Need help/ideas tracking down exhaust leak SOLVED

[stealthtt24]

So the galant developed a nasty exhaust leak the other day and I thought it was the downpipe bolt that wiggled loose. No such luck. Throw it on a lift and the whole downpipe checks out. Pulled the manifold, no obvious cracks. The gasket between the manifold and turbo was good. All bolts are tight on the manifold to turbo. The missing exhaust manifold stud has been there since I bought the car.

Here's a video of it with no downpipe to see if the exhaust leak is still there. No changes. I even made sure all the bolts were tight on the o2 housing. Anyone got the slightest of clues?

Full exhaust, you can hear the leak
link

Video of no downpipe

link

 

[citymunky]

o2 housing gasket?

 

[Lightning1]

Try wrapping the flanges with tin foil and drive it for a bit. The leak will soot up the foil where the leak is. That is what we do at my work anyways, seems to work pretty good.

Also check the turbo exhaust side, I just took mine apart and the pte exhaust housing was cracked and leaking.

 

[stealthtt24]

I will do the tin foil wrap, thanks for the idea. Citymonkey I did not check the o2 housing gasket, hopefully Ill find it with the tin foil idea.

 

[Dark_Horse]

Get a can of Seafoam.
Suck up about 1/2 can of Seafoam through a vacuum line into the intake manifold
Turn car off for 30 minutes
30 min later
Turn car on
Watch for smoke show
Smoke will show you wherever you've got an exhaust leak

 

[stealthtt24]

DarkHorse, thank you! Used the seafoam and it was coming from the heat shield bolt hole in front of the manifold. I took a bolt that semi fit and no more exhaust leak! Now I just have to track down the exact size and head to ace hardware.

 

Are you kidding? Wth now I need to go check my car because I don't think I have a bolt there either maybe that's why I keep smelling a bit of exhaust fume from inside the car damn checked for leaks even v-band the crap out of the entire exhaust and smell was still there good find bro.

 

[stealthtt24]

It is the absolute last place I would have looked. Also, the bolt hole is bigger than its suppose to be so I'm pretty sure one of the previous owners messed with it.

 

Wouldn't have suspected those little bastards either I didn't think they went all the way thru the manifold at least the one's at the top doesn't. Well I sealed all the little bastards with some extra bolts I had laying around from the heat shields and guess what less exhaust leak.I also just found one of the exhaust manifold bolts was also loose wtf? Tightened all of them never ends with these cars. lol....

 

[stealthtt24]

Usually you have to retighten them. Have you tried the seafoam method yet? I pinpointed my leak in less than 5 seconds. Try it out!

 

That's what I will try next...My buddy also has a smoke/fog machine I may use also....

 

[citymunky]

Quoting Dark_Horse:
Get a can of Seafoam.
Suck up about 1/2 can of Seafoam through a vacuum line into the intake manifold
Turn car off for 30 minutes
30 min later
Turn car on
Watch for smoke show
Smoke will show you wherever you've got an exhaust leak



Nice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worthy.gif

 

Quoting Dark_Horse:
Get a can of Seafoam.
Suck up about 1/2 can of Seafoam through a vacuum line into the intake manifold
Turn car off for 30 minutes
30 min later
Turn car on
Watch for smoke show
Smoke will show you wherever you've got an exhaust leak



that is exactly what I did. I found out my Ex. Manifold leaks BAD!!!

So I bought a new gasket;

Does anyone know a good site for a DIY exhaust Manifold
gasket replacement?

 

[stealthtt24]

Not sure if this will help.

click

 

I tracked down the gasket that I needed but I was hoping for a DIY that someone has written up with a few helpful pictures..

I know it cant be that hard...I just dont want to waste any time doing things the hard way.

good looking out though Stealth...