Exhaust Leak -- 98 V70 232K NA, FWD, 5spd

Post by **E Showell** » 03 Jun 2012, 09:01

Well, the old girl is starting to sound like a V12 Ferrari. It is obvious I have an exhaust leak somewhere. I'll swing by my mechanic to get a look this coming week. The car has its original exhaust system. I recall my body shop guy saying that whenever he saw an original exhaust replaced, you could count on having to renew the system every 2-3 year thereafter. Anybody have a similar experience? If I need to redo the exhaust system, is there any percentage in going with a genuine Volvo system -- or partial system -- depending on what's required? I know the swedish steel in teh body panels is high in naturally occurring phosphorous and that's why it takes Volvo bodies so long to rust, but does the same apply to exhausts?

Any percentage in going with a stainless system?

Let's hear the opinions.

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Jun 2012, 09:26

There is a good chance the exhaust is just separated at the cat and can be simply and quickly re-welded, very common. $40 and it is good to go for a few more years. I'd swing by a local exhaust shop (not a chain) before a generic mechanic.

If you end up replacing, stainless is a great way to go.

Post by **E Showell** » 03 Jun 2012, 10:05

It is certainly possible that stuff did not get hooked up good and tight after the recent engine swap.

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Jun 2012, 11:07

The flex joint on the downpipe in the engine compartment and the pipe leading into the cat converter are two of the most common failure points on these exhaust systems. Otherwise, they're pretty solid for the most part.

Post by **E Showell** » 03 Jun 2012, 11:15

Yeah -- I'm thinking the pipes may simply have come apart. If you recall, I recently replaced the engine. Maybe things didn't get as tightened up as they should have?

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Jun 2012, 22:21

Engine swap caused the exhaust in mine to break at the cat, presumably due to different strains while I had the engine was out. Well, that and the 15 year old piping. Give a look - it is directly under the driver's seat.

850_GLT_Owner · Post by **850_GLT_Owner** » 04 Jun 2012, 15:29

Sounds like you have a break near the back of the engine. My car was described as sounding like a Ferrari, and I think the break was at the flex pipe or somewhere near it. This is the video I took when trying to find the source of the leak, you can see at one point towards the end there is a break. It was welded and didn't have a problem with it for years.

Post by **E Showell** » 06 Jun 2012, 09:42

Apparently, pipe flange is rusted "on both sides of the pipe" which I took to mean both before and after the CAT. Mechanic says he can put a sleeve over the rusted spots -- c. $18 bucks for a part and c. an hour of his labor +/_. High estimate is $150 tops for the repair, although he did say he won't know for sure what he's got until the stuff comes off and on a prior one, the pipe just crumbled in his hands so system replacement was dictated. He also didn't say how long the repair would hold -- at least several months he thinks.

The cheapskate in me says go with the sleeve, but the pragmatist says it is a stop gap at best and if I have to spend that money anyway, why not put it toward a new system. So options are:

1) sleeve -- cheapest option;

2) aftermarket stainless system -- if so, any recommendations as to brand/style, guarantee, etc. ['m not much of a boy racer and the car isn't a turbo so I'm not looking for a glasspak or resonator. . . ]?;

3) genuines Volvo replacement system from engine back -- I'm guessing that will be fairly pricey $$$.

If I do not go the sleeve route, my mechanic advises that I will need everything from the engine back -- which would include the CAT -- something I understand to be a pricey component given precious metals used to produce.

Any advice from those who have trod this path before?

Post by **E Showell** » 11 Jun 2012, 10:06

My mechanic will attempt to weld a sleeve this week. We'll see how it goes. If I need to replace the entire system any recommendations for direct fit aftermarket CATs?

Also I am looking at the VIVA stainless exhaust if I have to replace pipes. Anybody have experience with same?

I plan to have the car for at least another 5-7 years (or, sad to say in NJ, until someone hits me).

Post by **E Showell** » 15 Jun 2012, 16:12

My local mechanic fixed it by inserting a sleeze and clamping on either side. No welding involved. Said he's fixed a few this way and they seem to work out better then welding. He says there's still a slight leak in the front flex pipe due to age, but it sounds far better than it did before he worked on it.