I THINK it's an exhaust leak...but not sure...

[navyblue2000]

I'm still fairly new to the DSM game, I've got a itty bitty problem that I'm not too sure about. I'm not too familiar with turbo charged engines, the way the exhaust works (it's not an exhaust pulse, but a stream after the DP, right?)...

Anyhow, I had developed what sounded like an exhaust leak. It was fairly quiet though, only really noticed it when the turbo spooled or when letting out of the gas when not in OD (A/T btw). Anyhow, I went to pass somoene on the highway the other night and that little leak seems like a big hole.

Here's where it gets wierd. It sounds like a cessna at idle. Start the car, the ENTIRE car literally vibrates until the spark kicks the engine over. Drive it around at probably 25% throttle, sounds fine. But when you are barely in it, or accelerating, it sounds like a mix of a freight train and an A-10. Oddly enough, if the defrost is on, or the lights are on, the noise is amplified a little bit - no doubt this is the motor working just a little harder to power those things, thusly making the leak more pronounced? I listened to the top of the valve cover to see if anything was ticking in there, everything sounds fine.

Part that leaves me scared: I had my oil changed (did a tranny flush/fill, so I figured while it was at the shop.... since it was like 20* all last week...), and they said I had a leak and was 1.5 quarts low I hope htere's nothing ticking/knocking in there...

any suggestions are appreciated...thanks!

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

So Have you looked for leaks yet?
Start the car and feel your way down the exhayst system and feel for exhaust blowing out. Check your manifold bolts and make sure their tight, look for carbon buildup around there and other areas it could be leaking.

Have you had your car since the previous oil change? Is there any oil on the ground after parking it? Does it smoke when your driving it? How long did it take to run through 1.5 qts?