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locating exhaust leak

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by dustinclm, Mar 1, 2011.

  1. Mar 1, 2011 at 9:52 PM
    #1
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    so i have this elusive exhaust leak and belive me i have check everywhere more than one and had a muffler shop look for it and i dont know what else to do, so i got to thinking, could i blow some smoke or fog into the tail pipe and see if it leaks anywhere? or could that mess up sensors or something?
    i just dont know how else to go about finding the leak because its really annoying
     
  2. Mar 2, 2011 at 2:26 AM
    #2
    2TRunner

    2TRunner Snoop Dad

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    If you were able to find some kind of smoke machine, you'd be alright and don't need to worry about damamge. Smoke gets pumped into EVAP lines and Intakes all the time.
     
  3. Mar 2, 2011 at 2:34 AM
    #3
    Fennywald

    Fennywald Betty Blue

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    have you checked all the bolts on the exhaust? my sentra had an exhaust leak that i could smell in the car and sound god awful loud and it turned out to be a missing bolt where the catback connected to the cat.
     
  4. Mar 2, 2011 at 6:16 AM
    #4
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Fennywald: yes all bolts are accounted for and connected properly

    wolfpack5150: did you smoke the maxima yourself? if so with what?

    im thinking it is leaking from somewhere that is in a tight spot if no one has found it yet so i may just have to take the entire system off and using soap/water/ and compressed air but i dont really feel like taking the manifold off because im sure the nuts are rusted or bound to the bolts from all the heat and mud

    i may take off my manifold heat shield today and make a nother inspection but im out of ideas on how to get a good look without disconnecting anything
     
  5. Mar 2, 2011 at 6:23 AM
    #5
    Fennywald

    Fennywald Betty Blue

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    dang, to bad it wasn't an easy fix like mine. hope all goes well trying to find it!
     
  6. Mar 2, 2011 at 6:34 AM
    #6
    98tacoma27

    98tacoma27 is going full "SANDWICH" Moderator

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    Some stuff. Not a lot, just some.
    A manifold leak will sound like a valve tick.
     
  7. Mar 2, 2011 at 6:45 AM
    #7
    Texoma

    Texoma IG: Triple C Chop Shop

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    You can get a smoke machine from a haloween store or party store, maybe even wally mart or target. I always found exhaust leaks by following the sound of the leak to the area then feeling around the pipes to feel where it was coming out of. If you just smell it inside the car make sure the tailpipe isn't trapping exhaust underneath your car by not extruding far enough out. Oh and you can also use the smoke machine to find vacuum leaks too.
     
  8. Mar 2, 2011 at 7:01 AM
    #8
    Lurkin

    Lurkin Well-Known Member

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    A smoke machine may be a problem unless you can create some pressure to force the smoke out of the pipe. Smoke works for the EVAP system since there's some pressure, negative in spots, in the lines as the engine is running.

    Another idea, a bit differnt, is to use a Seafoam treatment according to the instructions to treat the intake and valves. For this you slowly pour Seafoam into the TB, or into a vaccum line, while the engine is running, then shut it down for 10-15 minutes. When you start it up it smokes like crazy for a few minutes. I did this treatment on my last truck and found an unknown exhaust leak. You just need to have a person or two looking under the truck on startup.
     
  9. Mar 2, 2011 at 7:58 AM
    #9
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well I did the Seafoam through the break booster but didn't remember to look for the leak. I guess I'll just have to do it again if I can't find it any other way
    It's not a smell in the car, hell I can't smell it at all. I just hear it when I'm accelerating. When it's idling and I look for it, I can't feel it or really hear it
     
  10. Mar 2, 2011 at 9:50 AM
    #10
    Evil Monkey

    Evil Monkey There's an evil monkey in my truck

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  11. Mar 2, 2011 at 10:02 AM
    #11
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i guess you can call the sound im hearing a "tick" or a "flutter", ill take the heat shield off the manifold and try to inspect it closer but its hard to see with all the years of mud on there
    its really loud on the pasenger side but i've noticed its slightly audible on my driver side too, and i have the 2.7l so my exhaust is only on the passenger side
     
  12. Mar 2, 2011 at 11:19 AM
    #12
    Lurkin

    Lurkin Well-Known Member

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  13. Mar 2, 2011 at 11:31 AM
    #13
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    I've heard that a CO sensor wand from a smog shop is a really good tool for locating exhaust leaks. Call a couple smog check stations and see if they've ever diagnosed a leak.
     
  14. Mar 2, 2011 at 1:33 PM
    #14
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i couldnt tell you where a smog check station is around here, we dont have emissions where im from...
     
  15. Mar 2, 2011 at 2:57 PM
    #15
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    Stuff rags in the tailpipe and run seafoam like suggested on earlier post. Tape a rag over the end to keep them in(tape the outer diameter) Use enough rags to create more backpressure, not stall the engine. Don't run it long enough to burn the rags either.
     
  16. Mar 2, 2011 at 3:46 PM
    #16
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Good idea I'll have to try this soon
    Thanks
     
  17. Mar 8, 2011 at 6:14 PM
    #17
    dustinclm

    dustinclm [OP] Well-Known Member

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    it may also help to say that its only audible when accelerating, thats when i hear it very distinctly, when idling i can not hear it or it just isnt loud enough
     
  18. Sep 21, 2021 at 8:23 PM
    #18
    CyrusC1

    CyrusC1 New Member

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    This is super old but I own the same truck and am having the same problem (similar description). Did you ever solve this?
     

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