Lack of power since new exhaust fitted.

[Shitlaptop]

Ive just had a Down pipe fitted...and now van feels like its lost 50% power under load.

Little history about exhaust.

The van was very noisy at 60MPH sounded like engine was tappet/revving very very hard...found after a few weeks that I had a small hole in down pipe,slapped an exhaust bandage on as a temporary measure and much to my surprise the van at 60mph was pretty damn quiet (huge improvement since bandage went on).

Asked a friend to fit down pipe and like a wally I forgot the gaskets...so fitted anyway and drove 80miles home all well...thought id best get new gaskets,so popped into my local Tyre and Exhaust place and got them to fit couple of gaskets (Thought it odd it took the guy about 1.5hrs...only fitted day before so bolts were not seized ) and was charged £30.

Drove the mile or so home through town home....Tonight I start van up and sounds like a metallic noise vibrating like mad...worse on tick over.

Popped the van back and they apologized and tightened what ever it was that was rattling....ive then drove down a 60mph A road and found the van to be very noisy like im revving the guts out of it,and then noticed it is gutless...previous to the garage fitting exhaust,id sit at 60mph and only use the tiniest bit of throttle,fuel economy was fantastic also.

Now im foot to the floor o#under load and feels like its driving with brakes on...gets to 60mph after a while but by Christ its hard work.

Question is how on earth could they have buggered up the power of the van by fitting the down pipe....im pretty damn convinced its them as before it went in the van was quick as feck as had the pump mod done (1.5 turns) and was bloody responsive (Christ them Turbo"s must fly) and was pretty damn quick getting to 60mph.

Now feels like it was before pump mod was done...bag of sh*t that's sluggish and drinks fuel.

This has only happened since exhaust was redone..


Really need some advice/thoughts as im pretty unhappy as just had full service last week and was driving like a dream.

Not sure if this amount of paste is right....


Also sounds like its vibrating on cross member...?

[lewman]

it possibly could be a wrong gasket which is partially blocking the exhaust , has it got a cat on it if so is the gasket before it also covered in sealing paste if so this is not good as lumps of excess paste will enter the cat and block it

[Shitlaptop]

it possibly could be a wrong gasket which is partially blocking the exhaust , has it got a cat on it if so is the gasket before it also covered in sealing paste if so this is not good as lumps of excess paste will enter the cat and block it

I don't believe it has...theres a middle box and back box from memory.

Chap at Kwik fit (yes I know but only buggers open at 6.30pm) said sounds like blocked cat,but I don't think the 2.5Di have cats.

Where he has joined the down pipe to manifold same sort of amount of paste...

Ive a sinking feeling the exhaust firm will say "Nothing we have done pal...cya"...

[matthew2riches]

Why is the paste only looking to be on the bottom part?

No overflow of it above by the looks of it?

[MinorMatt]

looks like too much paste to me!

[awdriver96]

I'd agree with that Matt, in any case if they had done job right with new gasket and bolts it shouldnt need lashings of paste!!!
Just changed mine and no paste needed at all!
I would undo the flanges they have done check if the gasket has fallen down and half blocked the thing up ( seen that many a time) clean all the paste off with a wire brush etc and refit it again, a small smear of paste ( they do small tubes) is all it should need if the flange is a bit rusty and preferably new nuts and bolts ( cant remember the size, old age) and it should be back to normal, hopefully.
mt

[Shitlaptop]

Not sure about the paste above...think he just smeared a shed load on,looks the same up where it joins manifold.

What worries me is the fact he took probably about 90 mins to do it..


Sadly id not have a chance getting it apart..fingers like sausages and two left thumbs,tie shoe laces is my limit...

Would it be a fair comment to say it looks like a poor job...and would it be fair to lay the blame of huge drop in power/response on exhaust fitment...?

[whitemice]

The paste bandit is a joker, probably at least as much of whats on the outside is on the inside nicely expanded with heat and restricting gasflow and could now or soon also be blocking the box/es for a permanent f*** up, UNLIKELY TO BURN OFF AS IT'S MILES FROM THE MANIFOLD. if it was fired up when still goopy then i can imagine nice lumps of the stuff getting into the box/es..TWAT-FIX.

[Shitlaptop]

The paste bandit is a joker, probably at least as much of whats on the outside is on the inside restricting gasflow and could now or soon be also blocking the box/es, UNLIKELY TO BURN OFF AS IT'S MILES FROM THE MANIFOLD. if it was fired up when still goopy then i can imagine nice lumps of the stuff getting into the boxe/es..TWAT-FIX.

I take it I have a good case of saying to exhaust monkey...get it off...get it clean and refit the bugger...

[whitemice]

The paste bandit is a joker, probably at least as much of whats on the outside is on the inside restricting gasflow and could now or soon be also blocking the box/es, UNLIKELY TO BURN OFF AS IT'S MILES FROM THE MANIFOLD. if it was fired up when still goopy then i can imagine nice lumps of the stuff getting into the boxe/es..TWAT-FIX.

I take it I have a good case of saying to exhaust monkey...get it off...get it clean and refit the bugger...

Just get the manager and explain and enquire if he would be happy if someone did this work on his motor. I think the boxes need to be checked for gasflow issues as if you look at cutaway views of boxes you can imagine the issues excess compounds making their way into a lot of designs can create.+ Also if this is the level of skill there then the previous comment about dislodged/incorrect type/incorrectly fitted gaskets is valid also.

RAC are helpful in intermediating this kind of stuff with a freephonecall.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=exhau ... 66&bih=667

[Shitlaptop]

Thank you Whitemice feel happier now speaking to them.

[Shitlaptop]

Pretty much expected..owner shrugged his shoulders and said "dunno mate should be ok"...agreed to strip it and refit..but if paste has been blown down to mid section,its not going to help if they just refit it.

[Shitlaptop]

Haaa the garage owner said its down to cooking oil and can rev it right up.

What a load if bollocks i just said,been running it on oil months...he wont except its only since exhuast was refitted with gaskets yesterday issue started.

So what do i do when he says its fine...and its not...?

[Shitlaptop]

Now reckons its an oil leak cuasing it...lol.

[nick217]

see what legal routes you can take...