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Ignoring Cracked Exhaust Manifold

knucii

knucii

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Location
Nottingham
Car
'05 i-cdti
Hey guys!

Unfortunately the time has come for my manifold as well. I first started smelling the fumes in the cabin perhaps a month ago. By now, however, I have realised that I can bypass this problem completely by circulating the air within the cabin as opposed to blowing in fresh air from the outside. If I do this, I can smell no fumes at all (of course having windows open is also not an option, at least in city traffic, although I never have them open anyway). So my question is if anything else can go wrong if I keep ignoring the cracked exhaust manifold? My plan would be to do this for next 6-12 months.

Thanks!
 
I've been doing exactly this for over 2 years! I only notice a problem when cold, so as long as I drive straight off then it isn't an issue. Doesn't seem to affect performance or economy.

My biggest concern is if it got noticed during the MoT test, so I get the engine nice and hot beforehand. It's not been mentioned yet, but if they did spot it then I suspect it would fail.
 
Shouldn't your biggest concern be the carbon monoxide poisoning of you and your passengers?
 
It will affect the performance of the car, you will lost the power slightly I think..get that sorted if I was you..
 
Depending on how bad it is, it does affect economy and causes the car to over fuel. I've seen this when I've logged Accords and Civics with cracked manifolds, and the injector duration is nearly always out by around 2mg from target.

Longer term I expect it will damage your turbo as it's having to work harder to compensate for the loss in pressure within the system.. and of course the smell and noise will become unbearable.

Jon - is yours definitely a cracked manifold and not something like a leaking injector or separate exhaust leak? I only ask as in my experience they always tend to get worse to the point where they are unbearable.
 
F6HAD said:
Depending on how bad it is, it does affect economy and causes the car to over fuel. I've seen this when I've logged Accords and Civics with cracked manifolds, and the injector duration is nearly always out by around 2mg from target.

Longer term I expect it will damage your turbo as it's having to work harder to compensate for the loss in pressure within the system.. and of course the smell and noise will become unbearable.

Jon - is yours definitely a cracked manifold and not something like a leaking injector or separate exhaust leak? I only ask as in my experience they always tend to get worse to the point where they are unbearable.
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Definitely not an injector... over the last couple of years I've had the engine cover off and would have seen the diesel leakage. I think it probably has got slightly worse over time, but the fumes still aren't noticeable when warm (ticking over, at least). Exhaust fumes are visible from the rear of the engine at cold start-up for a few seconds. I've not removed the manifold heat shield to have a proper look at exactly where the crack might be, but (using a remote viewing tool) there are soot marks visible at the edges of the heatshield, so I'm pretty sure it's the manifold. Maybe it still might get worse, but for now I can't justify the cost of repairing what is repidly becoming an old, high-mileage car of low value.
 
Thanks for your replies! I haven't noticed any change in fuel economy or the noise to be honest, but I think you are right, I should get it fixed up... I would probably would not be able to sell the car with the cracked exhaust anyway!

I will try to find a used or reconditioned exhaust manifold and see if some local garage could fit it... is there a lot of manual labor involved?

I have also had some clutch slip and that should be replaced sometime too. Do you think it would make sense to try to combine the clutch and manifold change to be done at the same time?
 
If the funds are there then I would get these issues done tbo.
If you keep on top of things its less out of your pocket over time
 
I have this problem, but I only smell it on cold start-up, once I drive I don't smell anything. I took it down to the same Honda garage twice over a 6 month period, they couldn't find anything. It was a lot worse before the remap. 7 year warranty runs out soon. Maybe a visit to Holdcroft is in order.
 
TheJamMod said:
I have this problem, but I only smell it on cold start-up, once I drive I don't smell anything. I took it down to the same Honda garage twice over a 6 month period, they couldn't find anything. It was a lot worse before the remap. 7 year warranty runs out soon. Maybe a visit to Holdcroft is in order.
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Get down to the dealer BEFORE the 7 years is out. Honda are refusing mine as the car is over 7 years old, but well under the 125K extended warranty.

Pretty annoyed with Honda UK. They don't seem to grasp that fatigue failure of the manifold is not time related at all, but based upon the number of times an engine heats up and cools down.

:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
I ***ume they are made from grey cast iron . I can weld that , a few dissimilar trodes , pre-heat , controlled cool down ... I see no major issues unless the carbon content of the cast is really high in them .
 
Had mine welded last week. Some lads in a Bradford based garage did a really good job. It was a recommendation from Fahad and honestly the car sounds totally different. My car is 8 years old now so out of warranty.

If you can get to Bradford get it done from them
 
Dumbledoor said:
Get down to the dealer BEFORE the 7 years is out. Honda are refusing mine as the car is over 7 years old, but well under the 125K extended warranty.

Pretty annoyed with Honda UK. They don't seem to grasp that fatigue failure of the manifold is not time related at all, but based upon the number of times an engine heats up and cools down.

:mad: :mad: :mad:
Click to expand...

I'm out of the warranty period now. I can live with it for a while.
 
TheJamMod said:
I'm out of the warranty period now. I can live with it for a while.
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You'll find that it can mess with the fueling of the car as you are bringing in additonal air. So this could mean you use more fuel
 
just seen this kit on ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CIVIC-UFO-ACCORD-CR-F-FR-V-2-2i-CTDI-2002-2011-NEW-EXHAUST-MANIFOLD-/200975735049?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ecb165909

not sure whether its a good job or not?
 
Wow - great find there! Looks like someone has spotted the business opportunity, and good on them for doing it.

Perfect feedback and everything you need, I bet it's a good kit actually.
 
TypeR said:
You'll find that it can mess with the fueling of the car as you are bringing in additonal air. So this could mean you use more fuel
Click to expand...

I haven't notice a big issue with the fueling; on the motorway it has been fine with the mpg. Sure, I need to get it done and just seen the kit on ebay. I might purchase the kit and get my local garage to do it at some point.
 
Hi bought that kit about 2 weeks ago
Good bit of kit
Genuine honda gaskets and studs and nuts
Only thing I had to do was modify the heat sheild slightly
Just a pain to fit as theres no room!!!!?
:)
 
Cool keep us posted and pics would be great ;)
 
Slight issue on the fitting as the car has been front ended so waiting on body shop to confirm the costs to see if insurance will fix - looks like a bonnet, bumper and radiator as a min. not sure how Honda high Honda parts prices are....
 
Oh no :( that's awful man.
 
Oh bugger!!

Stick it in the sale section, someone will have it mate.
 
I can return it less courier costs after I explained what had happened so unless less someone wants it i'll do that.

will stick it in the for sale initially to see
 
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