so I fired up my truck yesterday and I think I might have an exhaust leak. it is coming from the right side of my truck I think and it sounds like air is escaping in short bursts and increases when I drive. I also recently replaced the spark plugs but she ran fine for over a week before this started. does this sound like an exhaust leak and if so what is my corrective action?

thanks.

 

It could be an exhaust leak. What pitch of a sound is it? The older 3rd Gens were noted for snapping the exhaust manifold bolts of causing it to leak. I would check and see if you can pin point the exact location. I am guessing its coming from the engine bay? Once you locate it, I think most of us could give opinions on how to fix it.

 

I can't be 100% sure of its exact location but yes its coming from the engine bay and from the best I can tell its coming from the exhaust manifold. could it be something else? and if so how can I tell? how big of an issue is an exhaust leak? and if it is the exhaust manifold does this give me a good reason to buy headers?

I'm sorry for the stupid questions. I'm not the most mechanically inclined and want to double check everything before I push forward.

thanks.

 

I almost bet its the manifold bolts, unless one of the catalytic convertors have a cracked weld causing the leak. The only way you can tell is listen and visually inspect. Look for signs of carbon (block soot), its early so there might not be any, but its worth a shot. I wouldn't say an exhaust leak is critical or crucial, but its definitely something you want to get corrected soon because you are losing exhaust gas into the engine bay which can absorb into the cab of truck (worse case health hazard), plus it could eventually erode the engine block adjacent to the leak (worst case mechanical issue), and efficiency isn't optimal with the leak. On the minor front, it sounds like crap... Just my experience and opinion. If I had an exhaust manifold leak and the funds, it'd be a perfect time for headers as you need to partially uninstall the leaking side, remove the broke stud and re assemble with new parts, possibly gaskets, etc. So basically you'd be pretty much halfway done with an install just to repair/remove the broken stud.

Btw dont worry about "Stupid" questions, thats what everyone is here for, to help, learn, and make friends.

 

Can you describe the pitch, low or high, of the sound? Typically an exhaust leak won't sound like air escaping though, usually it resembles a tick or a rattle unless it's a huge leak. My small leak sounds like spitting/ticking until it warms up, then it's not noticeable. Do you notice any lack of power or rough idle and acceleration? Any check engine lights? Hopefully it is just an exhaust leak and not something worse.

When you just start it in the morning, you could hold your hand over the exhaust pipe (if you have just one) and if the air escaping sound gets stronger then it's certainly an exhaust leak. Just one quick hold and release after a smidgen of pressure builds should be enough.

 

sounds like an exhaust leak, probably manifold. I had the same problem and after new manifold gaskets and some tightening, the noise went away.

It's not that big of a deal except for the noise it makes and maybe some performance loss, depending of the size of the leak., plus the leak could be causing some carbon build ups under the hood, so you end up with a dirtier engine...

 

see that 6 hour job all day long about 600$ at the dalership ha, VERY GOOD REASON to buy some ceramic coated gibsons haha, newayz by the time your done buying headers and do it yourself youll be out cheaper. now lets hop your not me and didnt forget to change them for a while, i had 7 snapped studs total, and they broke off flush in the heads. get yourself a nice set of bolts for the headers, or you will be having de ja vu

 

I would try to find the source of that sound, then it's easier to determine what's wrong. I'd suggest using a piece of tubing or hose (I prefer a piece of garden hose about 2' long) - hold one end to your ear and move the other around the area where you think the sound is coming from & with the sound being focused through the hose, you'll hear it get louder as you get closer to the source. You won't get the same results from a mechanics stethoscope with a solid rod end, and although some of them come with a hollow cone end to help diagnose this type of problem, the piece of hose has always worked well for me.