After finishing up my EGR delete this last weekend (I did the Custom Diesel full EGR cooler delete it's a sinister clone) I had a hissing sound coming from the engine compartment and was about 5psi low on boost. I thought that the leak was either exhaust manifold/y-pipe related or intake manifold gasket related, but was unable to tell where when the truck was running. I came up with a redneck way to check the exhaust system for leaks to rule it out. Enjoy

"Tools" needed...
-Smoke bomb
-Duct tape
-Air compressor with regulator and hose

Directions:
1. Prep tailpipe by wrapping it with duct tape and progressively extending the duct tape out making a 5" duct tape extension to the tail pipe. Set compressor regulator to 5 psi.
2. Light smoke bomb and place into tail pipe.
3. Get air hose with 5psi of air flowing out of it and put it in the tail pipe. Use the duct tape "extension" to compress around the air hose to seal the hose-tailpipe connection.
4. Examine exhaust connections for smoke.
5. After leak is found dispose of "used tools."

 

Well, did it work?

 

I am in the market for a new muffler after the equivalent of that test (the morning white smoke at my temns).

Any advice for cheap parts?

 

A muffler usually has a weep hole for condensation to run out, you may be seeing this in cold temps when you first start the truck. Just a thought.

 

Thanks John... the seam on the side of the muffler is where it is... sigh...

High corrosion environment / road salt.

 

I have the Magnaflow stainless, been holding up to the salt brine they use here.....so far so good.

 

Yup, it worked great. Found a couple leaks. I got them all taken care and the hissing is gone! Intake gaskets seem to be holding.

 

The end result is all that counts.....good job and inventive way to solving a problem. Another fine example of Duct Tape 101

 

Great idea!

Kert, hey, didn't you play MacGyver on tv?

 

Sounds like another recent suggestion.

Unplug glowplugs.
Stuff rag in tailpipe.
Crank engine.
Look for smoke.

 

David,

close, but I would suspect "some" of us would end up
breaking a connector/boot. Keep it simple is rule #1.
Sort of like DRs, above all do no harm.

 

Hey, I didn't say that was the best way! The post's title was "My Redneck Exhaust Leak Test".

The first rule in any redneck contest is "Hold my beer and watch this!"