Does this look like an exhaust leak or normal discoloration from high temps?
 

Exhaust leaks usually don't leave a smudge coating all over the exhaust.

Is that header OEM or aftermarket?


humfrz

Hmm, ok. I thought when a exhaust leaks, it lets out soot and vapor and coats everything it gets in contact with.

It's a cheap aftermarket header.

Usually, an exhaust leak will only leave a smudge mark close to where it's leaking before it dissipates.

If your exhaust leak was bad enough to do what your picture shows, you would definitely hear and smell it.

So, what is your aftermarket header made out of?

If it doesn't make any noise and you can't smell exhaust, I wouldn't worry about the discoloration.

After all, we put up with rusty, cast iron exhaust manifolds for years - ;)


humfrz

From the looks of and from what you said, I say it just burn up the clear coat or what ever coating it had. If it was an exhaust leak you would have heard it.

Dang..I was hoping it would be an exhaust leak cause that would be easier than tearing my car apart trying to find the leak.

There's also this soot under the hood of my car, presumably from the 'exhaust' leak.


https://i.imgur.com/EbHHiwk.jpg

That stuff on the hood looks like some fluid was slung up there by a pulley or a belt. Does the belt look/feel "wet" or does any pulley have a residue on it?

I suggest you clean it off the hood and see if it comes back.

As far as the dark header, I suggest you contact the manufacturer to see if they can give you any insight.

Again, do you know what that header is made of or was coated with?


humfrz

I'm going to ring up ol @Ultramaroon for ya, he is pretty good at figuring out stuff like this - :thumbsup:


humfrz

Good point. Going to wipe it up and see if it comes back.

As for the header...manufacturers says T-304 Stainless Steel.

My immediate first thought when seeing the header was something has been cooked onto it. An oily fluid dripped onto it while hot.

The picture of the underside of the hood was the absolute giveaway though.

Ahhh... absolute giveaway to what? Exhaust leak or oily fluid leaking?

Oily fluid. Is your SC losing a lot of oil?

From the looks if some oil is dripping onto the belt flinging it to the hood. And dripping all over header causing it to burn and discolor. From the amount it’s either been going on for s while or its a pretty bad leak.

Do you also have that black stuff to the left and right side of the serpentine belt?

Surprisingly not.. It's some sort of oil for sure but I don't think it's the SC gear oil. I think it's PCV blowby. I'm not sure how its getting into the SC unit itself and leaking.

I clearly do see a leak on the SC itself but it's just so weird how it's not SC oil.

:thumbdown::thumbdown:

Are you losing engine oil then?

No catch cans?