Exhaust Manifold Bolts LOOSE

[Norm Mac]

I was under the bedroom hatch today to see if the radiator needed cleaning and found 2 bolts on the exhaust manifold loose enough to turn by hand.

These were at outlet #4, both upper and lower were loose. I retightened them to the same torque as all others (40 pounds)

Did I do the right thing??? Everything else looked fine, and I had not noticed any problems with the engine sound, boost, exhaust brake, etc.

I haven't started it since and want to make sure I did the right thing before running the engine.

It is a 2006 built Cummins ISC 330.

[Skip426]

If the bolts had been loose for a while, the gasket may already be shot.
You won't know till you start the engine; before you do ;clean any black carbon marks from around the manifold flange, on the side of the head. After you start the motor, listen for a tick/squeak noise that would indicate an exhaust leak. If no noise , then, check the area after about 100 mile drive , looking for black lines around the gasket area, indicating a need for a new gasket.
No noise , no indication of an exhaust leak ( carbon lines ) then you got lucky.