[activelydying]

my jeep isn't sounding that good right now. i'm thinking it may be the headers. it's a 99 4.0, and from what i've read in the past the headers tend to leak. question one: how do i find out if the header is leaking. question two: is there that much of a difference between stainless steel and just steel headers besides weight?

 

[Triple88a]

when it comes to headers i would spend the 50-100 extra bucks to get stainless. Steel will rust in just few hours while stainless will stay looking new for quite long. The more they stay new the better you are not running into problems.

As finding the leak goes one. Open the hood and try to listen for some what loud banging/crankling. Usually the clanking will be slow paste. 1 every 2 crankshaft revolutions.

 

[activelydying]

it's not really clanking. it just seems to be louder then before. i thought at first it was the muffler, so i switched that but the problems remains. wouldn't it be hissing or something rather then clanking. it also seems to be a little more noticable when i first start the jeep in the mornings.

 

[Moab Man]

An exhaust leak up in the header/exhaust manifold will have a bit of popping sound. As the metal heats and expands it tends to close up and reduce or stop popping.

 

[Triple88a]

yep popping is better word to describe it. If it pops slowly its gotta be by the cylinders if it pops continuesly its not and its more like a main joint or something in that area.

This is something similar. (just not that bad but you can tell what i mean by slower) http://youtube.com/watch?v=ljJrpr3d9gs

 

[1BLKJP]

AD, are you still running the stock manifold? If so then check the tube where all of the tubes come together (The Collector), this is where the manifolds are notorious for cracking. If so just replace with one that has the expansion joints. Headers don't provide enough of a benefit to how much they cost.

 

[activelydying]

yup, still got the stock manifold. so would i be replacing the collector or the manifold?

 

[AzTJ]

the whole thing actually, the collector is where the 2 parts of the manifold come together and join up the the rest of the exhuast system.

That is the location of the collector.

 

[activelydying]

isn't that a header?

 

[AzTJ]

both are - 2 diff versions. bottom is a solid stainless steel, and top one has flex pipes built in at cyls 1 and 6. Reason for the flex pipes is to reduce stress on the rest of the header to reduce or remove the risk of cracking.