Ok, so my car has an exhast leak, or at least sounds like it, and ive looked all around the manifold and the pipes connecting to it and I cant find it. It sounds as if its coming from directly behind the block. Would that mean the block is cracked? Or to the exhaust pipes secretly connect back there and I dont know about it? (new to v8s mind you)

Thanks!
Nathen

 

Cracked manifold? Maybe a bad gasket on one of the manifolds?

 

or a collector gasket needs to be replaced (Donut looking thing between exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe where they are joined). Disconnect the flange on the exhaust manifold that bolts to the exhaust system. I bet you the donut is toast!

 

Agreed. As suggested, take the flange off and replace the donut.

 

Also take a wrench to the header bolts and if any of them are loose its a safe bet on a header gasket being blown

Gun

 

I would snug them up first. If that fixes the problem you're good to go. If not then R&R with a new gasket is in order. Usually leaking around the headers will be a ticking sound, like the valves need to be adjusted.

 

To find the leak, take a 3 foot piece of vacuum tubing (rubber), put one end in your ear and probe around with the other end. You can find the leak quite easily like that. It is best to find the leak before you start trying to fix the leak.

 

Just don't get that vacuum tube wrapped up in the fan. You might have cauliflour ear afterwards.

 

You guys and your fan paranoia, man I tell ya! Yes you do need to be careful around rotating machinery. Your brain should tell you automatically to keep you digits away from the sharp whiling fan blade thingies.

 

what i do is get a potato and cut bout a 1/4 off and shove the rest at the end of the tail pipe and let me tell you them leaks whistle so you can find them all just don't run it for a long period like that