95_Z-28_runner

i have a 1995 camaro z28 with slp headers i have had a problem with it having an header flange exaust leak and the car boggs under a RPM load and smooths out when u get on it. its been leaking and saw the gasket failed. now i think that my performace problems has been caused due to this. i cant believe i did not check that when going threw the whole car . so what are the symtoms that you guys know of if you have had the same problem
thanks very much.

ahritchie

iTrader: (1)

You should hear a "ticking" exhaust leak that gets increasingly louder the more gas you give it when driving/revving it.

nighthawk15

It can range from a light ticking if its just a small leak to if its really bad it will actually make a knocking sound and may cause your car to backfire on deceleration from the O2 readings being thrown off. Like said the ticking or knocking will speed up with RPM as well. Often if it is knocking (not the engine knocking! just that type of sound from the header flange) it will quiet down as the car warms up.

Shakerz1313

iTrader: (-1)

I have a light tickiing upon acceleration and if i hit the accelerater while in park at all it will pop and backfire. Is this the same thing? It ticks when im driving but doesnt have the back fire.

nighthawk15

Try just making sure you don't have any loose bolts because it doesn't sound too bad but yeah that sounds like an exhaust leak. Does it not tick at idle? If it does try tracking down the tick with a heater hose.

95_Z-28_runner

yes i checked all my bolts the gasket has failed. i was in luck it was on the driver side
but yes it does tick and and can be heard driving and i think thats the cause for the poping of the exuast and bogging down under light acceleration.

Shakerz1313

iTrader: (-1)

i dont hear anything at idle, but its not the quietest exhaust either .

Spartan7

iTrader: (7)

Do you have roller rockers? Some of them are loud enough to be mistaken for exhaust ticking.

With a big enough exhaust leak, you may be able to see a carbon trail out of the exhaust primaries on the head, or even feel it with your hand. It will also cause your engine to run rich.

killagt

iTrader: (3)

Did you use the gasket that come with header ? or felpro gasket ?

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

A near sure fire way of detecting a header gasket leak is to hook up a Scanmaster or datalogger and look at the LT BLMs. A header gasket leak will cause the LT BLM on the bank with the leak, to go much higher than the normal 128 which results in a nasty split BLM condition. This is of course assuming you have an optimum tune to begin with.

95_Z-28_runner

yes there is a carbon trail coming from the flange were it bolts up and looks like a layered metal gasket. cant wait to fix this anoying problem and for my car to run rite.