Dodge 440 exhaust problem April 03, 2006, 09:47:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64973Help! Smokey has an exhaust leak somewhere that causes the cabin to fill with very gasoline-rich fumes. She's a 78 Dodge 440 engine with new exhaust pipes and I'm an engine moron. I found a truck/RV repair shop that says they'll check her out and give me an estimate but, it would be very helpful, as a non-mechanical female, to know the range of possibilities so I don't seem quite as dumb as I am. Any and all suggestions/ideas will be much appreciated. PS The bakery tips were great but I guess this issue is a little more important (though that was way more fun).Susan, 1979 22 ft. TB "Smokey"
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Dodge 440 exhaust problem Reply #1 – April 03, 2006, 10:18:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64975Hi Susan, You didn't say if the leak was accompanied with a putt putt or a fitt fitt fitt sound. Like every thing else it depends. If the leak occurred soon after the repair you might get lucky and the system may just need a little tightening. Not too expensive. Or if there is one of the above mentioned sounds it could be one of the following: a bad gasket between the manifold and the new exhaust pipe, it shouldn't be if the repair was done correctly, but possible, still not too expensive. A bad gasket between the exhaust manifold and the engine block. The gasket is cheap, but getting to it is a job. Or the worst case, a crack in the manifold its self. This costs as much as replacing the gasket plus the cost of a new manifold. I don't know if there is a history of Dodge manifold problems, but I know where Chevy manifolds crack. Gook luck. Gene
Re: Dodge 440 exhaust problem Reply #2 – April 03, 2006, 11:02:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64979Quote Hi Susan, You didn't say if the leak was accompanied with a putt putt or a fitt fitt fitt sound.Thanks, Gene. I should have added that there's no putt-putt or pfft-pfft ticking sound that I can hear. I read the archive posts and not much help there either. But I did find previous owner's receipts that the collector gaskets were recently replaced and, at the same time an entry that reads, "extend ext to out side of truck," which sounds with the parts, like an extension on the exhaust pipes.My regular mechanic who did the rear brakes kept referring to the manifold as "headers". Is it possible that the manifolds were replaced with headers or was he just using the wrong word? You see how much I don't know about mechanical things? I'm starting my online research now so I won't seem quite so gullible. It also looks like prior to the collector gaskets, he replaced a bunch of exhaust clamps and perhaps 2 mufflers. Tomorrow I'll go listen and look myself more carefully. And hope for a VERY minor problem.Susan, 1979 22 ft. TB, "Smokey"
Re: Dodge 440 exhaust problem Reply #3 – April 04, 2006, 12:03:55 am Yahoo Message Number: 64984QuoteHelp! Smokey has an exhaust leak somewhere that causes the cabin to fill with very gasoline-rich fumes. She's a 78 Dodge 440 engine with new exhaust pipes and I'm an engine moron. I found a truck/RV repair The smell of gasoline fumes is very unlikely to come from the exhaust. In addition, exhaust leaks almost always are accompanied by noise, such as a metallic tapping or 'blatt' sound. Most likely you have either a fuel supply leak around the engine or a leaky carburetor float bowl. The fumes will readily come up around the hood and into the cowl vent intake to the cab.Steve
Re: Dodge 440 exhaust problem Reply #4 – April 04, 2006, 11:32:00 am Yahoo Message Number: 64996"Most likely you have either a fuel supply leak around the engine" A fuel leak equals a potential engine fire. Better get that fixed ASAP--and don't drive too far to do it!Andy Baird Bisbee, AZ
Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Dodge 440 exhaust problem Reply #5 – April 06, 2006, 01:52:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 65064A very common failure in those days was a diaphragm failure in the mechanical fuel pump. But if it smells like gas it needs to be fixed fast. A rusted thru gas tank wouldn't be out of the question. If the smell dissipates over time when the unit isn't being ran it is likely in the fuel lines, fuel pump or carburetor.If it always smells it is likely in the tank itself.Good luck.. I doubt if it is an exhaust leak if it smells like gas it is more likely a gasoline leak.Good Luck Garry
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Topic: Dodge 440 exhaust problem (Read 2 times)
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