# Exhaust question **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** van, ford\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127 "2009-09-25T13:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/1 "2009-09-25T13:41:40Z")
My '94 Econline van has had a manifold leak for a while (almost a year). It’s too costly a repair for a work van so the noise doesn’t bother me. Recently, it has begun to sputter pretty bad while accelerating and I am wondering if a leaky manifold would cause performance problems. What do you guys think? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/2 "2009-09-25T13:52:11Z")
An exhaust leak bypasses the O2 sensor(s) and is a safety hazard. Over time, the leak can cause erosion of the mating surfaces. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/3 "2009-09-25T14:00:42Z")
…and could bypassing the O2 sensor cause sputtering? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/4 "2009-09-25T15:46:04Z")
Yes. It could an inaccurate reading to be sent to the ECU. But the vehicle is 15 years old. There are moore likely causes of sputtering that should be checked out before making this assumption. One suggestion. If the leak can be accessed, there are muffler repair materials available in the parts stores that can successfully withstand high temperatures and may be a good plaster repair for the leak. I’m not suggesting that this is as good as a replacement, but it’s better than doing nothing. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/5 "2009-09-25T18:37:10Z")
A manifold leak can expose the exhaust valves to excessive fresh air and oxygen, causing the valves to erode. A compression test will show this. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/6 "2009-09-25T18:56:35Z")
Will eroding valves cause sputtering? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/7 "2009-09-25T19:14:07Z")
Yup. Anything that causes erratic ability of the cylinders to hold compression will cause erratic operation. An intake manifold leak would also affect the proper metering of fuel to the cylinders, as well as affect manifold vacuum, a variable in the formula that he ECU uses to meter fuel. This would definitely cause sputtering. Testing for this can be done with a vacuum gage. Any Haynes manual or the instructions for the gage itself will provide instructions. Basically the needle wobbling at idle is a dead givaway. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/8 "2009-09-25T19:56:28Z")
An exhaust leak is a safety issue because the exhaust contains carbon monoxide. If you are going to continue to drive this vehicle, take a tip from the dogs–leave the window down and drive with your head out the window. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/9 "2009-09-28T20:46:46Z")
That’s just it. The speedometer doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/10 "2009-09-28T20:48:22Z")
…or are you talking about a wobbling vacuum gauge needle? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-question/37127/11 "2009-09-28T23:16:06Z")
“or are you talking about a wobbling vacuum gauge needle?” Yes.