How Can We Find And Fix An Exhaust Leak In Our Car?
An exhaust leak can create lots of problems. If you are lucky, it won’t cause much trouble except for making some weird noises.
But, it is the reason for serious performance problems on a vehicle in most of the cases. It may affect the gas mileage and make the ‘check engine light’ to come on.
The worst-case scenario in case of a huge leak could be the car’s cabin filled with toxic carbon monoxide gas.
So that is why we have to find the causes and know how to find exhaust leak as soon as possible to keep safe for your vehicle. Let’s take a look at the details below.
Signs That The Exhaust Pipe Of The Car Has Malfunction
Fuel vehicles will generate emissions. Normally, this exhaust gas will be taken out through the exhaust pipe of the vehicle.
So let’s look at the signs below of how leaks are emitted through the exhaust pipes of the car, it would help you to know how to find exhaust leak and methods for exhaust leak repair.
1. The bad odor emitted from the exhaust pipe of the car
When driving a car, if you find that the discharge pipe has an unpleasant odor, it means that the exhaust pipe has been poorly operated, with poorly treated exhaust gas or simply leaky exhaust that causes a bad odor.
So, this is the time when you need to replace the exhaust pipe for your car.
2. The checking engine light glows
The engine light will illuminate if the exhaust is not up to standard.
Car owners in the process of inspection, if detected, should quickly have the direction to repair and repair in time to ensure safety when moving as well as ensure the waste into the environment by standards.
3. Automotive exhaust pipe emits noises
When the vehicle is running, the exhaust pipe detects noise, and this is also an important sign that you need to check the exhaust.
Typically, the exhaust will emit more noise when the exhaust is leaking. Take the vehicle to check immediately to avoid downgrading quickly if the condition is detected.
How to Find Exhaust Leak
The first step to repairing such a leak is to find it first. If you suspect that there is something wrong with your exhaust system, there are a few ways to find it.
The small exhaust leaks often show up with a little bit of soot around the outside of the pipe. So just look for that black soot while inspecting the entire exhaust system.
Especially inspect the flex joints (usually the emissions are hidden under the mesh so you have to nail down to find where an exhaust leak comes from)
Preparation before trick in finding exhaust leak
So, before we go to the part: How to find exhaust leak? We need to prepare a few things to fulfill all the conditions needed.
The first thing is you need to grab someone to do this work with you.
Secondly, jack your vehicle up so you can get a good view of the exhaust system (use the axle lift)
And you have to get under the car to have an overview of the exhaust system so with this way, you can inspect the entire thing.
Specific steps to solve the leaking emissions of your car
| Step | Description |
| 1 | Start the vehicle up |
| 2 | Hear the sound of your car to inspect the sound of the exhaust system |
| 3 | Take a look in your car muffler and push a new rag into the exhaust, this will make any leaks more apparent (tell your partner to look around your car while you doing this) |
| 4 | You will hear the sound of leaks clearer and better, and there must be a small amount of leaks at the weephole at the back of the muffler if there are any kinds of exhaust leaks in your car. |
| 5 | Take a deeper look at the exhaust system by pulling the cover off. |
| 6 | Observe the manifold inside to check whether the leaks come from the downpipe. So it will help you to clarify the position where the leaks come out. |
For more specific steps, let’s take a look at this video, it will help you to illustrate the visible ways to find exhaust leaks in your car.
How to Fix Exhaust Leak
The methods will be slightly different based on the size of the holes. You will be using an exhaust patch for tiny punctures while larger ones will need an aluminum patch.
Fixing the leak – Smaller and bigger
Use a steel brush to scrub the area surrounding the leak. Clean thoroughly so that there is no rust, mud, or dirt.
Smoothen the clean surface with fine-grained sandpaper. It will remove the tiny particles of dirt that survived the steel brush.
Rinse the scrubbed area with acetone (or nail polish if you don’t have this chemical). It will help the tape to form a stronger bond with the metal surface.
If it is a small exhaust leak, use an exhaust tape or epoxy.
Follow the application instruction that comes with the tape because some bonds well with a warm surface while others need it to be wet. Use at least two layers of the tape for a stronger, tighter wrap.
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If the hole is larger but still smaller than three inches, you can fix it with aluminum patches.
Anything bigger than that will require the replacement of the entire part. You still have to apply the epoxy before putting the aluminum patch over the leaking area. Use hose clamps to hold the patch securely around the exhaust pipe.
Never forget to wear goggles and gloves. Otherwise, dirt and rust particles can get into your eyes and acetone can irritate the skin. Also, take the car to a servicing shop if the leak is bigger (larger than three inches).
All the information above has shown a clear way to answer the question: How to find exhaust leak and also released some ways of exhaust leak fix while using the car.
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