Possible Exhaust Leak???

[Yeggster]

Originally Posted by elgineddie

I just dropped off my Commander (45k miles) at the dealer this morning for this problem. I actually inspected it myself and there is an exhaust leak at the rear of the right exhaust manifold... I can see a black soot mark and I can feel exhaust blowing out when I hold my fingers close to it.

Let us know ... I have a feeling this is easy to fix ... simple to replace the gasket ... just expensive getting down to it

[firedude]

Ha Ha, I have the Hemi and mine does the same thing. I took it in to the dealer 3 times, and an exhaust shop once. I was told that's just the way the Hemi sounds, but it sounds like it's not just the Hemi. I even test drove brand new Commanders with the same tic. Now that I know it's "normal" I dont' notice it anymore.

[elgineddie]

Originally Posted by Yeggster

Let us know ... I have a feeling this is easy to fix ... simple to replace the gasket ... just expensive getting down to it

HA!!! YOU SAID IT!!
I do all my own repair work and when I looked at the location of that thing I sadly realized there wasn't a chance in h3ll I could get to it myself unless I wanted to spend a weekend doing it. We shall see... $17 gasket and "who knows how many hours to get to it".

Stay tuned...

[alphamale]

Originally Posted by elgineddie

I just dropped off my Commander (45k miles) at the dealer this morning for this problem. I actually inspected it myself and there is an exhaust leak at the rear of the right exhaust manifold... I can see a black soot mark and I can feel exhaust blowing out when I hold my fingers close to it.

My opinion is if you are hearing a flutter or ticking sound it is more than likely an exhaust leak.

I'll gladly post what it cost me to fix it when I get the car back.

-Ed

Ed... a couple questions:

Did the noise ever change if you were idling in PARK and then you hold your foot on the brake and shift into DRIVE? What makes me wonder is that the noise seems to change significantly under certain conditions, although there is a definite ticking under acceleration.

How were you able to see the leak? I looked under the hood and found no good way to view the manifolds. Did you remove something else, or use a mirror possibly?

- Bob

[elgineddie]

Originally Posted by alphamale

Did the noise ever change if you were idling in PARK and then you hold your foot on the brake and shift into DRIVE? What makes me wonder is that the noise seems to change significantly under certain conditions, although there is a definite ticking under acceleration.

How were you able to see the leak? I looked under the hood and found no good way to view the manifolds. Did you remove something else, or use a mirror possibly?

- Bob

I saw the sooty black spot (i.e. the leak) by crawling under the car and using a bright handheld LED flashlight to shine up towards the manifold. When the car was started I then reached up (very tight space) and could feel puffs of air against my fingers.

Regarding your question, yes, my sound changed whenever I put it into Drive and under other driving conditions.

Regarding the sound in general, I've read a lot on this board regarding these sounds and my opinion is that there is a huge difference between engine ticking and an exhaust leak. Engine ticking can increase/decrease with RPMs just like an exhaust leak but an exhaust leak can be heard when standing outside of the car... for example, if you stand outside your car (10' away) and your friend drives off in your car, you will be able to hear an exhaust leak. Engine ticking (like normal valvetrain ticking) won't be audible.

I'm no mechanic but I've had exhaust leaks on almost every car I've owned (minus my Subaru) and I can immediately tell when it happens.

-Ed

[alphamale]

Originally Posted by elgineddie

I saw the sooty black spot (i.e. the leak) by crawling under the car and using a bright handheld LED flashlight to shine up towards the manifold. When the car was started I then reached up (very tight space) and could feel puffs of air against my fingers.

Regarding your question, yes, my sound changed whenever I put it into Drive and under other driving conditions.

Regarding the sound in general, I've read a lot on this board regarding these sounds and my opinion is that there is a huge difference between engine ticking and an exhaust leak. Engine ticking can increase/decrease with RPMs just like an exhaust leak but an exhaust leak can be heard when standing outside of the car... for example, if you stand outside your car (10' away) and your friend drives off in your car, you will be able to hear an exhaust leak. Engine ticking (like normal valvetrain ticking) won't be audible.

I'm no mechanic but I've had exhaust leaks on almost every car I've owned (minus my Subaru) and I can immediately tell when it happens.

-Ed

Well, from your description of the sound, I'd make a lay-diagnosis of an exhaust leak, but others here have even brought their vehicles to an exhaust shop where they found no leak. It sounds like these engines are noisy even when working properly.

Why do you think you've had so many vehicles with exhaust leaks over the years?

[Yeggster]

Originally Posted by alphamale

Why do you think you've had so many vehicles with exhaust leaks over the years?

Not answering for elgineddie but myself I've never had a car WITHOUT an exhaust leak ... (except the Commander so far but it's still basically new)

I feel the Exhaust system in a consumable part of the car and will always leak eventually.

[elgineddie]

Originally Posted by alphamale

Why do you think you've had so many vehicles with exhaust leaks over the years?

Bad luck maybe? Just kidding. Like Yeggster wrote, it's a part of the car that should be considered consumable (although not as frequent as brakes, oil, wipers, tires, et cetera).

My leaks have come from rusted welds and from blown exhaust gaskets. Again, could be bad luck as I know some people who run their cars for YEARS and YEARS without exhaust issues.

What I should be doing is complaining that I need $550 worth of exhaust manifold gasket work on a 3 yr old car with 45k miles on it.
But who wants to listen??

[cqbennett]

I had mine in to the dealer today to look into that dang noise. The guy says his makes the same noise and that its has something to due with improper gapping with the exhaust valves and that its just a poor design and there is no fix for it. Supposedly chrysler has fixed it on later models. I told him about all the guys on here with the same problem and it usually being the manifold and had him check for me just to make sure. He didn't find anything so I guess I'm just going to live with it. If it keeps driving me crazy maybe I'll take it to get looked at somewhere else in the future.

[07JeepXK]

Originally Posted by cqbennett

I had mine in to the dealer today to look into that dang noise. The guy says his makes the same noise and that its has something to due with improper gapping with the exhaust valves and that its just a poor design and there is no fix for it. Supposedly chrysler has fixed it on later models. I told him about all the guys on here with the same problem and it usually being the manifold and had him check for me just to make sure. He didn't find anything so I guess I'm just going to live with it. If it keeps driving me crazy maybe I'll take it to get looked at somewhere else in the future.

Id take it to another dealer and get their opinion. Never settle for one persons opinion.

Im going to tackle this project soon. By process of elimination ill get to the bottom of this niose im hearing. It shouldnt be to bad swapping out the manifold gaskets and bolts.