Hard to find exhaust leak

[jp_waltz]

I have an exhaust leak that I cant seam to track down. It only gets really loud when I am driving though(sounds like it is right at the firewall). I have listened with a stethascope around the entire engine and cant seem to hear anything but the clackity clack of the injectors and the bottom end is making a little noise. I have also retorqued my exhaust manifold bolts and put new donut gaskets and exhaust putty where the manifold meets the down pipe. There is an after market flowmaster exhaust on it and the PO put a two to one down pipe into one cat. People think they are riding in a diesel when they are in my rig. I searched for info but cant seam to find anything that fits this situation. Any suggestions? Are there tricks to finding these leaks? Oh yeah, 1988 62 3fe
Thanks,
Paul

 

[mudnyreye]

Not sure, but sounds like EGR tube, or gasket. A real B**CH to work on.

 

[jp_waltz]

Is it that it is hard to get too? I will look into the egr area. Thanks

 

[dgangle]

I would remove and inspect the system the PO installed. The Lord only knows what could have been done, modified in some way or otherwise made to fit. Then you can decide if it can be repaired or should be replaced.

I had a 5.0L Exploder I bought new that after a few years developed an exhaust leak on the pass-side somewhere near the head/header, downpipe. It only leaked when cold so I told my wife if it bothered her that much either warm it up before leaving for work, turn the radio up or when it bothered her bad enough that we would sell the whole leaking, squeaking, recall-enthralled, tire-separating, resale-value plummeting American made POS and buy a new Toyota. It's been a year and she loves her 4Runner.

 

[mudnyreye]

Yeah, it is on a 3fe. Chock the wheels, start it up, crawl under and look between the exh. manifold and block. you may see smoke coming from the EGR cooler, or where it mounts to the exh. manifold.

 

[iaintscared1969]

Use a stretch of 5/16 hos and put it to your ear while yo probe the manifold area. You will feel it blow in your ear when ou hit it. Also on the bottom of the egr tube and also where the rail mounts to the head are suspect.

 

[jp_waltz]

Use a stretch of 5/16 hos and put it to your ear while yo probe the manifold area. You will feel it blow in your ear when ou hit it. Also on the bottom of the egr tube and also where the rail mounts to the head are suspect.

I'll try this tomorrow. thanks

 

[Trapper50cal]

I have what sounds to be the same leak and I suspect the EGR or the air rail

 

[jp_waltz]

I will check the air rail too.

 

[jp_waltz]

I just checked the EGR valve where it meets the intake manifold and there is a bunch of oily stuff dripping down the bottom onto the exhaust manifold. This would lead me to believe that I do indeed have a leak there. I will take it off tomorrow and make a new gasket for it and see what that gets me.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Uggg, can't wait to be doing that myself