Exhaust blowing ! But Where?

Now I consider myself a competent self taught mechanic. I love playing with cars and would be more than comfortable stripping down a full engine and rebuilding it etc, but my bloody exhaust is blowing from somewhere and can I balls find it !

It had a full system fitted just before i bought it, so last night took it all apart and while off, fitted a new manifold gasket cos I thought it might have been that but NO!

The ONLY other place I can think of is where the cast 4 branch fits to the head but it doesnt sound like it's comin from there.

Do MK1's just sound like this cos I really cant find anywhere alse it can be possibly blowing from !

Sorry for the NEWB question !

i just had one fitted too mate 18.gti and it too sounds alittle loud but i just live with it  :wink:

The new-ish one on my Cabrio sounds likes its blowing but passed MOT OK :dontknow:

Cast manifold - goes down to a two branch pipe that hooks up to a single pipe that runs to the back of the car.

Have a look at the two branch pipe.  There is a seal where it joins to the single pipe - this is known to fail - and have a look at the two brancher - I had a fail on mine - easy replacement and readily available from GSF  - can be difficult to spot.

If you have a spare set of hands, get one person to stuff a rag into the tail pipe whilst you look for the leak - you'll soon find it

MP

Nice one dude. I shall try that for sure. I didnt realise that there was supposed to be a seal where the two branch joins to the single one! Mine doesnt have one for sure and it does sound like it's comin from that area!

What kinda seal tho os it's a male/female joint, cant see how any air could leak outa that and cant think what kinda gasket/seal would be there :dontknow:

I shall report further once I've had a gander !

GSF number 28218 VW no 161-298-115 "exhaust down pipe gasket" ?9.75 from GSF

For an extra couple of quid get yourself a new clamp 48.5mm GSF part no 28285 VW part No 871-253-143 "exhaust clamp" -


Let us all know how you get on

MP

Cock on brother, thanks a lot!

I'll let you know!

its been a while,but i am sure they are cheeper from VW than gsf,i was so impressed i brought two,and the quailty is much better.and if you love your mk1,161298115,repair kit will truly do wot it says on the tin, got the cars history out and it is ?16 odd and you get the new c clamp,

a good way to find an exhaust leak is to:
start the engine then have someone hold a rag over the tail pipe while you have a look.
with the tail pipe blocked the leak will get real loud and a lot easier to find.