When there is an issue with your car's exhaust, it’s much deeper than just hearing that annoying noise. An exhaust leak can reduce your car’s engine efficiency, negatively affect your car’s performance, and even let in some harmful gases into your car’s cabin. If your car smells bad, it may be down to a gas leak.
This is why finding and fixing an exhaust leak should be your top priority. The sooner you fix this, the fewer problems it will cause. So, read this article to learn how to find an exhaust leak.
How to Find an Exhaust Leak
Finding an exhaust leak is a process that includes 3 main steps: understanding the symptoms, listening for exhaust leaks, and finding the exhaust leak.
Step 1: Identify Exhaust Leak Symptoms
The first step requires knowing the most common exhaust leak symptoms and recognizing them when driving your car. These signs include:
- An unusually loud engine noise - does your car make more noise than normal?
- Reduced fuel efficiency - is your car spending much more fuel than expected?
- Noticeable exhaust smell - do you smell the exhaust gases, even when inside the car?
- Acceleration problems - does your car struggle to accelerate?
If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” there is probably a leak in your car’s exhaust system. But how to locate it?
Step 2: Listen Carefully for Exhaust Leak Sounds
Let’s move to step two: listening. Your first clue should be the sound. Listen to the sound of your car's exhaust system.
An exhaust leak sounds like consistent ticking, hissing, or popping. And these sounds become more noticeable when your car accelerates. Such sounds are often caused by leaks further down the exhaust system, maybe at the flex pipe, mid-pipe, or muffler.
Manifold Exhaust Leak Sound
Maybe you hear a manifold exhaust leak sound - a metallic and sharp noise, more noticeable during the cold weather. Usually (but not necessarily), this means that the exhaust leak is somewhere near the engine’s exhaust manifold.
While listening to these sounds isn’t always the most precise method to narrow your search, it can certainly be helpful.
Step 3: Find The Exhaust Leak
It’s time for step 3 - finding the exhaust leak. There are several methods you can try:
- If you hear any ticking, hissing, popping, or sharp metallic sounds, try to determine their source by listening closely. Maybe you can pinpoint where those sounds are coming from.
- Next, look for soot marks, cracks, or damaged gaskets along the exhaust system. An exhaust leak often leaves some visual clues, so try to spot them.
- Try to feel any escaping air. Carefully pass your hand near joints (without touching hot parts). If you feel a soft blow on your hand, this could be where the exhaust leak is.
- This one is an old-school method - using soapy water. Mix water with a liquid soap or a dish soap and spray this mixture on suspected spots. If you notice any bubbles, you have found your leak.
- Check for smells - a strong exhaust odor inside or near the vehicle can signal a leak. Maybe you can figure out where exactly that smell is coming from.
- Use an EVAP machine - this machine pushes smoke through your car’s exhaust system. The smoke can’t escape the system, apart from the places with leaks.
What’s the Best Way to Find an Exhaust Leak?
With so many different methods to find an exhaust leak, which one is the best? An EVAP machine is an accurate method to find the leak. If you see smoke escaping your exhaust system in unexpected places, those are 100% leaks.
How Does Soapy Water Work for Finding a Gas Leak?
However, if you don’t have an EVAP machine, then the soapy water is a relatively decent alternative. It’s not as accurate or convenient as using an EVAP machine, but it can still help you find the leak.
You can even combine several methods. For example, if you hear some odd sounds coming from one specific part of your exhaust system, then you can spray that part with soapy water, instead of spraying the entire system.
Still, if you can buy an EVAP leak machine, it will save you so much time, effort, and even money long term. All these alternatives are ok, but they aren’t always helpful. So, instead of losing time on these methods, we suggest you use an EVAP machine right away.
How Does an EVAP Machine Work?
An EVAP machine works by filling your car's exhaust system with smoke, which then gradually escapes the system through those leaks, no matter how small they are.
Your car’s exhaust system is a sealed system, which means there should be no leaks. Now, when a leak occurs, it can be hard to locate, as it can be microscopic.
Smoke is easy to notice, even in small amounts. The smoke from EVAP machines isn’t just some regular smoke - it’s made of a mineral oil–based solution, which makes this smoke even more dense and visible.
Some EVAP machines even come with a fluorescent dye in their smoke, which makes it even more noticeable. EVAP machines are a simple yet genius solution.
The Best EVAP Leak Machine for Finding Exhaust Leak
Maybe you think that EVAP machines are reserved for professional car mechanics. They are expensive, complicated to use… well, quite the opposite.
EVAP machines are rather simple to use, even if you aren’t so familiar with car repairs. And, they are also affordable - if you’re lucky, you can find them for less than $100. You've got to admit, it’s a bargain!
Automotive EVAP Smoke Machine with Pressure Gauge 0.35cfm
OrionMotorTech has a limited-time offer on this EVAP machine, selling it for only $99.99. However, the price isn’t the only notable thing about this machine. Precision, wide compatibility, durability, and ease of use are what make this machine stand out:
Conclusion
An exhaust leak is a rather easy problem to fix, but it can be tricky to locate. In this article, we have taught you how to find an exhaust leak. There are several methods you can try, but the most efficient one is certainly using the EVAP machine. The best part is - you don’t have to spend a fortune on one such machine. Simply visit the OrionMotorTech website and find a reliable and affordable EVAP machine!
