Anything I should know when replacing exhaust / intake gasket

Hacker412

Member
Original poster
Joined
Aug 13, 2024
Messages
55
Location
77386
I'm getting ready to replace the intake/exhaust manifold gasket on my 97 Jeep TJ 2.5. Is there anything else that I might as well replace while I'm there? I don't want to get it done and then need to replace some other random gasket or o-ring a week later. Any tips are greatly appreciated.
 
Great idea! I called a shop near me, and they said they could do it for about $100. They will inspect it for cracks first. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood
Great idea! I called a shop near me, and they said they could do it for about $100. They will inspect it for cracks first. Thanks!

Not sure if everyone knows this, but it was easy to find the leak using a shop vac. I hooked the blower side of the shop vac to the exhaust. Then, a soapy spray bottle was used to find the leaks. However, I didn't really need the soapy water on mine because I could hear it immediately in the center of the manifold.
 
I was looking over the job I was about to do when I noticed something strange. The bolts from this plate were about to fall out. I tightened them up and it seems to have fixed my problem for now. I still have a small leak in the front of the exhaust but not enough to bother me. Why exactly is this plate even there on the manifold?
 
I was looking over the job I was about to do when I noticed something strange. The bolts from this plate were about to fall out. I tightened them up and it seems to have fixed my problem for now. I still have a small leak in the front of the exhaust but not enough to bother me. Why exactly is this plate even there on the manifold?

The plate covers where the EGR tube would connect; the TJ does not use this connection.
 
So did this work out for you? I missed this thread at the time, but my notes on replacing the exhaust manifold (and gasket) on my 97 2.5 are here.