I just got CT headers installed. I did the work myself with one of my friends and wow...it was pretty annoying to do. All the torque wrenching and the weird angles to get ur hands into....which incidently leads to bruised and bloody hands...

but yea...I first started it and then I saw smoke coming out of the engine bay...nearly sh!t a brick....so I turned it off.

There was a burnings plastic smell coming out. I tighten all the bolts and nuts again and start it up. More smoke, but not as bad...but the burning plastic smell is pretty bad, but it gets a little less.

So I go test drive...I cant tell difference in power....and I check the hood after a test drive and I smell the burning smell...

Anyone know whats wrong? after 11 hours of wrenching the car, im kind of dissapointed. Not what I expected at all...

 

btw, is the smoke just exhaust leaking somewhere?

I used new gaskets all around too....whats going on? ARGGGG

 

the first thing i would do is see if any thing is touching the header, any plastic slips, hoses ect.... the 2nd is start it up and listen for exhaust leaks. other than that it might be oils on the header that are burning off?

 

you will feel the power in the next couple of days. You have to really get on it and allow the car to adjust.

As for the leak, you would be able to hear it I think so if you don't here anything noticeably loud while idle then probably no leak. Any plastic near the headers? was anything wrapped in plastic while doing the install?

 

Did you completely clean out the inside of the headers?


The ECU takes about 3 days to adapt to the new condition. You'll feel gradual power gain over the next 3 days or so. If you don't want to wait, reset the ECU.

 

The gains don't come in until after 5000 rpms either. The extra power is only in a small band. My car also had to adjust a little since I put them in last week. It is responding better now than the first day.

 

Thanks guys, ill take a look around and see if anything plastic is touching it...I dont remember seeing anything though...but it was dark and I was using a utility light

 

btw, what does an exhaust leak sound/look like?

 

Did you use any WD40 or anything similar to to get the bolts loose. It could be that burning off and it could be he oil from your hands burning off..

I had smoke the firs time I installed for about 10 mins and the smell for about 2 days and that was it......

Exhaust leak will sound like a loud hiss.........

 

I used PB blaster (similar to WD-40) to get the bolts off and when I put the bolts back on, I used anti-seize on the threads of the nuts...do you think it could be that?

 

11 hours? That must have been frustrating. All of that antiseize and lubricants will vaporize off of your headers = alot of smoke, no worries just let it run and burn off.

 

They will all smoke a bit the first time they get hot. Be sure you go back and retourque all the bolts after a few heat cycles,.....I know it's a pain, but do it one more time, and you're all set.