Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:34:50 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Subject: Re: Stubborn Exhaust leak
In-Reply-To: <E7BCD6CC-1492-4D93-9FFD-E7EB0ADEC72E@xochi.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Update for the archives. Took it to my mechanic, who figured out
that the pipe actually had a hole in it, which is why my RTV sandwich
wasn't working. He took it off, welded it up and I now have a quiet
van.
I asked him about the exhaust gaskets on the head (which are in bad
shape) but his advice was since they didn't seem to be leaking now, to
just let them be, as once you start removing those nuts you risk
broken studs etc. I like this guy, he's always talking me out of
giving him money to fix stuff. :-)
On Jul 28, 2008, at 11:39 AM, Michael Diehr wrote:
> Thanks for all the help -- after doing the RTV sandwich trick, it was
> better but I can still hear and feel leaking, and I think it's in more
> than one location. Looking more closely reveals that pretty much all
> the exhaust gaskets everywhere are not much more than rust held
> together by bolt pressure.
>
> I notice that bus depot has a $379 special for a complete stock
> exhaust system. I'm very temped to order that and stop messing
> around with patches & fixes.
>
> Any thoughts on the quality of the BD system? Is the cat in that OK
> (I remember a prior thread where folks said that most aftermarket cats
> are not high quality).
>
> If I just take it to my mechanic and say "fix it" any idea what the
> retail cost of a new exhaust system would be?
>
>
>
>> 85 vanagon with exhaust leak at the junction between the two header
>> pipes and the collector pipe (part #G on this picture: http://www.bus-boys.com/vanwasser83-91.html
>> ) I removed the parts, sanded off the remains of the gaskets,
>> installed new gaskets, bolted it back together and... it leaks just
>> as
>> bad as before. Took it apart again -- The collector pipe (G)
>> seems
>> ok, but the ends of the header pipes are pretty rusted, and I can see
>> how it may be difficult for the gasket to seal. Tried some high-
>> temperature metal gunk to fill in the gaps, then reassembled but
>> didn't really seem to help :(. FYI, I put the metal side of the
>> gasket towards the collector as that seemed the most logical and
>> seemed to match the prior parts, though Bentley was not clear on that
>> topic.
>>
>> I'm tempted to take it to my local mechanic, hat in hand, and say
>> "make it work!" but I haven't entirely lost faith yet. Is the
>> solution new header pipes? A MIG welder? :)
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