V6 Exhaust Join hassle,need help

[catgroom]

Hi!

I have a 94 2.6 V6,so thats one reason for needing an S2!

Seriously,the exhaust is getting tedious now to fix.

The offending join is the one where the short pipe from manifold on drivers side joins the secton leading to the cat.

Theres a triangular 3 "captive" nut and bolt join.Audi use pathetically thin bolts and theyve worn.To combat this,I drilled them out,replacing them with stainless thicker bolts/nuts/washers.

The thing doesnt hold long at all.If I use sealing paste,it cracks when it cures,as it flexes.

I dont want to be silly and weld the 2 sections up as Im told this will crack the exh manifold.

It obv loses power,MPG and sounds like some manky old tractor when its cold especially.

I need advice on this one.

Thx in advance


Steve

[Acidburn]

Have u tried new nuts and bolts original audi one's?

Or double bolting it?

[iain1067]

don't think using stainless is a good idea as it will expand and contract at different rate than the steel on the exhaust, i haven't had a problem using the audi spec nuts and washers, is there a sealing ring in between??? maybe try a new one if there is


Iain

[Animal Mother]

How about cutting of a bit and using a flexi section? Clamped at each end.

[catgroom]

.

Well thx for the response!Cool!

I was going to go with what Mutha suggests.

Didnt realise the stainless nuts and bolts would do that so maybe i go to Audi and get proper ones,or use mild steel??What do you think about using just mild?

Flipping thing!And my PAS pump has done a gasket.Hope VAGparts do em!

Thx!

Steve

[iain1067]

Personally i would go use what audi give you, never had a problem with it. Tell me on your temp gauge where does the needle sit once warmed up???


Iain

[Acidburn]

Vagparts will be able to get the proper nuts/bolts cheap enough

[catgroom]

.

@Iain I'll use what Vagparts give me as its the same eh.My temp gauge sits at the first marker.It only rises to between the first and halfway marker when sitting at lights or caning it.It then can rise to just below halfway to just over.Im intrigued as to why you ask!!;-)Ive always thought this to be a little low!

@Burnus Good idea my man,bloody Audinovice Groom!

Nice one chaps!

Steve

[iain1067]

well mine runs at over 90 deg's and if sitting in traffic rises a bit more above that until the guage is at 12 o clock, that's pretty much when the fan kicks in. I have bought today an infra red thermometer so i am gonna go round the engine bay and see what reads what when it's daylight. I have never had any audi that has gone past the 90 deg marker in fact a lot of them have tended to run cool.

Fan kicks in fine, hoses get hot, rad gets hot too. No oil or water mixing together, ,y thoughts are either thermostat not opening fully (possible as it does warm up very quick) or the multi function temp sender, i have replaced the 2 pin sender on the right hand side of the engine, but i am not stumping up the £85.00 audi wants for mfts.


Iain

[Cullam3n]

I paid only £35ish (iirc) from VAGParts for the MFTS?

[iain1067]

ffs at least **** turpin wore a hat. i will be getting one off them if i need one


iain

[Cullam3n]

nope was wrong. Just looked up the invoice, £49