exhaust leak

[rickv100]

How do you go about diagnosing where an exhaust leak is coming from. I think it might be the exhaust manifold but I am not sure. Sound is from under the hood.

Rick

[SafeAirOne]

Use a mechanic's stethescope or home made hose equivalent and point it at different things till you fnd the source of the noise.

[milhouse]

One trick I was taught when I worked part time at a repair garage was using a helper have one person take a rag and block the exhaust pipe temporarily (on a cold running engine, otherwise you will burn yourself) while the other person listens for the leak. The leak with "whistle" and you shoule be able to find it quite easily.

[disco2hse]

You can grope around too. Concentrate on joints, where you will feel little puffs and drafts. Look for black sooty bits where gases have escaped.

Mostly, the sound you are listening for is more of a chuffing than a whistling, unless you have a spud stuck in the exhaust :P