I really wanted to fix my darn exhaust leak by the manifold. I can hear and feel it coming from the exhaust manifold. My guess is the gasket blew out. The studs are so darn rusted I'm affraid to tackle the job of replacing the gasket because the studs might break off in the head.

Just sitting here, wondering, would I be able to use the jp weld butty stuff and press it in where it's leaking and let it dry over night? The stuff works pretty decent on exhaust pipes, and is easy to sand off, if I needed too when I actually do have time do tackle the gaskets.

Thoughts? I know do it right and replace the thing with new gasket and studs, but right now It's my daily driver and the leak is just driving me crazy.

I was thinking of pressing putty type stuff around the area where it's leaking.

 

jb weld isnt meant for heat. camarothatcould tried it and it didnt do anything but burn and smell. he had/has a head gasket leak but thought it was a exhaust manifold leak.

 

Dont get me started on this. First off, you need to find out EXACTLY where the leak is. I was uneducated and just started throwing money at it, EVERYBODY said it was the manifold gaskets, sure enough, I had broken studs, but I still should have done more research.

So I took my manifold off, had it surface milled, drilled out broken studs, retapped, got new gaskets, then bolted the manifold back up. Started it up, SAME sound! I took the manifold off again, knowing that I am playing with danger with the threads in the head. I put fresh gaskets with sealant on them. Bolted back up, started 24 hours later, SAME sound. Went out, bought a new manifold, $119, put it on, let the sealant dry over night. Started, SAME sound.

Someone advised me to do a leak test since I though it was my headgasket. I put my shopvac on the blower setting, duct taped it to my tailpipe, turned it on, then sprayed soapy water all over the manifold/head. Manifold was sealed, but I had seen bubbles coming from inbetween the head and deck. My fawking headgasket is cracked, but I am leaking no coolant, JUST compression, hence my VERY loud and annoying ticking sound.

However, I tried JB Weld too, but it was cheapo stuff from Wal-Mart, I molded it around the manifold where I thought the manifold was leaking, let it dry, and drove with it for a weak. The sound was still there cause it wasnt the manifold leaking, but the JB Weld DID infact hold up. It never smelled or melted, and I put it DIRECTLY on the manifold too, thing gets red hot and it stayed on there.

So FIRST If I were you, I would clarify where exactly the leak is coming from. Than go about your method. As for me, I think I'm screwed, I dont think I can seal a head gasket from outside, I HOPE you do not have the same issue as me. Here are some of my pics and videos from my adventure. . .

The initial ticking. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLvROc9uxM

After new manifold, I put a mirror down where the hot air was coming from. Notice the sound change as I move the mirror...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ghne4uxtDo

I would also recommend NOT putting stud & nuts back in. One reason being this particular one, if you have the 4.6L. . .

In order to get that nut out, and the manifold itself out, you have to jack up the engine and take the engine mount off the block. I said nope and replaced all my studs with bolts from the hardware store with lockwashers.

Starting point



New manifold all perdy



Also. Rusted studs and nuts are something to worry about, but for my driver side, I soaked them in PB Blaster and they all came out fine, I even re-used them, and they are perfectly ok. I would also go to Advance Auto for manifold gaskets, they have the Revised Fel-Pro ones which are two piece and are awesome, nothing like the junk factory 3-ply sheet metal from FORD.

So post up what engine you have and what you think your going to do about this. I'll be here for awhile

 

I have the 4.6.
It basically sounds like a leak from the manifold. The sound gets louder as you rev up. It is on the driver side.

I had it at a exhaust shop and they turned the car on. You could actually feel the air by hand coming out from the manifold area.

So you JB weld type putty didnt burn off, I might try that and see if it fixed the leak I have till I can get around to taking it completly off.

If it works out for some time I will post back on here. If it doesnt, I'll have to take it off and the stuff will get cleaned of anyways.

Thanks for posting your pics and feed back on the JB weld stuff.

Anyone ever try this?

 

autozone carries a putty that is called muffler weld. It comes in a big can like tuna can shape. silver color

give that a try, follow the directions

 

I felt air also, i could have swore it was the manifold, isnt. But I hope you lucked out and just have a cracked manifold. . . Keep us updated

 

My neighbor got by so far on his f150 with a manifold leak bad (rotted through) with some high temp stuff for firplaces, goes on like road tar our of a caulking gun and hardens overnight. Got rid of his P0115 code for now, but I got him new manifolds, gaskets etc, online so at some point him and I are going to tackle it.