I am curious about the common crack in the exhaust and the ticking that is associated with it. The impression I have developed over the years here is that it ends up being a minor annoyance with the ticking noise, but that the cracks do not necessarily turn into a major problem or get much worse over time. Is that correct, surprising as it sounds? Or if not, how long does it typically take before the situation requires immediate intervention, and / or action is needed to avoid further damage, perhaps more serious?