Notices
Intake Exhaust Moving all that air in and out efficiently

How to determine small exhaust leak?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-12-2008, 03:08 PM
  #1  
SniperHunter
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
SniperHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default How to determine small exhaust leak?

When I'm driving nearby a wall, let's say, and I either accelerate or decelerate, I can hear a funny noise bounce off the wall. It almost sounds like air coming from a deflating balloon, or perhaps the sound you get when you stick a card in between the spokes of a bicycles wheels. It's not extremely audible, and it cannot be heard when I'm in an open space, but it does seem unusual. Could I have a hole in the exhaust somewhere?

I'll take the car to my mechanic this week, but in the meantime I'd like to hear of a few ideas of what it could be.
Old 04-12-2008, 05:14 PM
  #2  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Small or large an exhaust leak sounds similar: like a fluttering noise. Once you have heard the noise you will never forget it.
Old 04-12-2008, 05:37 PM
  #3  
SniperHunter
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
SniperHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Dammit. That's not what I was hoping to hear. =\

I guess it'll need some spot welding, then. We'll find out for sure soon enough.
Old 04-14-2008, 08:39 AM
  #4  
gothchick
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
 
gothchick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

A smoke machine will show where a leak is from the intake manifold all the way back to the exhaust tips.
Old 04-14-2008, 08:46 AM
  #5  
HondaKiller
Banned
iTrader: (5)
 
HondaKiller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

smoke machine kicks ***. But honestly, once you find the gaskets that are leaking, they will be the ones that are probably leaking everytime, so once you hear again you'll know what to change.
Old 04-14-2008, 10:49 AM
  #6  
choose8
Registered User
 
choose8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: new jersey
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I have a borla and test pipes and my car makes the exact same noise when im driving next to a wall
Old 04-14-2008, 10:55 AM
  #7  
HondaKiller
Banned
iTrader: (5)
 
HondaKiller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

The hiss associated with our Borla +HFC/TP set up should not be mistaken with the air fluttering sound that is produced from a leaky gasket.
Old 04-15-2008, 10:07 AM
  #8  
The Captain
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
 
The Captain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I've got something similar going on, but I heard it was normal. It does sound like a fluttering though. It's almost like a metal on metal vibration during hard acceleration through 1st / 2nd gear or during deceleration after a hard acceleration. (Does this most noticeably in neutral revs though)

I do notice that condensation comes out from numerous joints, but no amount of torquing or tightening the clamps seems to stop it. No air can be felt coming out of these joints though. Just a slow forming condensation that appears. (At first it leaked constantly, but then I adjusted on of the clamps and it only happened during hard driving or revs)

I really want it to go away, because I hate that sound when trying to show off my exhaust. Nice deep, bass-y tone and then *RATTLE*.
Old 04-15-2008, 01:00 PM
  #9  
SniperHunter
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
SniperHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The metal on metal sound you're experiencing is your Borla hitting the EVAP Canister (the black box on the left). I had the same sound and I had the canister relocated slightly.

Just to update: The barely audible noise happens at 2500RPM when driving. But can also be made when in Neutral, though only when the engine is slowing down.
Old 04-15-2008, 01:13 PM
  #10  
frankie945
Registered User
iTrader: (35)
 
frankie945's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: louisvile KY
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

make sure the H in the borla exhaust is tight mine got loose somehow and made a audio difference. I tightened it no more nose.
Old 04-16-2008, 10:00 AM
  #11  
SniperHunter
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
SniperHunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by frankie945
make sure the H in the borla exhaust is tight mine got loose somehow and made a audio difference. I tightened it no more nose.
This was it here. The passenger side clamp was a little loose, which caused the pipe to move a very small bit, and caused the noise. The problem with this H-pipe is because it has slits on the side of the pipes for easier/slide-in fitment, it is much more prone to leaks, if it comes just a teeny bit loose.

This is most likely why so many people go for the Magnaflow H-pipe, and claim it's quieter - because it doesn't have those slits. In any case, the pipes were pushed back in together and the clamp tightened down stronger and at a better location.

Last edited by SniperHunter; 04-16-2008 at 10:03 AM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sales@czp
Engine
33
09-23-2019 03:30 PM
Justin100
Intake Exhaust
26
11-29-2015 03:58 PM
nanotech
Exhaust
6
10-02-2015 05:02 AM
derekinthez
South East
0
09-28-2015 06:35 PM
Li1ag
Exhaust
1
09-28-2015 02:07 PM



Quick Reply: How to determine small exhaust leak?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:05 PM.