Ok, so I installed new headers. How do I tell if I have leaks anywhere? I know I don't have any audible leaks, but I want to check for the harder to find leaks. I thought maybe soap and water, but it boils off too quickly. I thought maybe flame, but I'm afraid there's too much air going around from belts and such. Matt, Joel, Russ, Todd, Bueller, anyone?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by igofast Ok, so I installed new headers. How do I tell if I have leaks anywhere? I know I don't have any audible leaks, but I want to check for the harder to find leaks. I thought maybe soap and water, but it boils off too quickly. I thought maybe flame, but I'm afraid there's too much air going around from belts and such. Matt, Joel, Russ, Todd, Bueller, anyone? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> LOL bueller! John, I would snug everything up where you cant hear any leaks, ussually they are very audible when they are there. Then go out and drive the car spirited to get everything nice and warm. I would then go back home and retighten everything in the exhaust. I found that when I did this additional step there were a few bolts that had "relaxed" and I have not heard a thing since. I would also pay particlar attention to the collector to up-pipe joint. I skipped the torque spec and tightened the crap out of that one. Hope that helps M
When we thought Shane had an Up-pipe leak we used soaky water. Sure enough it bubbled up where the leak was. It's kind of a 2 person job... but it seemed to work. Steve
I've never had an exhuast leak I couldn't hear. They are very audible. If the pipes are new, the gaskets are new, and you torqued all bolts down good I don't see why you are worrying about it. If you are that bored put some VERY soapy water in a squirt bottle. While the engine is cold you can just squirt some where you suspect some leaks. It will bubble up.
Thanks for the replys. I worry about it a) because I want everything wired tight for the dyno day and b) When I took out the old uppipe gasket it was shot, making me wonder how long it was like that and not wanting it to happen again. FWIW, use Subaru OEM gaskets, or at least some sort of reinforced metal ones. Everytime I have used a composite gasket, it's blown out.
