Exhuast Leak only from Cold 1.8T

[hardhitter]

I have an annoying small exhaust leak from cold which goes after a couple of mins driving. It happens even when the car is warm and you start it up and drive away. The manifold to turbo gasket, turbo to cat and cat to downpipe gaskets are all new and the downpipe is new. I've checked the turbo to manifold bolts are tight.

What can it be ? Is there a fair chance the manifold gasket has gone or the manifold nuts are loose ? Can't think of anything else.

This all came about after removing the turno to put a new actuator on.

 

[aragorn]

hmm, i had something similar and it was caused by a snapped stud on the cylinder head.

Mine made an awful farting noise under load as well though once over about 5psi of boost.

Did you use genuine gaskets and bolts when you changed the turbo?

 

[hardhitter]

Yeah, all genuine. It goes after after a few mins driving. I'm just wandering if the manifold gasket has deteriorated.

 

[Chriscooke]

Had a similar problem on an old car which ended up being a cracked exhaust manifold. Guess tubby gasket/mani to head gasket could do similar.

 

[hardhitter]

Cracked exhuast manifold sounds feasible. How common are they for cracking ?