Volvo Owners Club Forum - View Single Post - Engine: 2.3 F/Inj B23E/B230F:

Othen · Oct 25th, 2022, 06:25

Good morn,

You may be over thinking this one a bit.

If an exhaust gasket is leaking you will be able to feel it - if there isn't enough access to get your hand in around the where the manifold meets the head then use a little streamer of tissue paper on the end of a stick (maybe disable the fan it it is too breezy). You can do the same to check the joint where the manifold meets the downpipe. Check along the manifold casting as well - sometimes they crack. The gas in the exhaust is hot and under a lot of pressure as it exits the head, so even a small leak will show up straight away with this old fashioned method. This is an older (B23) motor - but you will get the idea:

If the gaskets are leaking then changing them isn't hard. Loosen the exhaust pipe mounting to give some slack and undo the 8 nuts. Some of the studs will probably come out at the same time so it isn't a bad idea to change them whilst you are at it. That will allow you sufficient clearance to pull the manifold out and remove the gaskets, clean up the surfaces and fit new ones.

It is probably a good idea to change the triangular gasket where the manifold meets the downpipe at the same time because you will probably have to loosen it to get enough clearance. This is a bit fiddly - the three nuts (15mm AF I think) are accessed from underneath with a really long socket extension. Remember to put some exhaust paste on that one.

The diagnosis takes 10 minutes, the repair (if you need it) an hour or two. You won't need any computers.

Good fortune,

Alan

PS. Before you do any of the above just check the 8 exhaust manifold nuts and the 3 that secure the downpipe are tight - I have known them to slacken off a little. Always do the simple and cheap things first.

Oct 25th, 2022, 06:25	#2
Othen Premier Member Last Online: Today 08:33 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Skeg Vegas	Good morn, You may be over thinking this one a bit. If an exhaust gasket is leaking you will be able to feel it - if there isn't enough access to get your hand in around the where the manifold meets the head then use a little streamer of tissue paper on the end of a stick (maybe disable the fan it it is too breezy). You can do the same to check the joint where the manifold meets the downpipe. Check along the manifold casting as well - sometimes they crack. The gas in the exhaust is hot and under a lot of pressure as it exits the head, so even a small leak will show up straight away with this old fashioned method. This is an older (B23) motor - but you will get the idea: If the gaskets are leaking then changing them isn't hard. Loosen the exhaust pipe mounting to give some slack and undo the 8 nuts. Some of the studs will probably come out at the same time so it isn't a bad idea to change them whilst you are at it. That will allow you sufficient clearance to pull the manifold out and remove the gaskets, clean up the surfaces and fit new ones. It is probably a good idea to change the triangular gasket where the manifold meets the downpipe at the same time because you will probably have to loosen it to get enough clearance. This is a bit fiddly - the three nuts (15mm AF I think) are accessed from underneath with a really long socket extension. Remember to put some exhaust paste on that one. The diagnosis takes 10 minutes, the repair (if you need it) an hour or two. You won't need any computers. Good fortune, Alan PS. Before you do any of the above just check the 8 exhaust manifold nuts and the 3 that secure the downpipe are tight - I have known them to slacken off a little. Always do the simple and cheap things first. __________________ ... another lovely day in paradise. Last edited by Othen; Oct 25th, 2022 at 06:52. Reason: Correction.