Can anyone tell from this picture if this is normal or if I have some kind of leak?

Link to picture



I have 5000 miles on the car, and I have a TBE, Buschur cone filter, and Buschur MBC on - that's it. I did have the heat shield off once but that was about 2000 miles ago when the exhaust was put on...I was trying to look down at the o2 housing, but then put the shield right back on. I've never had the spark plug cover off or anything like that.

The bolts for the shield are all tight, and I tried starting the car and revving it a little to see if I could feel any leaks coming from the manifold or anywhere, but really didn't notice anything.

Any ideas? Maybe it's normal, but I kind of doubt it with my luck

Thanks


Edit - Added a link to the pic if it doesn't load for anyone

 

^ Picture isnt loading

 

I would clean it off. Then drive the car hard for a bit to see if it does it again, then take action. imop

 

that does'nt look normal to me. I have 25,000 on my 03 and it still looks pristine.

Is it backfiring alot or sound like its off time?

 

your downpipe might have a leak... suit blowin' up.

 

No, I don't notice any timing being off, and I don't get any backfiring. Do you think I should take a look at the plugs? If it is the plugs, I don't understand how the buildup would make it out onto the cover.

Thanks!

 

I doubt its your plugs. and no that buildup wouldnt come from the cover... Also do you still have your rain guard on you're hood vent? thats in the general location of the vent but mine does'nt look like that..

 

Yes, my hood is stock - I didn't remove anything.

robb86 might be right - it looks like the buildup is coming from below just by looking closely at the pattern, and it is directly over the downpipe. Maybe the bolts need tightened or the donut gasket needs replaced for some reason?

 

It looks like you didn't get the dp lined up right on the O2 housing and/or you need to tighten the bolts down more. I'd pull the bolts, remove the dp and start all over again. What kind of dp are you using? The first time I put my Helix dp on I didn't get it lined up right and I had an exhaust leak. I pulled it off and reinstalled it and fixed the problem.

Mine didn't blast the valve cover with exhaust though

 

^ROFL I did'nt even think about you having the TBE.. Im assuming you re used the gaskets... did you clean them and make sure they were'nt cracked?

 

I don't get what ya'll are looking at. It just looks like any other stock engine / EX mani to me.

If it's the dirty valve cover you guys are talking about, it looks like just that...

 

Definatly looks like it's exhaust related. Only thing it could be seeing how he has a TBE and its the only thing he's done in that area.

 

Yeah, after really looking at it and lining up where the build-up is on the valve cover, I really think it's either the gasket for the downpipe or the bolts aren't tight enough. I'm going to replace the gasket and retighten the bolts - hopefully that fixes it.

Thanks guys!

 

Good Luck man let us know what happens.

 

There is a leak in your exhaust manifold gasket. Tighten all the studs that go to the head to spec, and if this still doesn't fix the problem, take the manifold off and replace the gasket with a new one. This use to happen to my DSM's all the time.