There's an exhaust leak, hence the black soot. It does't get any more obvious than that

 

yeah i thought that but i am unsure because the guy checked the gasket and he didnt see anything but he didnt check the top he just looked under the car. they lifted it and the guy was inside and was revving it and held it at 2000 and 3000 and they said they didnt hear or see anything. i was there so i dont know. but i dont know why that black stuff is there
do you reccomend i use the stock gasket in replace of the ZZP?

 

yup leakage for sur. u should have also upgraded to a bad mab header when u added that zzp dp

 

yeah im geting a header soon. also just went to a different shop they lifted the car the gasket was black on the bottom and they said that it was the flex pipe and that it is bad.

 

problem fixed. my zzp gasket fell apart and burned

 

exhaust leak 1+

 

Exact same problem that I had when I put my badmab header and a ss/sc downpipe, both gaskets fell apart and caused leaks, I bought a new gasket for the header and a new one for the downpipe and the problem was solved.
And if you are going to get a badmab header spend the extra 15 bucks to get a stock header gasket to go with it.

 

will do i plan to get the badmab and than install my 2.4 intake mani and throttle body than tune.
and im kinda annoyed that zzp charged 14 dollars for 6 dollars worth of gaskets and one broke and burned up with less than 500 miles on it. oh well. the shop ordered one from napa and they delivered it in less than 10 minutes and it was built alot better than the zzp one. i still have the zzp downpipe to exhaust gasket so it should be fine.

 

ouch after 500 miles...

Yea I had problems with the gaskets that came with the exhaust i purchased, like the tsudo. I already had to replace one of their gaskets, now the other one is acting up...

 

les than that. i dont remember the milage it was when i installed and replaced gasket. but 3 days worth of driving because it didnt do it the first 4 days

 

The gaskets that came with my header looked just like the one in your picture with leaks in the same spots. I kept my stock from dp to exhaust and it didn't give me any trouble.

 

wow crazy lol. ya the shop ordered one from napa. was built so much better alot thicker.
the zzp one i could bend in half it was so flimsy.

 

i have the same issue with my GMPP catback, stock header and DP with stock intake... i think its more of like a whistle sound while going up thru the gears above around 3500 rpms, just reving it doesnt do it.. i know how it sounds with an exhaust leak and its not a pure leak...

edit: i also did use all new napa gaskets when i put the exhaust on too

 

lift the car up and feel around the gaskets while its running. if you feel air coming out you have a leake.

GM did my GMPP exhaust and another shop did my downpipe.

gm actually charged less to install the catback than getting the downpipe done. but only by 10 dollars. oh well.

 

next time i have it up in the air to change the oil i'll have to check the gaskets while i'm at it too.. id like to get the zzp 2.5 catted dp at some point, i already have a stock ss/sc header in the garage. if the gaskets shot i'll probably just wait until i can go that route

 

yeah.
i gota get a badmab header

 

btw anybody with the zzp 2.5 catted dp, did any of u throw any CELs when u changed from stock to it?

 

nope. no CEL for me. not even with having a leak for a few days.

 

hey just wondering with the leak, did you notice if your MPG's dropped at all?

 

lol i honestly dont pay attention to my mpg what soever if you want my opinon. im lucky if i get 25mpg city. i dont do any highway driving so most i ever really see is 22 ish.
but i didnt even look once to see what kind of mpg i got with the leak i didnt like driving my car with the leake but i had to because the cobalt is my only car.
if you have a leak you will know because something doesnt sound right my car sounded like complete **** when i got on it. but now it sounds perfect with no weird sounds whatsoever.

 

if anyone wants to hear what the downpipe and exhaust sound like heres the thread i made with a link to the clip i made

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/pict...nstall-261746/

 

Well since putting the exhaust on my mpg's went down by like 3 highway or so.. and it doesnt sound completely awful, i can maybe compare it to almost like a turbo wanting to spool up cuz i actually had a kid as me if i had one ill just have to check the gaskets when i get a chance, maybe this weekend if i head home