Exhaust leak
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
Exhaust leak
I recently installed a new catback exhaust on my Z06. When I drive the car either in traffic or when I'm stopped at a light I smell exhaust fumes. I know that when I start the car up and it's cold outside I get a drip of water at each exhaust flange where the gaskets are between the old x-pipe and the new catback. With that kind of drip is it also likely that the fumes I'm smelling are also from that area? The vendor I bought these from is sending me new over the axle pipes and has been great to work with in solving this problem. This note is NOT intended to flame this vendor as he's been outstanding in working with me. I'm not mentioning the company only because I don't want anyone to interpret this as a negative towards the company - sometimes these notes get blown out of proportion. I really am interested to see if the general concensus is that the drip of water at that flange also is enough to cause the fumes I'm getting. I can find no other places where there is a break in the system and I've checked a few times. I just don't know if that position in the system is enough to make these fumes or if I need to look again. Thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
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From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Funny you should mention this. I have swapped my exhaust 4 times and have had this issue. In order to correct the leak and associated smell I have applied Hi Temp sealant to the exhaust flange. This has corrected both the condensation drip and the odor I used to get when stopped at a light. 
Thought I was the only one who noticed this. 
Bob
Thought I was the only one who noticed this. Bob
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
What kind of sealant did you use? I thought of that, too, but the guy at the local Auto Zone said he didn't know of anything that would stand up to the high temps in the pipes. Did you just run a bead of it on both sides of the gasket?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
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From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Originally Posted by Macleod
i had same problem and use same fix.. worked great. permatex makes a high temp sealant OJ in color, any parts store should have it. i just put a thin coat on each side of the gasket.
Same stuff I used. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
I went to Pep Boys, Auto Zone and Parts Plus today and couldn't find this stuff. Pep Boys had just about everything that Permatex makes EXCEPT this Muffler and Tailpipe Sealer (Part no. 80335). I guess I'll have to see if I can order it online or maybe see if Pep Boys will order it in for me. What a pain.
