QUESTION.
I have just rebuilt my turbo-charged engine and reinstalled it back into my Lotus Esprit.
All the fasteners been carefully torqued up but despite this when starting the engine, there is an exhaust gas leak between the manifold and the cylinder head.
All new exhaust studs, nuts, gaskets and lock tabs have been used
I can hear a characteristic chuff-chuff noise of exhaust gases escaping at the cylinder head face.
What can I do to fix this?
P.S. - North Ryde, NSW, Australia
ANSWER.
Before removing the manifold it is best to check for exhaust leaks by listening carefully with a stethoscope and looking at all the joints with a small dental mirror.
If there is a definite gas leak between the manifold and head face, then most likely the problem will be the exhaust manifold contact face not being flat.
Unfortunately there is no easy way to resolve this problem as the exhaust manifold will have to be removed so it can be machined perfectly flat.
From experience gained in our workshop, it is quite common to find exhaust manifolds distorted by extreme heat and temperature cycling.
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques
I have just rebuilt my turbo-charged engine and reinstalled it back into my Lotus Esprit.
All the fasteners been carefully torqued up but despite this when starting the engine, there is an exhaust gas leak between the manifold and the cylinder head.
All new exhaust studs, nuts, gaskets and lock tabs have been used
I can hear a characteristic chuff-chuff noise of exhaust gases escaping at the cylinder head face.
What can I do to fix this?
P.S. - North Ryde, NSW, Australia
ANSWER.
Before removing the manifold it is best to check for exhaust leaks by listening carefully with a stethoscope and looking at all the joints with a small dental mirror.
If there is a definite gas leak between the manifold and head face, then most likely the problem will be the exhaust manifold contact face not being flat.
Unfortunately there is no easy way to resolve this problem as the exhaust manifold will have to be removed so it can be machined perfectly flat.
From experience gained in our workshop, it is quite common to find exhaust manifolds distorted by extreme heat and temperature cycling.
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques