So i finally finished some repair and cleanup work in my engine today. I started on it monday.

I fixed some vacume leaks and replaced the header gaskets and the collecter gaskets.

When i started my car, i saw smoke coming off of parts of the headers and where the gaskets are.

So my question is...is this normal after replacing gaskets, might it be body oil on the headers or the new gaskets setting, or is it not normal?

-Thanks

 

If it goes away, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Normal

If it lasts more than the first warm up then look into it

 

Yep, it went away after first warm up

I dont know if it is just me, but it seems like im getting better throttle response after the repairs, lol

 

Any engine will run better at peak efficiency. An exhaust leak robs more power than youd think

 

and the vacuum leak will kill performance.

 

I know vacume leaks usually are distinguished by a hissing or whistling sound, but could a distinct ticking sound also be a vacume leak?

I cant tell wheres its coming from either but its somewhat loud

 

Ticking is generally valvetrain or exhaust leak

 

im going to have to look into that tomarrow then, because i thought i had it all covered :/

 

Or I know on some engines, like mine (V6) the injectors make a ticking sound

 

You can generally search for a vacuum leak by spraying carb cleaner around the vacuum fittings, carb base, tbi base, etc and if there is a leak then your idle should rise quickly and then drop down again. The ticking can be an injector as well as an exhaust leak. It can be an elusive beast to track down sometimes. Good luck!
Craig

 

i might have to go pick up some car cleaner saturday and check

and begin the search for the source of the ticking :/

 

just a quick question, was it hard to replace the header gasket on the passenger side?? I still have all the ac/emission crap in my car and it looks like im gonna have a rough time gettin the passenger gasket out and the new one in

 

Stock manifolds dont have a gasket. A leak there is generally a broken bolt at the y-pipe, blown out doughnut, cracked manifold, or sheared manifold bolt

 

I took a little longer for me to unbolt the header from the passenger side because it is a little hard to get to the bolt on the back of the engine and the one under the bracket that holds the smog pump. There may be easier quicker ways to do it, but it probably took me at least 30 min to get the 2 bolts of

 

haha well i started taking apart the driver side manifold, then halfway through i decided the take out my ac condensor. I got most of the ac stuff out now so tomoro il go back and finish taking off both manifolds. hopefully itll make things easier.