hey my OBX headers have that crackle in the higher rpms, i checked ever casket from the head down and resealed them all, had new 2 inch piping ran after the cat, and still crackle of a ricer. Guess im just stuck with the sound, my downshift from 4th to 3rd got considerabley better, and from 5th to 4th much better. is 2 inch piping restricting me or should i have got bigger?

 

If you want to check for an exhaust leak, just sit in neutral and rev up to like 5k. If it just revs and then goes back down normally, you're fine. If it makes a loud pop as the RPMs are going back down, you're leaking air somewhere.

Just figured I'd throw it in since you mentioned checking the gaskets.

 

well i had the pipe after the cat all replaced, i checked all the gaskets and replaced 2 of them, torqued the headers down a little bit more, and checked downpipe, $hit what is leaking? muffler?

 

Do you get the pop I described when you freerev? You might have no leak at all, you know. It might just be the way they sound...

 

well not until i get into higher rpms, but on the way down it pops a few times. It s a 4-2-1 design, ive checked everything but the muffler, its a magnaflow that ive had for a year or so, wouldnt think it would be leaking already.

 

yeah mine makes that pop between shifts when i'm gettin on it. i had i checked at a shop. they put two gaskets between the down pipe and tightened every thing else and said it wasnt leaking but it still pops on occasion. does it just do that or does that mean its still leaking some where.

oops diddnt mean to hijack. surry!

 

no prob, hijack away. I just wanna find out what the problem is. mine doesnt pop as much after the car gets warm. and its more like a spitting sound. like a honda. Im no exhaust expert, but i know it has something to do with timing, firing order, header size, etc. is this just the way there supposed to sound, i checked every seal and every bit of piping. except the muffler, magnaflow. any other header guys that have this problem, please share your sound. . . . share if you have similar problems.

 

Now, bear in mind, the pops might be one of two things:

a) exhaust leak
b) unburned fuel exploding in the exhaust

Popping alone doesn't mean you have an exhaust leak. It's just one symptom.

 

so how can i test it and see if its unburned fuel or a leak, like i said the only thing that i haven't checked is the muffler.

 

Mostly you want to listen for noise. If the pop sounds like it's coming from the front area, you have a leak. If the pop sounds like it's coming out of the muffler, you have unburned fuel.

Also, most basic - start the car and put your hand near each flange. Feel for escaping air. If you're feeling adventurous, stuff a rag in the muffler (this will create hella backpressure and force more air to come out the leak).

Stand outside your car near the front end. Have a friend rev the motor. Do you hear an exhaust leak?

Those three methods should be all you need. I had more exhaust leaks than I can count on my Lancer, so I could probably help, but I'm not local.

 

well my exhuast is pretty loud, but i think its cus i got the testpipe.but im fixing to put a resonator on, so its coool.

 

thanks blacksheep, thanks alot man. i am gona do that as soon as i get off work.i did the flang test on all of the flanges. . .. god i hope this works, i wish i could hear from some other guys that have headers.

 

same here. snap crackle pop not as bad once the car is warmed up. as for that back fire sound i feel it is just unburnt fuel that goes boom somewhere in the pipes. not a big deal. i here the same alot at the track. ithink its just a draw back to straight flow exhaust systems.
not that it hampers performance its just annoying.

check for leaks though for sure. to be safe you should prolly do as i did and put two gaskets between the downpipe and cat. i watched the install at the shop and the mechs showed me how the downpipe isa lil to long and kinks at the cat and pushed the mid pipe section down. they actually had to flip the mid pipe upside down so the pipe pointed up towards the car for fear it may hit the ground. then install two gaskets to seal it well.
you might want to seriously consider this...