Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Weird exhaust problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 5, 2011 | 11:44 PM
  #1  
6CylBill's Avatar
6CylBill
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Weird exhaust problem

Hey guys, got a weird issue with my exhaust.

Been running a Flowmaster for a while but I got tired of the drone (it was getting worse). I swapped the Flow out for a 28'' Thrush glasspack. Took care of the drone, but now the truck sounds like utter crap. I've had a glasspack on the truck before and it sounded good, so why does now the truck sound horrible? It doesn't even have a decent idle.

Before the Flowmaster, when I had a glasspack, I had cats. My cat is gutted so by all rights my truck should sound better. I do have a minor exhaust leak but didn't think that would cause this.

Any ideas anyone? I'm really scratching my head on this one. I'm not about sounding like some punk kid or anything but I don't want my truck to sound like junk.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2011 | 11:51 PM
  #2  
blkF250HD's Avatar
blkF250HD
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 1
From: Hartland, WI
Sounds like you need some more absorption. Try a Magnaflow out and see how it sounds. They're a straight thru design, however they have heavy cases and much more packing than a glasspack. Larger case will lower the tone and smooth it out.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2011 | 11:58 PM
  #3  
6CylBill's Avatar
6CylBill
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Hello Brother, thanks for your time. I've heard a 300 on youtube with nothing but a glasspack like I have and the truck sounded great.

Do you think a minor exhaust leak would cause this phenominon?

I'm truly stumped. The truck should sound good with no cats.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2011 | 12:38 AM
  #4  
SideWinder4.9l's Avatar
SideWinder4.9l
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by 6CylBill
Hello Brother, thanks for your time. I've heard a 300 on youtube with nothing but a glasspack like I have and the truck sounded great.

Do you think a minor exhaust leak would cause this phenominon?

I'm truly stumped. The truck should sound good with no cats.
Bill, mine took a random turn.....Mine has the cats, etc.....

And has a Dynomax muffler.....Well, apparently the valve tore up.....its a LOT deeper now...

Idk what the deal was...But now, it sounds
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2011 | 07:14 PM
  #5  
TexasGuy001's Avatar
TexasGuy001
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
I'm glad to see you ditched the Blowmaster Bill.

Before did you just have the front cat or both cats?
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2011 | 09:16 PM
  #6  
octaneforce's Avatar
octaneforce
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
wheres your exhaust leak? ive had minor exhaust leaks make my truck sound like a worn out camry
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2011 | 11:46 AM
  #7  
6CylBill's Avatar
6CylBill
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't wrote sooner, where I live the internet truly blows chunks. I'll be lucky to get this post to go through.

Ty, I had the front resonator and a highflow cat. Now I just have the resonator (or whatever it is) and a glasspack.

I'm not sure where my leak is. I believe it may be coming from the cat / resonator thingie. If it's a cat it's supposed to be gutted but I didn't do the work myself so I'm not sure.

The truck does sound better now that I've put under 200 miles on the glasspack, but the truck should still sound much better than it does currently. If you look on youtube of a 300 with no cats and a glasspack it sounds really good.

I know, it's a weird one, but if your truck sounded like a Camry with an exhaust leak then maybe that's my issue also. Shouldn't I be able to see any steam in the cold if I have an exhaust leak???

Thanks guys!
 
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2011 | 04:29 PM
  #8  
octaneforce's Avatar
octaneforce
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
put your foot over the exhaust and listen for where the exhaust leak is. it will hiss
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 11, 2011 | 11:50 AM
  #9  
Hunt89's Avatar
Hunt89
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Brazoria, Texas
You can also squirt a little transmission fluid in the intake and rev the motor and it will blow white smoke out for a little bit. Thats how I found all of mine lol. If just blows out the end then most likely there isnt a leak or there might be just a pin hole leak and you can't see the smoke coming out.
 
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2011 | 05:38 PM
  #10  
octaneforce's Avatar
octaneforce
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: long island
hunt has a good idea. give that a shot AND put your foot over the exhaust while looking for smoke lol. i always check for exhaust leaks when i seafoam my truck since the smoke is so noticeable.
 
Reply
Old Nov 11, 2011 | 07:09 PM
  #11  
jr4racing56's Avatar
jr4racing56
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 6CylBill
Hey guys, got a weird issue with my exhaust.

Been running a Flowmaster for a while but I got tired of the drone (it was getting worse). I swapped the Flow out for a 28'' Thrush glasspack. Took care of the drone, but now the truck sounds like utter crap. I've had a glasspack on the truck before and it sounded good, so why does now the truck sound horrible? It doesn't even have a decent idle.

Before the Flowmaster, when I had a glasspack, I had cats. My cat is gutted so by all rights my truck should sound better. I do have a minor exhaust leak but didn't think that would cause this.

Any ideas anyone? I'm really scratching my head on this one. I'm not about sounding like some punk kid or anything but I don't want my truck to sound like junk.

most of your mufflers over time end up "burning out" for lack of a better term and getting louder and loosing more tone, but its still more than a straight through glasspack.

So before with your cats on your truck they were baffling you down, now your more of a straight pipe no muffle or baffle really.

the leak if at the manifold will be more of a tick, if further back more of a puff, blow. the leak isnt your problem, lack of baffle is. just my .02
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 09:20 AM
  #12  
6CylBill's Avatar
6CylBill
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 4
From: Almost Heaven
Alright, thanks guys.

I think I found the source. I went through my exhaust setup tightening everything up. The muffler was really loose.

I still hear noise coming from my first cat (or around it) but it doesn't seem to stay. It comes and goes.

The glasspack sounds better now. I'm happy with it at the moment. In-cab noise isn't nearly as bad as the flowmaster.
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 09:26 AM
  #13  
SideWinder4.9l's Avatar
SideWinder4.9l
FTE Chapter Leader
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
Club FTE Silver Member

Bill, I'm wondering how it'd sound to simply cut the muffler off the truck, and just go with the cat/resonater for sound....Then the pipe to move the exit back to X position...?
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 09:27 AM
  #14  
Hunt89's Avatar
Hunt89
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Brazoria, Texas
Originally Posted by octaneforce
hunt has a good idea. give that a shot AND put your foot over the exhaust while looking for smoke lol. i always check for exhaust leaks when i seafoam my truck since the smoke is so noticeable.
I will try holding my foot over the exhaust next time . I bet that would help find that little bit of white smoke coming out of the leak!

Originally Posted by jr4racing56
the leak if at the manifold will be more of a tick, if further back more of a puff, blow. the leak isnt your problem, lack of baffle is. just my .02
I'm not trying to high jack the thread. How can you tell the difference between the manifold leak and an engine tick?

My brother has a 99 jeep wrangler with a 4.0 straight six and his intake/exhaust gasket is leaking pretty bad and his exhaust sounds like total ***. Everything is stock on his jeep.
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2011 | 10:05 AM
  #15  
jr4racing56's Avatar
jr4racing56
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Hunt, if it's really loud chances are you'd be able to feel the leak. (air hitting Gloved hand) you can also have a helper plug the exhaust and that should amplify the leak so you know that is what it is and not a engine tick/ knock.

Or you can pull the manifold look it over real good for cracks and replace the gasket. That would be the sure fire way
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:23 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE