I removed my old exhaust manifold for my new one. I just have a few basic questions regarding this.

1.The new header smoked or steamed for a few minutes when I first turned the car on. I can smell the thing burning when its running. The header gets so hot you can feel the heat coming off of it when the hood is open and the header turns a golden color insted of stainless steel color after a while. Is this normal? Ive heard that its just burning the coating off the inside of the header and that it will smell like this for a few days.
2. The location for the primary o2 sensor on the header is not in a very good spot bc the isnt enough room for it between the header and the cv joint or watever. So I plugged that hole and put the primary o2 sensor where the secondary o2 sensor was. I have a high flow cat and my cel for the secondary o2 was already on anyway so I didnt figure I needed the secondary o2 so I removed it completely. The cel for the secondary o2 is still on of course since it doesnt exist but atleast the primary one still works which is the main one anyway. Is this ok to do?
3. When I start the car up and run it I can tell that I have a small exhaust leek by the sound of it but all of the bolts are as tight as they can be and everything has the correct gaskets and everything is ligned up correctly. What could this be from? I plan on going to the muffler shop tomorrow and have them check it out.

Any and all responses are appreciated!

 

1 - That's normal. Probably just oils from your hands while putting it on, or some kind of thin coating of something put on from the factory. The color will change over time as well, again it's normal.
2 - You should really get a new O2 sensor and find a way to put the primary O2 sensor back in the correct place. Even if you have to cap it off, and make a hole in another location.
3 - No idea, maybe the O2 sensor plug?

 

Thanks for the reply man.

1. Solved!
2. Why would I need a new secondary o2 sensor? All it does is read the catalyst efficiency of the catalytic converter so since I have a high flow cat instead it wont do me any good anyway. I know the cel will stay on bc of it but thats ok as long as that the only problem. The hole Ive got the primary o2 sensor in is the exact same as the one it came out of except its about 6 inches further down. Its not in the actual cat it just in the piping at the beginning of it. So it should still get the same reading as it was in the other location. Correct?
3. All holes are plugged. I will take it to a muffler shop tommorrow after work and get it figured out.

Not trying to argue with you just replying. Thanks again.

 

Some help with number 2?

 

I was under the impression that the secondary O2 sensor still effects how the car runs in some way. Not that it would effect it as much as the primary O2, but I thought it effected it somewhat. I could very well be wrong on that.

I also assumed you had the primary O2 sensor behind the cat now. Based on that assumption I meant you should move it some where else that places it before the cat. Not specifically higher up on the exhaust for reading purposes, just making sure it was before the cat for reading purposes.

And no problem, I completely understand wanting to get the correct information. Hopefully someone will jump in soon and have a more knowledgeable response (I'm interested to know too).

 

Thank you. I am 99 percent sure the secondary o2 sensor just read the condition of the cat. So I'm fine with the cel being on bc I dont need it. I see what you were saying about moving the primary one now bc you thot I had if after the cat but not to worry it is after the downpipe but before the cat on the piping that begins the cat if you see what Im saying. It is just the same as where it was just down a little further so I dont think this should effect the reading. Thanks again.

 

I will have the exhaust leak fixed 2moro after work and then I will go by AutoZone and have my codes read just to make sure that the secondary o2 is the only code Im throwing. I will update you tomorrow. Thanks again.