V8 Exhaust Manifolds

[GeorgeC]

Just had my 2.5 year old Chimaera 500 serviced (42K)and was expecting the exhaust manifold gaskets to need replacing as there was a ticking from under the bonnet. It turns out however that the exhaust mainfolds themselves were leaking (like a sieve). Aparently the welds where not very good and the problem is both sides!! Has anyone else had this problem on a relatively young car??

Ta
George

[philr]

My 500 was 3 yrs old when I bought it from Fernies. They had noticed a ticking and so had replaced the gaskets before I got my hands on the keys. It still made a bit of a ticking noise though I thought, bust just put it down to being new to TVR.
In the end I convinced myself that it did need a further look from them and so took it back. It turned out to be cracks in the weld of the manifold.
No problems from Fernies over them getting the work done etc.

apparently it needs to go to a specialist welder due to the extreme temperatures that are needed to weld the manifold.
I did have to have the gaskets replace a year later, but that was after TVR changed their mind about which gaskets should be used + mine had blown again.

Not had any problems from gaskets or manifolds since then (2 more years on).

Phil

[GeorgeC]

Thanks Phil,

My Chimaera is in the right place then. Unfortunately the engineering company they use is on holiday and the job will have to wait until next week. They might be able do a temporary fix, so I have it for the weekend.

George

[simpo one]

'In the end I convinced myself that it did need a further look from them and so took it back. It turned out to be cracks in the weld of the manifold.'

How do they find this out? Are they visible if you know where to look?

[andyvg]

quote:
'In the end I convinced myself that it did need a further look from them and so took it back. It turned out to be cracks in the weld of the manifold.'

How do they find this out? Are they visible if you know where to look?

Apparently so I'm told - that when the manifolds are heated up with a welding torch any cracks show up quite clearly.

[simpo one]

'Apparently so I'm told - that when the manifolds are heated up with a welding torch any cracks show up quite clearly.'

Terrific.

[andyvg]

quote:
'Apparently so I'm told - that when the manifolds are heated up with a welding torch any cracks show up quite clearly.'

Terrific.

Of course one presumes the manifolds aren't still attached to the car........

[GeorgeC]

I'm told the test is very complex--

Remove the manifold and fill them with water (you need to block up the holes that are meant to be there BTW), if you get wet feet - they are leaking.

George

[simpo one]

Mmm, sounds like a good way to clock up a £200 labour bill only to be told 'No they were fine Sir. Although, thinknig about it, I suppose the garage would rather claim a succesful search and say 'Yes sir, shot to bits, fixed new ones, only £600 all in'.

And all this whether they were OK or not!

[Ballistic Banana]

couldnt u take them to a radiator comp and ask them to pressure test them 4 ya.

Just an idea, Im sure if i took them to my local Rad comp they would give it a go.

Simon

[simpo one]

Perhaps you could rub them with soapy water and look for bubbles, like tyres?

God this is getting ridiculous!

[heliox]

Your local welding shop (eg BOC) will have an assortment of NDT (non destructive testing) crack detection sprays, usually come in 2 cans ,a dye penetrant and a developer.Very easy to use, spray on the dye-penetrant to the area you suspect to have the fault/crack wipe and leave to dry, then spray on the developer and wait to dry.Any faults will be clearly visible at this point.
Costs around £10 for the kit

heliox