Rep Power: 0

All right I’m really needing some help here. I’m working on my 2002 Honda Civic because the original exhaust header is leaking from the center area where the 4 pipes connect meet in the center before the flange.

I tried multiple times welding the crack and pinholes that were visible, no success. I tried all types of cement nothing I did would fix it 100%. so I went online and I bought an aftermarket header and it was leaking worse than the stock one. I got a refund for it.
I found a second one online and I made sure to contact the seller and ask them not only if they tested their headers for leaks but I wanted to make sure that the mating surface would be flat as well and they assured me that it would be.

well as you can probably guess even though the mating surface was flat and seals perfectly, the same center part is still leaking just like the stock one. I can not see any visible cracks or pinholes when I tested it with a bright flashlight before I installed it.
I’ve already contacted the seller about this problem and sent them a video of it and I’m going to try to attach the video to this post so you can see what I’m talking about but I can hear the exhaust leak and that’s why I used the soapy water test that shows plain as day that that center portion is leaking.
I just want to fix it so that my car is not leaking exhaust. I can tell that the performance is a little down because of it and the sound I think is what annoys me the most. is this a common problem because of the design or the style of these exhaust headers?


https://youtube.com/shorts/BrjMLOe6Qss?feature=share

 
Rep Power: 125

Never had any problems like that with my '01. May be worth just finding a local one and inspecting before purchasing.

 
Rep Power: 511

Same. Never had a problem with the header I had in my 2002. Then again, I bought my header in the height of D17 aftermarket support and def spent $300 on what was unanimously considered the best D17A2 shorty header that was available at the time (from the now defunct Kamikaze racing)

 
Rep Power: 50

It happened to me after reassembling. Did you happen to leave off the heat shield? You have to put that middle nut back on. Mine leaked from there. Also if you haven’t change the gasket right now might as well do that.

 
Rep Power: 366

headers...
scrapyards tend to cut them off when removing engine... if you lucky, you might find them.
Must be from an EX car.
car-part.com for nearby scrapyards

 
Rep Power: 0

Since I bought the car I’m 2016 there has never been a heat shield.

 
Rep Power: 0

Changed the gaskets each time I’ve had the headers off. The one against the head 3 times and the donut three times..going to start searching local scrap yards soon