Yesterday, after a routine oil change in my RV-14A, I performed a visual inspection of the firewall forward area. I noticed a light colored powder near the exhaust flange of the #1 cylinder. Upon closer inspection, I found what appeared to be a crack in the weld between the flange and the exhaust pipe. I used a vacuum cleaner to pressurize the exhaust and squirted some soapy water on the area. Sure enough, it leaked.
I removed the exhaust pipe on the #1 cylinder and took it to my mechanic. He thinks he can re-weld the crack which appears to be about 2/3 of the circumference of the pipe.
I’m mainly writing to raise awareness of this issue in case anyone else has a similar yet undiscovered problem. If it wasn’t for the powder around the leak I don’t think I would have noticed it. I’m very thankful I found it before the flange became completely disconnected. This also proves the importance of thorough visual inspection whenever the cowl is removed.
BTW, this header is only about 2 feet long and terminates in a slip joint. It was a tight fit getting the header off of the studs but I hit the slip joint with some mouse milk and I freed right up. I always apply mouse milk to the slip and ball joints whenever I have the cowl off and was pleased to see that it appears to be working well with 190 hours on the engine.
I removed the exhaust pipe on the #1 cylinder and took it to my mechanic. He thinks he can re-weld the crack which appears to be about 2/3 of the circumference of the pipe.
I’m mainly writing to raise awareness of this issue in case anyone else has a similar yet undiscovered problem. If it wasn’t for the powder around the leak I don’t think I would have noticed it. I’m very thankful I found it before the flange became completely disconnected. This also proves the importance of thorough visual inspection whenever the cowl is removed.
BTW, this header is only about 2 feet long and terminates in a slip joint. It was a tight fit getting the header off of the studs but I hit the slip joint with some mouse milk and I freed right up. I always apply mouse milk to the slip and ball joints whenever I have the cowl off and was pleased to see that it appears to be working well with 190 hours on the engine.