LFA951

My tech checked for exhaust leaks with the ear tube and found several around the headers, most close to the manifold gaskets. He said he would have to take them off to weld them together, could this be why my car is cutting out in 3rd and 4th at high load? Is it worth it to do, am I losing boost? Will I see a significant difference in power if I have him do it?

Josh B

I would be willing to wager that 65% of all 944 turbos driving around right now have at least one if not more cracks in their headers....

LFA951

MY main concern is if it alters the performance and if it is worth the hassle of removing and welding, my tech can do both...

333pg333

Exhaust leaks can definitely lead to strange reads of your AFRs so you may retune it accordingly when really you should repair the leak.

hp18racer

They will cause some loss of performance. Peak boost reached a little later but since the waste gate is essentially an exhaust leak past the turbo, peak power isn't changed until the leak gets big enough that the waste gate never opens. Seems very unlikely that they are causing your car to cut out. Exhaust leaks if detectable are most likely worth fixing. Even if there isn't much performance hit, the extra heat in the engine bay isn't good for the longevity of the wire harness and fuel lines.

carlege

you might be better off getting an aftermarket set

LFA951

I'm just gonna have him weld from the outside without taking the whole thing off, I looked and the nuts and bolts down on the bottom of the headers where they go to the triangle flange seem fused together, not going that route, gonna fix my A/C instead, he's going to put in a relay and fill her up with freon once he puts in the new canister...

Own Goal

My engine is still out but when doing reassembly could tell one manifold was broken inside the heat shields. Pealed shields off, welded up then when putting back together just did a nice JEGS heat wrap tape job instead on it. Looks nice, should work just fine.

toddk911

I haven't tried it personally, but I tracked out some ultra high temp sealer/epoxy; 2,500 degrees and 500psi. It is about 30$ per standard tube. But if it does work and hold up to the heat, it is cheaper and easier than pulling the headers.

Chris White

Won't work.

The problem is too much expansion, it flexes the headers until they crack.

Willard Bridgham 3

The problem with the epoxy is differential expansion, the epoxy expands at a different rate than the SS pipe.

gcb951

I'm in the same boat.

F18Rep

I think you're right to be wary of pullignthe exhaust apart, its a pain. Its hard to imagine it could be welded while installed though. The steel is pretty thin. Good luck though... Bruce

gcb951

Don't even try to weld it while its on the car.

toddk911

Ahhh. Good point.

Even if it is an epoxy/sealer that does not completly harden?

Someone needs to invent ultra high temp duct tape!!