Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Viral_Jim]

So, I've been away in Holland for two weeks, come back and SWMBO informs me the mig "sounds a bit fuuny". Start up and its making a noise which would be appreciated by the type of chap who frequents McDonald's car parks of a Saturday evening   .

A quick look underneath and its clearly the flexi section that's letting go. So, I could cut it out and weld it up but I lack the kit (and practice) and all the local spanner wielders aren't willing to do anything but fit a new one for me (while relieving me of £250).

I can get the whole section for £90 no bother. BUT on Sunday we're on chauffering duty for the Mother In Law and I can't take it with a blowing exhaust - she's the type who's always moaning about the "old cr*ppy car" and the last thing I need is either a dead MIL or a divorce  . So: my question is, will some self-bonding high temp silicone tape like this buy me two days and 200 miles to get the job done properly, or am I widdling £10 up the wall?

Any thoughts much appreciated

[RobG]

I can get the whole section for £90 no bother.

If it`s not original, don`t bother.

will some self-bonding high temp silicone tape like this buy me two days and 200 miles

If the tape doesn`t flex it`s unlikely. The flexi on the exhaust is there for a reason

[tunnie]

Not sure anything like that would last 200 miles, you could get one of those exhaust repair kits. They come with a gauze thing, putty and stuff, leave it over night to dry that would last better. I slapped that on a 3.2, it lasted quite a while actually, before blowing it all out in a big way at 80mph on the M40   

You are getting a whole cat section for £90? Is that a second hand one?

Your best bet is to really pop the cat section off and take it to an expert, but that won't do for Sunday.

[Lazydocker]

Might do it... They claim it is suitable for exhaust repairs.

But... I would think the temperatures at that point would be outside of the operating temperature for the tape and a potential fire risk

[Kevin Wood]

The last thing you want to do is put an aftermarket cat section on it. Fix the flexi section on the original cat if you possibly can.

I have seen bolt-on flexi sections on Ebay, I'm sure. Fit one of those for the meanwhile and get it welded in place when the opportunity arises?

[Viral_Jim]

Thanks Guys, bogger it . Whats the reason for going genuine on this - are the CAT's no good? Its a Euro car parts one btw £88 "reduced" from £130.

Lazy: I had thought about that, but I think the tape's combustion temp is nearer 500C, from what I've read at least. I think it just fails more quickly outside its operating temp. Out of interest , what sort of tempreature would it be operating at in that section of the exhaust? I know the exhaust gasses at manifiold can be extremely hot, but give steel starts to glow at around 500C (and I've never seen mine glow ) I can't see the operating environment for the tape being that hot.

Edited to add:

For a bolt on section, does anyone know the in/out diameter of the flexi?

Thanks again

[Kevin Wood]

Aftermarket cats are universally sh1te and designed only to last until the next MOT in our experience.

By all means use one as a temporary measure, but keep the original cat section, get someone to weld in a new flexi and keep it for when the aftermarket one fails.

I can't see any sort of temporary repair lasting on the flexi section as the exhaust gases are very hot at this point, and it has to cope with movement too.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

As above my Mr Wood.. If anything like the complaints the V6 cats receive, then they're just not up to the job. Reports of them lasting a year. The general consensus is a 15 year old GM cat is superior to a brand new aftermarket one. Which is good news, really, in that it's kinder to your wallet.

Dare I say it, but if you're literally looking for a bodgy repair to get you through a matter of days then I'd have thought it as easy as some exhaust bandage, with some large jubilee clips/ similar either end to cover over the flexi. I'd probably trust the exhaust bandage more than that tape, but I've never used that tape stuff, so based purely on gut instinct. The bandage will be able to flex, too. 

Admittedly not on a flexi joint, but a mate of mine has an old coke can/something like strapped to his exhaust, and it's 'fine.' Not professional, not pretty, but does the exhaust leak? No. Ooops, it's blowing again, whack another layer round it. Drive off. Sorted.


As Kev says, it's all not going to last very long - but then again, you're just after a quick repair until you can sort something better out. Hope you get sorted soon 

[RobG]

The last thing you want to do is put an aftermarket cat section on it. Fix the flexi section on the original cat if you possibly can.

I have seen bolt-on flexi sections on Ebay, I'm sure. Fit one of those for the meanwhile and get it welded in place when the opportunity arises?

No good for the 2.0/2.2

[Bigron]

OP, are you SURE you don't want a dead MIL? No matter how c r a p p y she thinks your Omega is, it's better than walking and she is getting a free lift; tell her to STFU!
More seriously, have you considered using some of that flue liner that is sort-of flexible? It will be to large in diameter for your job, which is all to the good, since you can cut it longitudinally and overlap the cut sides to suit, then clamp tightly with jubilees?

Ron.

[RobG]

OP, are you SURE you don't want a dead MIL? No matter how c r a p p y she thinks your Omega is, it's better than walking and she is getting a free lift; tell her to STFU!
More seriously, have you considered using some of that flue liner that is sort-of flexible? It will be to large in diameter for your job, which is all to the good, since you can cut it longitudinally and overlap the cut sides to suit, then clamp tightly with jubilees?

Ron.

This shows a new flexi welded in. With the original there`s not much pipe for a jubilee to get decent purchase.

[steve6367]

I going to put on the flak jacket and recommend again:

http://www.cats2u.co.uk/

I've put them on several 2.2's - 2 that I know about since absolutely no problems with MOT or sound. They contain the pre and main CAT. I used the type approved version.

Steve

[Nick W]

I going to put on the flak jacket and recommend again:

http://www.cats2u.co.uk/

I've put them on several 2.2's - 2 that I know about since absolutely no problems with MOT or sound. They contain the pre and main CAT. I used the type approved version.

Steve

I have to agree, there is no way I'd ever use secondhand exhaust parts, and that  includes cats. The £70 one in my N/S system has been there nearly 2 years, and I wish I had replaced the O/S one when fitting the rest of the system a few months afterwards.

[Lazydocker]

I going to put on the flak jacket and recommend again:

http://www.cats2u.co.uk/

I've put them on several 2.2's - 2 that I know about since absolutely no problems with MOT or sound. They contain the pre and main CAT. I used the type approved version.

Steve

I have to agree, there is no way I'd ever use secondhand exhaust parts, and that  includes cats. The £70 one in my N/S system has been there nearly 2 years, and I wish I had replaced the O/S one when fitting the rest of the system a few months afterwards.

They must have improved then... Had some pretty crappy parts from there in the past

But no worse than Walker/Bosal exhausts

[ronnyd]

If your MIL doesn't,t like riding in your "crappy car" you can always suggest that she hires a cab, IF you dare of course