Exhaust Leak

[tom_secret1998]

Hello there,

My friend of mine has a 73 Super Beetle with a custom Header. Recently his car start to backfire when he was releasing the gas, for me the answer was an exhaust gasket that had a leak somewhere at the head exit.

He ask if he can still drive it and wait for a new set of metal gasket or should it wait to prevent damage?

[mikedjames]

Only be worried if the muffler box is very rusty. In which case they may be needing a new muffler along with the gaskets.

Sometimes all that is wrong is that the exhaust stud nuts need tightening..

Over here we can buy a fibre reinforced paste that can be used to re seal exhaust gaskets that start leaking, or you can cover cracks with it to get you home.
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[oprn]

An exhaust leak will not damage the engine but it might burn something close by... wires, hoses, paint etc.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!