Checking for exhaust leaks

[PitbullRescuer]

I have some pin holes in the muffler that I can see and I think the gasket around the rear O2 sensor might be shot too. Is there any easy way to spot exhaust leaks?

Hear me out. When I Seafoamed it, it poured smoke out of the exhaust so I'm assuming it would also have poured out of the leaks and made them easy to spot. I don't want to Seafoam it again becuase it has new plugs and a new front O2 sensor in it, Seafoam is rough on them. But is there something else I can put in it to make it smoke long enough to spot any other leaks without fouling my new plugs or O2 sensor?

 

[HCurphy]

What worked for me was:
Take a piece of white copy paper, hold it right next to the suspected leaks. Like as close as you can without physically touching any exhaust. Hold the paper there for ~1 minute. If you have exhaust gasses leaking to any great extent it will discolor the paper. (turns it brown-ish) If the leaks are small enough it may take a little longer to discolor the paper. Also, this works best with hot exhaust. So, do it after a drive. (Careful-that **** get HOT )

Good luck to you, buddy. You'll figure out that milage eventually.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

What worked for me was:
Take a piece of white copy paper, hold it right next to the suspected leaks. Like as close as you can without physically touching any exhaust. Hold the paper there for ~1 minute. If you have exhaust gasses leaking to any great extent it will discolor the paper. (turns it brown-ish) If the leaks are small enough it may take a little longer to discolor the paper. Also, this works best with hot exhaust. So, do it after a drive. (Careful-that **** get HOT )

Good luck to you, buddy. You'll figure out that milage eventually.

Thanks man. Thats exactly my concern. For 15 MPG I could be driving a V8 4th Gen. Not that I want to but for a truck that isn't exactly powerful, 15 MPG sucks.

 

[HCurphy]

yeah. I hear ya' man. I almost feel the same way and I get decent milage for the 4Runner.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Sounds like your set up is almost identical to mine except your tires are one size taller.

I just ordered a Cherry Bomb Vortex 88101 for it to replace the muffler. Going to pick up an O2 sensor gasket and two new nuts for the O2 sensor (they're rusted like a MF'er) and hope for the best. The muffler is the only visible leak I can see, figure the gasket can't hurt, it looks rough at best. Fingers crossed.

 

[A.Wilson013]

The Dos Equis man would hire a homeless man to crawl under his 4Runner with no eye protection and slowly inspect the exhaust system visually from 2-3" away. When his eyes start to burn, he knows he has found a leak.

I apologize for the post. I was going to say Seafoam, but you're not down for that.

FWIW, I have seafoamed many times... Never changed plugs or o2's after... Never had a problem.

When I say many times I mean 4-5 times on 4-5 different makes/models...

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Thanks Wilson. I'm not dead set against it, I just don't want to foul the plugs or anything just for the sake of chasing exhaust leaks. If it won't, I'm all for Seafoaming it again.

 

[cfranck1]

Take a rag or 2 and bunch it into your palm and push your hand with the rags against the tailpipe to block the flow of exhaust while running. You might have to push a little to seal
the best you can. If the truck is cold you might be able to get away with your bare hands to make a better seal at the tailpipe, but a hot exhaust always use a rag or 2..

While doing that have someone get under the truck and have them try to hear where the leak is coming from. Usually will hear the exhaust rushing out of the holes if there is any.

Might have to take your hand off and on the exhaust a few times to make sure you find the leak.
Found many leaks that way.

 

[NickTea]

You could find someone with a smoke machine and blow it up the pipe.