just installed header

[ssinstaller]

no there is no leak i checked it over twice now, i think that the sound is just from the explosion frome the combustion chamber, but my question is why is it so high piched.
Can you feel the power diffrence? with mine it is incredible, im actually going to go to the race track tonight and see what i run. hopefully i will be around the 15.4 or 3 mark.

I don't think the noise is supposed to be there, but I can't find any leaks either. I'm going to swap the antifoulers on the second O2 sensor to the ones with gaskets just to be sure. I guess we'll just have to wait until a few more poeple get headers installed to see if they have it also.


EDIT---The different antifoulers made no difference in the noise, I guess I'll just have to learn to live with it.

---I have also noticed a little ding in the heatshield for the power steering. I'll check it again on monday to see if it's getting any worse. Someone needs to make some stiffer motor mounts soon!!!

 

[MrTea]

so no codes whatsoever? Just wondering as i have an F2 header on the car now and get a code every now and then "Catalyst system efficiency below threshold ON 2 Catalyst ". it was more previlant in the first week i had it, hasn't shown up in the last 2 weeks even after a hard weekend in Buttonwillow.

I gotta 6, so things might be a bit different. wanted to check though

 

[ssinstaller]

so no codes whatsoever? Just wondering as i have an F2 header on the car now and get a code every now and then "Catalyst system efficiency below threshold ON 2 Catalyst ". it was more previlant in the first week i had it, hasn't shown up in the last 2 weeks even after a hard weekend in Buttonwillow.

I gotta 6, so things might be a bit different. wanted to check though

If you use antifoulers you shouldn't have any issues.
I did get a MIL yesterday (but I had it intermittently before the header install), after I reset it it hasn't come back.

 

[briand805]

i used the anti fowelrs and havent had a cel yet. Going to go for a drive up twords big sur today so well see how it turns out.

GRR edit_- thought all was good so I was going to go on a drive up the coast. filled up the tank and headed out. Then the check engine light came on

So i turned around to head for home. As I left a stop sign I think i heard something make contact under the car.

I have it up on stands(again) and disconnected the neg terminal.

Once it cools down ill have a looks see. One thing i do see is the flex pipe doesnt move at all and the whole things seems really stiff and stretched on the mounts.

As for the cell. I guess ill take the sensors out and spray them with wd40 let them dry then put them back in and try again..

 

[ssinstaller]

My MIL just came back on also. I don't know if it's related to the header though, I'm having other issues also. I can floor it in second gear around 4000 rpm and it just bogs down and barely acclererates, and I'm hearind weird squeeks from the throttlebody whe I shut the motor off.

 

[ZOOM1ZOOM1]

do you happen to have an AEM cai ssinstaller.

 

[ssinstaller]

do you happen to have an AEM cai ssinstaller.

Yes.

 

[ZOOM1ZOOM1]

Yes.

You need to get an oil catch can. look on the web for one i know greaddy makes one and some other ones.
what is happning is you are getting oil into your intake. i had the same problem, but i ended up making one from scratch i will poast pics if you want me to.i think i did a pritty good job. and the trick works no more oil in throttle body.

 

[ultimazda3]

yeah mine is very loud too, i also have the high flow cat option, i second the person that says the valvetrain is very noisy because even the engine sound different now, i have a sedan and besides the first o2 sensor being kinda hard to getout we had no issues at all infact i found a way to not have to use a cel eliminator or spacer with the draxas high flow cat exhaust, and the hangers squeak now very annoying...

 

[briand805]

I just got back from the shop and have some good news and bad news..

FIrst of all I have a couple leaks. Two between the header and block where the stock gasket cant fill the gap from a few imperfections in the header..

So I bought some thick asbestos head gasket material and will make my own. The third leak came from where i had to move the high flow cat to make up for the 1 1/2 inch space between the flex pipe and high flow cat.
I can probably fix this with a simple adjustment.

The good news is we saw NO place the race header could possibly make contact with any part of the car. Maybe if you had a blown motor mount it would hit.

Ill be making the gasket today and maybe getting it on this afternoon or tomorrow.

I also removed the sensors and cleaned them and have not got a cel yet after about 100mi.

you can see in the areas of the leak in this pic . Under the middle left pipe and left pipe is where it is leaking. There is no leak where you see the large gap in the middle. http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/4283d92f_113bb/bc/header/DSCF0037.jpg?BC2aQiCBuuczn_Dw

 

[ZOOM1ZOOM1]

is the leak the reason for the high pitch knocking noise.

 

[m_long84]

I have also heard the high pitch knocking noise only I don't have the header. I opened my hood and it sounds to me like it's coming from the fuel injectors - valve cover area. I haven't been able to determine what it is but I only hear it in the car when I'm accelerating. I do notice it if I leave the car running and either have the hood open or walk in front of the car. Let me know if any of you guys notice the same thing.

 

[M_3]

i dont know about the rest of the people but i want to seee pics of the headers

 

[goldwing2000]

I have also heard the high pitch knocking noise only I don't have the header. I opened my hood and it sounds to me like it's coming from the fuel injectors - valve cover area. I haven't been able to determine what it is but I only hear it in the car when I'm accelerating. I do notice it if I leave the car running and either have the hood open or walk in front of the car. Let me know if any of you guys notice the same thing.

That could be something as simple as your fuel injectors opening and closing. They make noise when they do that. It's normal.

 

[M_3]

I have also heard the high pitch knocking noise only I don't have the header. I opened my hood and it sounds to me like it's coming from the fuel injectors - valve cover area. I haven't been able to determine what it is but I only hear it in the car when I'm accelerating. I do notice it if I leave the car running and either have the hood open or walk in front of the car. Let me know if any of you guys notice the same thing.

yeah like he said it could be just minor but anyways check it out in the dealer

 

[briand805]

i dont know about the rest of the people but i want to seee pics of the headers

 

[M_3]

nice what about installed

 

[IllBinfrontofya]

You guys are looking way way way to into the sounds. Its as easy as this . . .
Goto your local exhasut shop and get a 2-bolt gasket for the 2nd cat connection. The stock gasket is incredibly small, and is what is causing the leak/high pitch noise under acceleration. Just get a new gasket and some gasket sealant and throw that on there and the sound should be gone. Also, I haven't noticed any leak from the block to the header itself. I tightened everything according to the Mazda Service Manual, and everything is working great over here. I have a CEL, but it hasn't proven to take away from any performance gains with the header.
Anyone else notice that starting from a stand still is MUCH EASIER now then it was with the stock headers? Seems like my car is just easing right on into gear now.
And, finally . . . I must say. . . the car sounds ****** MEAN at 5K!! And at around 2K under light load, it sounds like its . . . well . . . SC'ed!!! Had someone actually tell me the car sounded MEAN!!!

 

[M_3]

great men thanks

 

[briand805]

nice what about installed

http://img10.echo.cx/img10/5705/pict00440xh.jpg 56k?

the slight blemishes are from wherea zip tie end got away from me and landed on the header and melted.