Safe to drive with exhaust leak? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

zhanym0981 · 06-29-2022, 05:14 PM

My sti shifter went loose and the Subaru dealer snapped one of the bolts of the front pipe when they were trying to access the shifter. Both the front pipe and the bolt are on backorder and there's no dates yet.

They said they can put the original pipe back on while we wait but there would be leaks from the header and resonator. They said it's okay to drive like this except the cars gonna be a bit louder.

Some quick googling said it's not good for the engine and might have bad gases leaking if the car is driven in this condition.

Anyone knows is it actually okay to drive with some leaks? I guess definitely no track days/auto crosses until it's fixed.

I

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Jdmjunkie · 06-29-2022, 05:44 PM

From a mechanical stand point as long as the leak is after both O² sensors the engine should run with the problem. You need to drive and see if the noise/fumes are to much for you.

otter · 06-29-2022, 06:12 PM

It'll be fine just don't spend a lot of time idling and sitting still.

zhanym0981 · 06-29-2022, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jdmjunkie

From a mechanical stand point as long as the leak is after both O² sensors the engine should run with the problem. You need to drive and see if the noise/fumes are to much for you.

Thanks! I guess if the noise/fumes are okay then nothing I should worry too much about.

Do you think I can attend hpde before it's fixed?

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zhanym0981 · 06-29-2022, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otter

It'll be fine just don't spend a lot of time idling and sitting still.

Thanks! Do you think I should avoid doing hpde until it's fixed or it's fine?

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otter · 06-29-2022, 07:40 PM

Tough to say. If it's a tiny leak it'll probably be fine but keep in mind an exhaust leak is blowing full temp exhaust out in an unintended direction. HPDE is going to get things really hot and a lot of heat in the wrong direction melts things. It's a personal judgement call but for me I'm not big on tracking a car where things are not setup/working correctly.

racingfool · 06-30-2022, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otter

just don't spend a lot of time idling and sitting still.

Quote:

Originally Posted by otter

a lot of heat in the wrong direction melts things

That covers everything I was thinking.

RToyo86 · 06-30-2022, 10:43 AM

I would get that busted bolt out and stick a smaller non threaded bolt in with some washers and nuts to secure it as a temp solution until the correct hardware arrives.

zhanym0981 · 06-30-2022, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RToyo86

I would get that busted bolt out and stick a smaller non threaded bolt in with some washers and nuts to secure it as a temp solution until the correct hardware arrives.

Unfortunately according to subaru that bolt is stuck and they tried. Not sure if some local muffler shops can pull some magic...

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BirdTRD · 06-30-2022, 09:17 PM

Apparently they didn't try very hard...

gen3v8 · 06-30-2022, 11:07 PM

Maybe they should have tried a drill.

Kiske · 07-01-2022, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhanym0981

Unfortunately according to subaru that bolt is stuck and they tried. Not sure if some local muffler shops can pull some magic...

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15 minutes of cussing and few new drill bits and a drill. Drill the stud out and then replace it with a bolt, nut and washers. Your not trying to save or extract the remains of the broken stud but simply just drill through it to the other side (which would also remove the broken stud)

They just didn't want the headache and hassle mate.

06-29-2022, 05:14 PM	#1
zhanym0981 Junior Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2016 Scion FR-S Location: MA USA Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Safe to drive with exhaust leak? My sti shifter went loose and the Subaru dealer snapped one of the bolts of the front pipe when they were trying to access the shifter. Both the front pipe and the bolt are on backorder and there's no dates yet. They said they can put the original pipe back on while we wait but there would be leaks from the header and resonator. They said it's okay to drive like this except the cars gonna be a bit louder. Some quick googling said it's not good for the engine and might have bad gases leaking if the car is driven in this condition. Anyone knows is it actually okay to drive with some leaks? I guess definitely no track days/auto crosses until it's fixed. I Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06-30-2022, 11:07 PM	#11
gen3v8 Barred Join Date: Oct 2020 Drives: My18 wrxsti My19 brzts Location: Botany Bay Posts: 1,144 Thanks: 729 Thanked 1,187 Times in 610 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Maybe they should have tried a drill. __________________ Wait until my Flex capacitor hits 88

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06-29-2022, 05:44 PM	#2
Jdmjunkie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: Scion FR-S 10 Series Location: Las Vegas, Nev. Posts: 341 Thanks: 1,839 Thanked 204 Times in 128 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	From a mechanical stand point as long as the leak is after both O² sensors the engine should run with the problem. You need to drive and see if the noise/fumes are to much for you.

06-29-2022, 06:12 PM	#3
otter Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Drives: 22 BRZ Location: Austin Posts: 121 Thanks: 18 Thanked 57 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It'll be fine just don't spend a lot of time idling and sitting still.

06-29-2022, 07:40 PM	#6
otter Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Drives: 22 BRZ Location: Austin Posts: 121 Thanks: 18 Thanked 57 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Tough to say. If it's a tiny leak it'll probably be fine but keep in mind an exhaust leak is blowing full temp exhaust out in an unintended direction. HPDE is going to get things really hot and a lot of heat in the wrong direction melts things. It's a personal judgement call but for me I'm not big on tracking a car where things are not setup/working correctly.

06-30-2022, 10:43 AM	#8
RToyo86 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Drives: 17 Asphalt 86 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,167 Thanks: 1,708 Thanked 2,206 Times in 1,128 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I would get that busted bolt out and stick a smaller non threaded bolt in with some washers and nuts to secure it as a temp solution until the correct hardware arrives.

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