2004.5 RAM/Cummins exhaust manifold leak advice needed

[brutal]

Since the thread I jacked and posted a question in got closed, I'll ask again.

Please, no vendor bashing, I'm just looking for technical experiences regarding two competing products.

The manifold on my CTD is leaking around cylinder #1.

Perhaps there's more going on, perhaps I can just retorque the bolts and/or replace the gasket. However, it seems to be a common issue of shrunk/warped/cracked OEM manifolds and most apparently chose to just replace it with an aftermarket.

That leads to my question. BD or ATS 2/3 piece manifold?

Seems the ATS is ceramic coated, the BD is burn off paint. Similarly priced.Performance/flow of the BD is reported to be better. I really don't have the truck BOMB'd, just an old Edge Juice and a free-flow muffler.

I would probably install studs instead of bolts. I may DIY, or I may just pay the labor to have a local shop do it. Trying to be mindful of the budget. Still deciding on that. Sounds like the heater bracket needs to be removed or cut as well and most say it's easiest to pull the turbo and bench fit to the manifold, but others have reported success leaving the turbo installed.

So I'm seeking real world experience with either product, and any first hand experience on DIY replacement.

P.S. I may just try to retorque the bolts, but fear the horror stories of snapped OEM bolts. I would prefer to soak them in PB first (anyone have some Kroil?)

Cheers

[Gunner]

If you have Facebook check out Rocky Mountain diesel crew or colorado diesel crew. Lots more diesel guys there. Plus you wouldn't want to hurt anyones feelings on here


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[BushMasterBoy]

http://www.mikesfabshop.com/categori...-manifold.html

[nogaroheli]

http://www.mikesfabshop.com/categori...-manifold.html

My goodness that manifold is gorgeous.

[DOC]

Soak them replace the gasket and re torque the bolts. Take a look and see if its warped at all too before going crazy. Sometimes they just develop a leak.

[ColoradoTJ]

Since the thread I jacked and posted a question in got closed, I'll ask again.

Please, no vendor bashing, I'm just looking for technical experiences regarding two competing products.

The manifold on my CTD is leaking around cylinder #1.

Perhaps there's more going on, perhaps I can just retorque the bolts and/or replace the gasket. However, it seems to be a common issue of shrunk/warped/cracked OEM manifolds and most apparently chose to just replace it with an aftermarket.

That leads to my question. BD or ATS 2/3 piece manifold?

Seems the ATS is ceramic coated, the BD is burn off paint. Similarly priced.Performance/flow of the BD is reported to be better. I really don't have the truck BOMB'd, just an old Edge Juice and a free-flow muffler.

I would probably install studs instead of bolts. I may DIY, or I may just pay the labor to have a local shop do it. Trying to be mindful of the budget. Still deciding on that. Sounds like the heater bracket needs to be removed or cut as well and most say it's easiest to pull the turbo and bench fit to the manifold, but others have reported success leaving the turbo installed.

So I'm seeking real world experience with either product, and any first hand experience on DIY replacement.

P.S. I may just try to retorque the bolts, but fear the horror stories of snapped OEM bolts. I would prefer to soak them in PB first (anyone have some Kroil?)

Cheers

I put a 3 piece manifold on my 04.5 CTD, but it wasn't from leaking. I had to pull my head, and was doing a turbo, etc.....

We put on one of the Performance exhaust manifolds for 330.00. It was actually pretty nice, did a little port matching and it was perfect. I would recommend studs and you will thank me later if you DIY. It is a pretty easy job.

The manifold bolts may have lost the factory torque. Might want to look into that a little.

[brutal]

Soak them replace the gasket and re torque the bolts. Take a look and see if its warped at all too before going crazy. Sometimes they just develop a leak.

Would you recommend just replacing the one cylinder that appears to be leaking? I would assume that if it's not warped at all, I would need to loosen everything to replace even one gasket.

[Graves]

I'd do them all, you can slip just the one if you're in a hurry but you'll be most of the way there to get them all done and not worry about it until the bigger turbo bug bites you.

[DOC]

Would you recommend just replacing the one cylinder that appears to be leaking? I would assume that if it's not warped at all, I would need to loosen everything to replace even one gasket.

If you can change them all I would do it while its out. You can slip a straight edge like a ruler on the head to see if its warped as well as the manifold. A leak in the manifold will make you loose boost so I would change them all and it shouldn't be any harder than changing one. Just more of them. You can spray soapy water on the other cylinders where the manifold is and look for bubbles telling you its leaking.

[brutal]

I'd do them all, you can slip just the one if you're in a hurry but you'll be most of the way there to get them all done and not worry about it until the bigger turbo bug bites you.

No bug there. This thing tows my fiver and boat (at the same time) and while I do enjoy some additional power with the Edge, I'm mostly looking for reliability and longevity.