Need help...just installed header.

[timmydatooth]

So i just left the shop where I got my tomei UEL header and overpipe installed. Drove it for a little bit and noticed it has a raspy sound to it now. Kind of expected a deeper sound but I guess it ok. But the main concern is I hear like a wispy windy sound coming from (I think) where the headers are...I don't know if that is normal because I just put them on and they still need to settle and break in or did the exhaust shop do a bad job and I have a leak already. How did you car sound right after installing headers? any weird noises? Note that I haven't even driven the car 50 miles yet, Im typing this after only driving the car maybe not even 10 miles. So will this sound eventually go away or do I need to bring it back to the shop?

also should I go ahead and flash it to stage 2 right now? (im on the stage 1 OFT tune as of now) or should I wait and drive around a bit to break in the header?

[sly]

If you have an exhaust leak, you might be able to see it after a few miles. Look around for carbon black trails and you will find your leak if there is one. Since you already have the exhaust mounted, you should flash the correct tune for the car.

[Tcoat]

Headers redirect the flow and frequently have a thinner wall than stock so you will indeed hear new sounds. Some of them will be weird until you get used to them.
There is no need to "break in" a header. It is just some pipe and nothing will change for a long long time (if ever).

[Detroiter]

I installed my Tomei UEL headers about a month ago now and there has always been this raspy exhaust leak type sound and I have been trying everything to fix leaks but something seems to get rid of it. I'm untuned as of right now so I'm interested if flashing the stage 2 UEL tune will get rid of the sound.

I also read that there is a sound made from the headers being thinner walled than the factory ones but I couldn't find much info on that.

EDIT: Looks like Tcoat knows about it.

[timmydatooth]

ok I guess I do need to drive it around a little bit to get used to these "new sounds". I'm just kind of surprised because my car doesn't sound like the ones in the youtube videos of other people installing tomei UEL. The shop I went to is a very good reputable exhaust shop so Im sure they wouldn't do a horrible job installing them. as for the stage 2 tune, will that change the sound in any way?

[guybo]

No, it won't. I suggest climbing under the car and re-torquing the header bolts. Make sure the shop did it right- plus it's a best practice anyway

[Brayden_23]

Most of the sound of the exhaust is determined by your catback. As for exhaust leaks, wouldn't hurt to get underneath with a bottle of soapy water and spray where the gaskets are - if any bubbles appear, that is where you are leaking from.

The tune won't change the sound by any noticeable amount. The UEL tune adjusts AVCS table slightly to account for UEL headers, so you may get a fraction more of a rumble, but don't expect the "tinniness" of the header to go away with that.

[timmydatooth]

Originally Posted by Brayden_23

Most of the sound of the exhaust is determined by your catback. As for exhaust leaks, wouldn't hurt to get underneath with a bottle of soapy water and spray where the gaskets are - if any bubbles appear, that is where you are leaking from.

The tune won't change the sound by any noticeable amount. The UEL tune adjusts AVCS table slightly to account for UEL headers, so you may get a fraction more of a rumble, but don't expect the "tinniness" of the header to go away with that.

should I go ahead and flash to stage 2 now or should I wait and drive around a bit more?

[Brayden_23]

Originally Posted by timmydatooth

should I go ahead and flash to stage 2 now or should I wait and drive around a bit more?

Totally up to you. Driving around without it won't hurt anything. You should have already seen the CEL pop on anyway. I would flash now if I were you. It won't hurt anything and the bump in power is worth it.

[timmydatooth]

Originally Posted by Brayden_23

Totally up to you. Driving around without it won't hurt anything. You should have already seen the CEL pop on anyway. I would flash now if I were you. It won't hurt anything and the bump in power is worth it.

I actually have not had the CEL pop up yet. but from what I've read it will pop up eventually. I guess I will go ahead and do the stage 2 tune before it does decide to show up lol

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by timmydatooth

should I go ahead and flash to stage 2 now or should I wait and drive around a bit more?

Flash now. As I said nothing will change. Won't hurt to check the bolts and seals but you probably won't find anything wrong. The sounds you are hearing are just the exhaust gases moving faster through the header and rest of the system than they did through the stock exhaust. It is this increased flow that makes the headers "better" than stock.
Videos are the very worst way to try to judge sound since the variables in recording and playback are massive. Even hearing a header in real life is almost meaningless unless they have all the exact same components through the whole system that you have. Hell even the intake or filter you have can change the sounds a pile.

[Detroiter]

Originally Posted by timmydatooth

should I go ahead and flash to stage 2 now or should I wait and drive around a bit more?

I would change the tune now as there is no "break in" period or anything for exhaust parts. I would agree it probably won't change the sound that much but I have read other posts about how the car sounds like shit until it is tuned for UEL, not sure how true that is though.

[KnightRyderx2]

The sound you are hearing is most likely due to the change in type and thickness of the material used as compared to the stock header. Also that the stock header had that large bulky heatshield on it so that filters out some of the noises.

Its not the end of the world if you do have an exhaust leak. Just drive it around for a while and then if you feel like it check for an exhaust leak. There will be a nice line of carbon build up. As you say the installers are a reputable company so they should have checked for leaks before giving you the car back.

As for stage deuce, its totally up to you when to do it.

[Detroiter]

Originally Posted by Brayden_23

Totally up to you. Driving around without it won't hurt anything. You should have already seen the CEL pop on anyway. I would flash now if I were you. It won't hurt anything and the bump in power is worth it.

In order to not start a new thread and on a somewhat related note I installed my catless headers over a month ago with what I always assumed was the stock tune. I have yet to get a CEL from the O2 sensor. I've tried searching and couldn't find much info on it. Anyone have any ideas why this could be?