Automotive advice from The Under the Hood® Show
Dear Motor Medics,
I am driving a 2005 Dodge mega cab truck with the 5.7 gasoline engine. Over the past year it has developed an exhaust leak.
The leak started as a chirp that was only noticeable when cold and it progressed into a loud noise that now is audible all the time. I have had it in for an estimate and two shops have given me two quite different estimates which include replacing both exhaust manifolds with new parts.
These shops are so far apart, I just do not know where to take it. One is almost $900 less than the other. Is there any advice you can offer me?
Dave in Wheaton, Minnesota
You are not alone Dave. Exhaust leakage on trucks has been an issue for many years. When a truck has pulled loads, they get the exhaust extremely hot which warps the manifolds. Even trucks which do not see a lot of pulling can eventually warp.
When the warpage occurs, the rusted exhaust manifold hardware often breaks and this is where the extra money comes in. Getting the broken bolts out of the cylinder heads can be exceedingly difficult. Sometimes they simply screw out but often they require welding nuts to them for extraction or drilling and taping to remove them.
In the worst cases, the head has to come off which is even more. Always get an estimate which includes all possible outcomes, so you are not left surprised.
Take care,
The Motor Medics
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