Any tricks for finding exhaust leaks??

96mystic · February 9th, 2007, 01:46 PM

Any of you have a good way of finding out where leaks are coming from?? I can smell the exhaust very slightly inside the car. Under hard acceleration you can just barely hear a leak... Thanks for the help!

03GT · February 9th, 2007, 02:31 PM

should be able to see carbon buildup

Invictus · February 9th, 2007, 03:31 PM

get a friend to hold some towels in your exhaust pipes.. then rev her up

Casper98GT · February 9th, 2007, 05:11 PM

I use a smoke machine and backfeed it through the egr. But im sure you dont have a smoke machine.

But yeah hold something over the pipes and no need to rev it, just hold them there and you should beable to hear it. Aftermarket pipes?

mmacdone · July 28th, 2009, 12:21 AM

Mechanic / dealer?

01brknGT · July 31st, 2009, 08:58 AM

take a squirt bottle with some dish soap, run the car and spray it on the parts you think you have leaks. If you got a leak it will bubble up, if not it wont do anything. rep! easiest and quickest

the misfit wolfie · July 31st, 2009, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by 01brknGT

take a squirt bottle with some dish soap, run the car and spray it on the parts you think you have leaks. If you got a leak it will bubble up, if not it wont do anything. rep! easiest and quickest

ahh, you took the words out of my mouth..

01brknGT · July 31st, 2009, 10:41 AM

lol sorry

svtkidd23 · July 31st, 2009, 11:10 AM

hold a cigaret under the exhuast

01brknGT · July 31st, 2009, 11:47 AM

^dumb idea

Trick Tuners · July 31st, 2009, 12:50 PM

I use a mechanics stethoscope. Actually its just a piece of 1/2" ID rubber tubing where i filed down one side so it fits in my ear better. You will be able to quickly pinpoint the leak with that.

svtkidd23 · July 31st, 2009, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by 01brknGT

^dumb idea

how is that dumb... my exhuast guyy does it.. he's the best exhuast shop in southern md... but he does it for a living.. so yea your right its a dumb idea..

and soapy water... com on now its not a hole in a tire... cig smokem will blow when u put it next to the leaks

Fluffy The Rhino · July 31st, 2009, 06:34 PM

Oh Jesus.

I agree with the soapy water plan. If it's windy outside, the cigarette thing isn't going to work.

Trick Tuners · July 31st, 2009, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by FluffyTheRhino

I agree with the soapy water plan. If it's windy outside, the cigarette thing isn't going to work.

Right, but soapy water won't work if you can't see the leak. The piece of tube works every time and is much quicker. I taped a coat hanger to the last 2' so i can bend it into place. I thought i had a collector leak, but further testing proved it was the back of the header to manifold connection. No way i would have found it with soap. Or just use your hand to feel where its leaking. (on a cold exhaust). Water under the car after a cold startup can also point in the right direction.

Techniq · July 31st, 2009, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by 01brknGT

take a squirt bottle with some dish soap, run the car and spray it on the parts you think you have leaks. If you got a leak it will bubble up, if not it wont do anything. rep! easiest and quickest

Similar to the method I use.

Fluffy The Rhino · July 31st, 2009, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Trick Tuners

Right, but soapy water won't work if you can't see the leak. The piece of tube works every time and is much quicker. I taped a coat hanger to the last 2' so i can bend it into place. I thought i had a collector leak, but further testing proved it was the back of the header to manifold connection. No way i would have found it with soap. Or just use your hand to feel where its leaking. (on a cold exhaust). Water under the car after a cold startup can also point in the right direction.

Word.

Soapy water will work if you at least know the general area of where the leak is. Like in my example.

I have three exhaust leaks. One at the EGR tube off the header, and behind my x pipe at the clamps. The carbon buildup is astonishing. It's always easier if you can see it.

OneBadNotch · August 2nd, 2009, 08:23 PM

I have a good idea, why dont you just take it to a shop and let them find it. And normally they dont charge hardly anything to fix it if its a easy problem. That way it saves you the time and hastle.

dragrace4fun · September 28th, 2009, 01:30 AM

+1 to carbon buildup, otherwise start car, raise on lift, feel for hot exhaust escaping around fittings, clamps, welds, or whatever your exhaust has.

Molitor · October 2nd, 2009, 04:38 AM

The soapy water will work, just do it before the exhaust gets hot, I just used my hands last time, I could feel the air coming out quite easy. I was wating for someone to say, seal your lips around where you think there is a leak, then you'll know for sure.

R3dFyre02 · October 2nd, 2009, 03:07 PM

in my 3000gh I didn't know I had a exhaust leak until I used Sea foam. the smoke coming out from under my car was a surprise....

February 9th, 2007, 01:46 PM	#1
96mystic Newbie 1996 Cobra (Mystic) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 41 iTrader: 0 reviews	Any tricks for finding exhaust leaks?? Any of you have a good way of finding out where leaks are coming from?? I can smell the exhaust very slightly inside the car. Under hard acceleration you can just barely hear a leak... Thanks for the help! __________________ 1996 COBRA MODS: 4.10 Gears MAC Exhaust MAC H-Pipe CAI MAF Pro 5.0 shifter Eibach Sport Line Tuned

February 9th, 2007, 02:31 PM	#2
03GT Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Panama City FL Posts: 40 iTrader: 0 reviews	should be able to see carbon buildup __________________

February 9th, 2007, 05:11 PM	#4
Casper98GT Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE Posts: 2,395 iTrader: 0 reviews	I use a smoke machine and backfeed it through the egr. But im sure you dont have a smoke machine. But yeah hold something over the pipes and no need to rev it, just hold them there and you should beable to hear it. Aftermarket pipes? __________________ 91 LX, 5spd. Ex:Toyota/Ford tech Marine Machinery Technician, Department of Defense.

July 28th, 2009, 12:21 AM	#5
mmacdone Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 iTrader: 0 reviews	leak... Mechanic / dealer?

July 31st, 2009, 08:58 AM	#6
01brknGT Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Travis AFB, Cali Posts: 659 iTrader: 0 reviews	take a squirt bottle with some dish soap, run the car and spray it on the parts you think you have leaks. If you got a leak it will bubble up, if not it wont do anything. rep! easiest and quickest __________________ SLP LM2 CATBACK PyPES SS O/R X ACCUFAB 70MM TB & PLENUM PRO 5.0 SHIFTER/UPR ARMS STEEDA SPRT SPRINGS 17X9-N-17X10.5 FR500'S MACH 1 GRILL-N-CHIN SPOILER FidanZa 2.1 steeda quad and adj 2001 GT>>SOLD!!!

February 9th, 2007, 03:31 PM	#3
Invictus Hardcore Enthusiast 1999 Mustang Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,355 iTrader: 0 reviews	get a friend to hold some towels in your exhaust pipes.. then rev her up

July 31st, 2009, 10:41 AM	#8
01brknGT Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Travis AFB, Cali Posts: 659 iTrader: 0 reviews	lol sorry __________________ SLP LM2 CATBACK PyPES SS O/R X ACCUFAB 70MM TB & PLENUM PRO 5.0 SHIFTER/UPR ARMS STEEDA SPRT SPRINGS 17X9-N-17X10.5 FR500'S MACH 1 GRILL-N-CHIN SPOILER FidanZa 2.1 steeda quad and adj 2001 GT>>SOLD!!!

July 31st, 2009, 11:47 AM	#10
01brknGT Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Travis AFB, Cali Posts: 659 iTrader: 0 reviews	^dumb idea __________________ SLP LM2 CATBACK PyPES SS O/R X ACCUFAB 70MM TB & PLENUM PRO 5.0 SHIFTER/UPR ARMS STEEDA SPRT SPRINGS 17X9-N-17X10.5 FR500'S MACH 1 GRILL-N-CHIN SPOILER FidanZa 2.1 steeda quad and adj 2001 GT>>SOLD!!!

July 31st, 2009, 12:50 PM	#11
Trick Tuners MM Fanatic KB'd GT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,471 iTrader: 3 reviews	I use a mechanics stethoscope. Actually its just a piece of 1/2" ID rubber tubing where i filed down one side so it fits in my ear better. You will be able to quickly pinpoint the leak with that. __________________ Check out my forums for stuff on troubleshooting, tuning, etc We teamed up with Socal Performance Racing to bring dyno tuning to San Diego. Be friends with us on FB

July 31st, 2009, 06:34 PM	#13
Fluffy The Rhino Bearer of Bad News I has mustang and legacy. Slower than my Ruger. Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Fuckening Posts: 2,392 iTrader: 0 reviews	Oh Jesus. I agree with the soapy water plan. If it's windy outside, the cigarette thing isn't going to work. __________________ ~MOD NUTSWINGER~ My Tongue Soothes Razorburn STOPSAYINGFAIL.COM EVERY FART IS A GAMBLE Just Think Of Me As A White Blood Cell.

August 2nd, 2009, 08:23 PM	#17
OneBadNotch Regular 1990 lx Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jonesboro,GA Posts: 121 iTrader: 0 reviews	I have a good idea, why dont you just take it to a shop and let them find it. And normally they dont charge hardly anything to fix it if its a easy problem. That way it saves you the time and hastle. __________________ 1990 LX 5.4 coming soon

September 28th, 2009, 01:30 AM	#18
dragrace4fun Regular 2006 Mustang GT Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Somewhere Nice, Florida Posts: 339 iTrader: 0 reviews	+1 to carbon buildup, otherwise start car, raise on lift, feel for hot exhaust escaping around fittings, clamps, welds, or whatever your exhaust has. __________________ 2006 Mustang GT, Satin Silver Metallic, Dark Charcoal Interior Lotsa mods...lotsa fun! Aspiring to be clean, old-school muscular beauty and N/A powerful! Others: '67 Coupe '84 Cutlass Supreme Brougham

October 2nd, 2009, 04:38 AM	#19
Molitor Enthusiast 2004 Mustang Mach 1 1994 Dodge Ram 5.9L 4WD 1976 Monte Carlo Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Winona, Minnesota Posts: 805 Blog Entries: 1 iTrader: 0 reviews	The soapy water will work, just do it before the exhaust gets hot, I just used my hands last time, I could feel the air coming out quite easy. I was wating for someone to say, seal your lips around where you think there is a leak, then you'll know for sure. __________________ Military Crew MM Sapper Squad Zombie Killing Club Member #4 Black Stang Crew Member #5

October 2nd, 2009, 03:07 PM	#20
R3dFyre02 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,180 iTrader: 2 reviews	in my 3000gh I didn't know I had a exhaust leak until I used Sea foam. the smoke coming out from under my car was a surprise.... __________________ 02GT - Blown motor 86LX 3.8TBI auto replacement daily driver How to retrofit HID's

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