do this on the vette, because it has a loud exhaust leak somewhere.
