2004 Chevy Silverado exhaust leak

[cody ryan]

I've been hearing a weird ticking/crackling noise coming from my exhaust lately and and from what I've read it's most likely a exhaust manifold leak. I've checked the entire exhaust and didn't see any holes or broken bolts anywhere so I thought I'd maybe try checking to make sure all the bolts are torque to specs. What exactly should I be torquing them down to? Or does anybody have any other suggestions I should try?

[CamGTP]

Use soapy water to try and find the leak.

 

If you try to tighten the factory exhaust bolts there is good chance you are going to break them. You are better off trying to remove them all and replacing them with new bolts. The most common leaks are at the flange surface that mates to the cylinder head. Then you have the donut gasket on the passenger side y-pipe that can leak.