So my "new to me" Suburban has a leaky exhaust manifold gasket in the passenger side. It doesn't look like a terrible job but before I tackle it what should I know? What should I buy? One shop quoted me $175 labor to replace the gasket while another quoted me $90 (neither included parts which I'd provide).
Other than the leak the engine sounds good but it certainly isn't a "revvy" motor, would getting a set of shorty headers be a worthwhile way to spend my moneys? It'd be nice to get better MPGs more than power but they often go hand in hand.
Is the leak caused by a manifold bolt with a missing head? That's pretty common. Generally in that case i pull manifold, extract broken bolt, hose factory metal gasket with copper gasket spray and put it back together with new bolts.
for $90 i'd let someone else do it
I wouldn't touch that job for $175 either, pay the man and pick it up done.
Patrick said:
Is the leak caused by a manifold bolt with a missing head? That's pretty common. Generally in that case i pull manifold, extract broken bolt, hose factory metal gasket with copper gasket spray and put it back together with new bolts.
for $90 i'd let someone else do it
Got home today and the weather was decent so I decided to take a closer look. It's the last bolt (closest to the firewall) that's missing/broken. In a kind and just world it's just missing but currently very hot to probe how deep the hole goes.
i assume that even if it is missing, the blowby has damaged the gasket too much to just replace the bolt?
The bolt isn't missing, its broken off in the head. The heat cycling of the manifold bends the bolts back and forth, eventually breaking them. We always install new gaskets and all the bolts with OE parts. We usually replace the nuts on the pipe flange as well. The manifolds will warp quite a bit sometimes
You will have to extract the bolt remains from the head. Its usually fairly easy if you have a clue about such things.
In reply to Streetwiseguy :
It's missing. Weirdly enough I know but probing the bolt hole it's 1.5 inches deep. Parts arriving tomorrow to fix the leak.
No suggestions or advice regarding staying with stock manifolds vs headers?
Is it one of the corner bolts? If so, they make a bolt on clamp that works great. Installed one 3 years ago. No issues in 65K miles.
plain92
New Reader
11/10/17 7:49 p.m.
I'm not sure if there's a GM specific video but this channel has some good videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_d9oVPjb4
Bought a full set of collector gaskets, collector bolts, manifold bolts, and one manifold gasket (prepare for the worst and all that). Nice weather---waiting on Amazon. Parts arrive-----weather turns to crap, cold and rainy. Today I got home at 4:45, chased out the hole with a tap, inserted new bolt and tightened. Done and test driven by 5:30 and most of that time was hunting for tools. Test drove and it's all sealed up!!! Clean living is finally paying off.
Jere Ky All Road what year is this 'Burb?
You need to buy a lottery ticket, dude. Those bolts are NEVER just missing.
In reply to 759NRNG : 2004 3/4 ton quadrasteer 6.0
I always expect the worse on exhaust bolts. Missing ones are alot better then broken ones!
