Two years ago i ordered and installed my own exhaust system in my work truck

[Remodeling Maidiac]

A couple days ago I started to hear an exhaust leak. Today on the way to work I sounded like a damn NASCAR stock car.
Finished my plumbing at work and took off early to try to repair it.
Took a chance it just needed a new donut gasket at the manifold.
Tore it all apart and the old gasket was GONE. Literally no trace of it!

Is it possible I forgot to put it in originally and it took 2 years to leak? Seems improbable right?
Is it more likely that it fell apart and is now in my catalytic converter?

 

[Moonglow]

Asbestos was great for those parts.

 

[1srelluc]

I wish my exhaust system on the F150 would give-up the ghost....The previous owner put a MagnaFlow system on it and I hate the noise it makes but I'm too cheap to replace it.

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Asbestos was great for those parts.

Think that donut is lead is it not?

 

[Moonglow]

Think that donut is lead is it not?

I have not installed one in such a long time I have no idea what they use now.

 

[Moonglow]

I wish my exhaust system on the F150 would give-up the ghost....The previous owner put a MagnaFlow system on it and I hate the noise it makes but I'm too cheap to replace it.

The exhaust is cheap the cost of the Cadillac converter isn't, I have four on mine.

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

I have not installed one in such a long time I have no idea what they use now.

It was similar to this except it wasn't silver

 

[White 6]

A couple days ago I started to hear an exhaust leak. Today on the way to work I sounded like a damn NASCAR stock car.
Finished my plumbing at work and took off early to try to repair it.
Took a chance it just needed a new donut gasket at the manifold.
Tore it all apart and the old gasket was GONE. Literally no trace of it!

Is it possible I forgot to put it in originally and it took 2 years to leak? Seems improbable right?
Is it more likely that it fell apart and is now in my catalytic converter?

More likely in little bits along the road. I doubt you forgot to put it on, also. You don't seam the type.

 

[Rambunctious]

A couple days ago I started to hear an exhaust leak. Today on the way to work I sounded like a damn NASCAR stock car.
Finished my plumbing at work and took off early to try to repair it.
Took a chance it just needed a new donut gasket at the manifold.
Tore it all apart and the old gasket was GONE. Literally no trace of it!

Is it possible I forgot to put it in originally and it took 2 years to leak? Seems improbable right?
Is it more likely that it fell apart and is now in my catalytic converter?

I've had trouble with Chinese made gaskets more times than I can count...now I use copper gaskets made in America screw those cardboard pieces of crap....

 

[lg325]

I agree with White6. If you forgot to put it on you would know it early.

 

[okfine]

A couple days ago I started to hear an exhaust leak. Today on the way to work I sounded like a damn NASCAR stock car.
Finished my plumbing at work and took off early to try to repair it.
Took a chance it just needed a new donut gasket at the manifold.
Tore it all apart and the old gasket was GONE. Literally no trace of it!

Is it possible I forgot to put it in originally and it took 2 years to leak? Seems improbable right?
Is it more likely that it fell apart and is now in my catalytic converter?

Are the motor mounts ok?

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Are the motor mounts ok?

Yup. I do need new control arms tho

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

I've had trouble with Chinese made gaskets more times than I can count...now I use copper gaskets made in America screw those cardboard pieces of crap....

Pretty sure these are steel and lead. Very thick donuts.

 

[Rambunctious]

Pretty sure these are steel and lead. Very thick donuts.

Is it a flange gasket?...

 

[okfine]

Are the motor mounts ok?

Yup. I do need new control arms tho

The reason I ask is if the driver side motor mount is bad it can loosen the exhaust flange.
Especially if it's a "y" pipe. If it has nuts to tighten you can double up on them.

 

[okfine]

Off topic, did you quit smoking?

I'm all in on quitting now. Willpower.

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

The reason I ask is if the driver side motor mount is bad it can loosen the exhaust flange.
Especially if it's a "y" pipe. If it has nuts to tighten you can double up on them.

It is a y. I don't think anything was loose but I was SHOCKED there was no trace of the steel or lead left

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Off topic, did you quit smoking?

I'm all in on quitting now. Willpower.

Yes, not a single puff since that day! A month or more now

 

[okfine]

Yes, not a single puff since that day! A month or more now

Way to go. Two days in cold turkey and wearing a nic patch.

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Way to go. Two days in cold turkey and wearing a nic patch.

My experience with about 3cweeks on the patch.

I tried to do the 3 step system. 2cweeks on each nicotine level.

1.5 weeks on the strongest went fine. Week 2 and beyond was brutal.

Waking up every damn hour of the night. Having CRAZY vivid OVER THE TOP NONSENSICAL dreams.

End of second week git the shakes mid morning and felt "sick" all the time.

Threw away the last half of step 2 and never opened step 3.

Get off that shit as quick as you can. Especially if you get the side effects I had. It took me a couple weeks to get back to normal nights