Exhaust manifold gasket(hopefully)

[SteveOS3]

I've had a blow on the exhaust for a while now so I took the pipes off on the weekend, cleaned them up, resealed with paste and refitted but the 'phutt phutt' is still there. I re-checked the pipe joints and all are now fully sealed.

It only happens when under load ie going uphill or brisk acceleration.

From what I can tell by ear it sounds like the manifold gasket.

As the search facility is still down I was wondering if anyone has any tips for testing/changing the V6 exhaust manifold gasket, driver's side.

Thanks,

Steve.

[phillpot]

Look for black sooty marks around flange joint or hold a piece of paper near the join, if it flutters there is a leak.
I take no credit for the paper trick, believe it may have been Glens idea ?


Changing them is a bit of a fiddle, a good selection of funny shaped 13mm spanners helps, and fingers crossed they come out and don't snap off. Liberal soaking with penetrating oil for several days beforehand may help (proper penetrating oil not WD40).

[SteveOS3]

I've already started the Plus Gas soaking and will try the paper trick. I tried the finger trick but...... ouch

If the handbrake is applied and I raise the clutch slowly I can induce the noise.

[phillpot]

SteveOS3 said:

I tried the finger trick but...... ouch

Been there, done that....doesn't take long to get hot does it

[The Beaver King]

Could it be a leak further down the exhaust? I find that the joints between the 90 elbows and the main straight pipe tend to leak more due to grounding out on speedbumps.

[SteveOS3]

It had grounded out - the middle exhaust clamps, where the downpipes meet the rear section, had been bent and twisted and had tell-tale soot marks on the joint.

I took the whole exhaust off, cleaned up the joints, re-sealed with paste and fitted new clamps but the problem remained the same.

[Barkychoc]

Getting someone to hold rags over the end of the exhaust to create more back pressure can help find it.

[phillpot]

If it does turn out to be a manifold gasket I'd consider taking the manifold right off and checking the condition of the mounting flange. They can corrode and distort....your new gasket will start blowing again within a few weeks.


Talking of gaskets there are good and there are others.

Think the genuine Ford have all three joined together (still available ??) or these from Gaskets for Classics with the metal "flame ring" are (imho) better than the usual standard punched out of gasket material after market type as in the packet beneath.

[SteveOS3]

Just ordered a set of the above, £11.80 all in. Now all I need is my orthopaedic back support and a good supply of anti-inflamatories for the language......