If I have a pre turbo exhaust leak..

[PieEyedPiper]

I feel dumb for asking, but I've never dismantled my exhaust manifold/turbo before.

I ran some seasfoam through my car, just a little actually, but it was enough for smoke to pour out from under my manifold heat shield when I gave the car some gas.

Were would this leak be exactly? Is it where the turbo mounts to the mani?
Those 4 nuts ontop of the mani are pretty damn tight, I am having a hard time believing they are loose enough to leak exhaust gases from between the hotside of the turbo and the mani.

Suggestions?

 

[xioca]

Check and see if your exhaust manifold itself has any cracks. Then go and check your manifold to head bolts and see if they are tight also. You might as well check your o2 to downpipe bolts as well. If all seems fine try some more seafoam and have somebody watch where it starts leaking at.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Thanks for the reply.

The leak isn't at the mani to head and there are no cracks in my manifold, and my DP to o2 bolts are as tight as can be.

The smoke comes out from the top of the lower heat shield, I've yet to figure out how to remove it. I've got 4 bolts out but the thing is still attached. It's still possible the leak is at the turbo to mani connection, so I haven't crossed that one off yet.

What other places are left?

 

[xioca]

The lower heat shield is a pain in the ass to get off. Another idea on where it may be leaking is around the o2 sensor bung.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

So true, I can have my transfer case off faster than both heat shields.

The leak is more central than that though, definitely not the o2 bung.
Thanks though.