What's involved
What this repair actually is.
The manifold gasket seals the joint where the exhaust manifold bolts to the cylinder head, and when it blows out you get the same tick and fumes as a cracked manifold — at a fraction of the parts cost. We remove the manifold, clean both sealing surfaces, and install a new multi-layer gasket with fresh hardware, priced per bank on V-type engines.
Symptoms
How you can tell.
- Ticking from the engine bay, worst when cold
- Exhaust smell through the HVAC vents
- Soot streaks along the manifold-to-head joint
- Slight loss of power or louder engine note
If you delay
Escaping exhaust gas cuts a channel into the sealing surfaces over time, turning a gasket job into machining or manifold replacement.
Educational estimate. Real pricing depends on your vehicle, the inspection, parts availability, taxes, and shop rates. Use this as a guide while you shop quotes.
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