Hi everyone, I have read the threads on cracked exhaust headers and finally managed to free the bolts holding my heat shield. Sure enough there is a nice crack in both of them. One has been welded previously but cracked again on the weld. The question is, what will happen if I just ignore the cracks? There is no sound of an exhaust leak, nor any exhaust smell in the cabin. Thanks.

 

Nothing, probably, until/unless the cracks become bigger....which might not happen.

How is the engine behaving? In some cases the cracks will admit air into the manifolds and skew the oxygen sensor readings....which in turn skews the fuel mixture

Cheers
DD

 

Hi Doug, Well thanks for cheering me up. As for engine performance it seems fine, but then I have only had the car for a few months and the cracks have probably been there as long as that. What symptoms would I have if air was entering the cracks? Logic suggests that the exhaust is under pressure & would blow out rather than suck in.