Airflite40

How do you find exhaust leaks?

I think I have an exhaust leak, when I got on the boost I can smell exhaust coming into the car.

The hatch seal is fine, hatch itself is not seperated.

Also when I roll down the drivers side window 1/4 of the way I can smell the exhaust.

My headers look good and there is not black sooty marks around them.

Any tips?

Darwantae951

Start the car, then carefully hold your hands around any joints you think may have a leak. If you're quick enough you might feel it before it gets too hot that you can't hold your hand there anymore. That's how I found out my header -> crossover connection was .

Keithr726

I just solved a exhaust smell, it was the cap on the CO2 testport that cracked.

Put the car on jackstands and just look for black exhaust leaks.

951Porschiste

Here's a post from a few years back:

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turbo-and-turbo-s-forum/125461-tips-on-diagnosing-exhaust-leaks.html

I had very similar symptoms. I finally identified the leak in my system at the headers down pipe to wastegate link.

I eventually had the whole exhaust redone from the crossover on to the back

WooHoo! POST 1000! I'm a postwhore!

billthe3

Sort of random, but do you still have your rear seatbelts in? I took mine out and left the bolts out and went driving once and realized that the bolt holes have no cover underneath them and go straight through to the torque tube/exhaust tunel. The car didn't smell very nice until I put the bolts back in place.

Airflite40

Wow no I don't have those in!!!

I removed them when I replaced my interior, and haven't put them back in.

I will do that asap. Thanks!!

zoltan944

throw a bunch of Seafoam in there and watch where the smoke comes out and will leave more exhaust to shoot out of places

Airflite40

hmmm I haven't seafoam'd the car yet..... might just do that.....

Mighty Shilling

One thing that MPD taught me was when the engine is COLD, spray down the exhaust system with soapy water. and then start the car. bubbles will appear! this works, it helped me find my #2 cylinder and header->crossover leak. However, it doesn't smell good... at all.

88BlueTSiQuest

Just to add to that. With the car idling, you should be able to hear the leaks. They generally tick like the sound of an injector or lifter. Feel for the pulsating air that is in tune with the tick.

Also look for black soot that happens to be near a junction. You usually end up with black carbon around a leak. My #1 exhaust header runner was leaking, and looking at the 4 tubes where they attach to the head, it was also the only one with black soot around it. Under the car, you'd see the soot around the flanges where each piece of exhaust bolts together, if you have a leak. My wastegate output to cat input donut was leaking, causing the whole flange to be blackened.

krystar

stuffing a rag or towel in the muffler tip will usually create enuff additional pressure to make it obvious where it's leaking. check all the connection flanges, it's usually there.

88BlueTSiQuest

That's a good one, I actually never thought of that.