How to fix a leaking exhaust pipe with wrap on it
Exhaust wrap often masks underlying corrosion or structural damage that temporary fixes like patches or adhesives cannot resolve. Dealing with a compromised pipe typically requires cutting away the damaged section and welding or clamping in a replacement component like a flex pipe to achieve a permanent seal.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 10 people.
- This comes up 9.3× more often in r/AskMechanics than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Taking the vehicle to a muffler shop for professional welding2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2Replacing the entire exhaust unit2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 3wrapping the leaking area with exhaust wrapDid this help you?
- 4Using an exhaust clampDid this help you?
- 5Wrapping with an old license plate and metal clampsDid this help you?
- 6Applying commercial exhaust wrap from an auto parts storeDid this help you?
- 7Using exhaust wrap with exhaust cementDid this help you?
- 8Wrapping a tin can around the pipe and securing with adjustable hose clampsDid this help you?
- 9Welding a new flange onDid this help you?
- 10Using an exhaust flange repair kit to bolt the broken pieces back togetherDid this help you?
- 11Checking motor mounts for excessive movementDid this help you?
- 12Smoke testing to find the exhaust leakDid this help you?
- 13Inspecting for missing bolts, bent parts, or blown out pipe gasketsDid this help you?
- 14Going to a muffler shop for a weldDid this help you?
- 15Using JB WeldDid this help you?
- 16inspecting vehicle undercarriages prior to tripsDid this help you?
- 17asking online mechanic communities for diagnostic helpDid this help you?
- 18Applying muffler sealantDid this help you?
- 19Cutting the damaged pipe section and using clampsDid this help you?
- 20Finding a professional welderDid this help you?
- 21Buying a cheap flux core welder to do it yourselfDid this help you?
- 22Applying JB Weld or exhaust cementDid this help you?
- 23Driving with a straight pipeDid this help you?
- 24Sourcing a used part from a junkyard and installing it yourselfDid this help you?
- 25leaving other bolts loose to allow components to wiggle and fitDid this help you?
- 26Keep it in mind and monitor itDid this help you?
- 27Replace the gasket/donutDid this help you?
- 28Taking the vehicle to a local exhaust shop for professional replacementDid this help you?
- 29Taking the car to an exhaust shop or national chain (e.g., Midas, Meineke) to cut out and replace just the flex section.Did this help you?
- 30Getting a custom weld job.Did this help you?
- 31Cutting out the corroded exhaust section and replacing it with a metal sleeve, sealed with gun gum and clamped in place until a full replacement is affordable.Did this help you?
- 32Cutting out the rusted section and welding in a short ring of non-rusted pipe.Did this help you?
- 33Purchasing an aftermarket exhaust to save money compared to an OEM replacement.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Flex pipe broke, trying to fix it on a budget. Do I have a chance of attaching the new flex pipe using clamps? My worry is the short straight part I could clamp it on before it starts curving. How should I approach it?”source ↗
“recently the exhaust pipe broke, probably due to corrosion. The muffler is also almost falling off.”source ↗
“my knowledge in mechanics is very limited, so I don’t really have any solutions for now and I also don’t know which materials or parts I need cause I dont really have the money for a whole replacement.”source ↗
“So, this is the exhaust flange on a 2011 Subaru outback 3.6 right before the muffler.”source ↗
“Upon going under I found exhaust wrap around the area, and then I'm trying to figure out if the black crud is just corrosion or... Idk.”source ↗
“I want to just cut it all off and put a new piece of exhaust flex pipe there. Not sure if anyone else has any better advice.”source ↗
“How long will JB weld exhaust cement hold on this? Can JB weld seal this for a month? Is car safe to drive with this break?”source ↗
“Anything you think I can try in the meantime before trying to weld or replace it? I don't have access to a car lift currently. Or is welding or replacing my only real option?”source ↗
“Will do just sucks new exhaust is almost the price of the cars value not really but car is a shit box. Will junk yards pay for this exhaust pipe because the catalytic converter?”source ↗
“Is the small leak at the exhaust joint ok, or needs to be fixed?”source ↗
“I noticed loss of power and loud noise on my car so I took it to a mechanic and he found that the flex pipe came off where I drew the line.”source ↗
“Will this work and is there a chance this will sort the 2nd idle exhaust gasses issue enough to get me through my MOT.”source ↗
“I am not in a position financially to pay a garages rates to fix this or get a new car so it's a case of mend and make do for me.”source ↗
“There is a hole in silencer of car. Its 2020 model, not too old. Is there a DIY trick to fix it. Maybe, some adhesive…or should i go to exhaust shop?”source ↗
“Looking for some help with the girlfriends car it's a fiat 500 I've got no idea about this sort of stuff but from what I've seen on diagrams this part of the exhaust should just be able to slide right back into the back box?”source ↗
“Looks like the bracket round the pipe has rusted and snapped off but does that actually help to hold the pipe inside the back box?”source ↗
“Today after driving for 8 hours , the car suddenly got much louder on the highway. I pulled into the nearest rest stop and see this - it looks like the muffler literally exploded from that point where the dent was in the middle.”source ↗
“My 2013 outback exhaust pipe connection rusted off. What's the best way/cheapest way to fix this?”source ↗
“Can smell fumes under the car, don’t see any other holes but the flex pipe looks like the suspect to me.”source ↗
“I wanted to replace it but it seems that the direct catalytic converter replacement needs to be bolted front and rear. The thing is the OEM exhaust system is completely welded.”source ↗
“So now I don't know how I should approach this. Cut the flex pipe, put another and use clamps? Welding is not really an option for me.”source ↗
“Having a very hard time getting it back in where it wants to go”source ↗
“Well it was only that bolt and one other matching one on the other side that I removed, maybe I need to remove the other again and see if it makes a difference…”source ↗
“There’s a hole in the pipe right at the muffler of my 2003 Volvo XC70. Shop quoted me $1200 for a replacement with an OEM muffler+some pipe but said they’ll wait for their welder to look at it tomorrow to see if it’s weldable.”source ↗
“I’m hesitant, it almost looks like it had been welded previously and wore through again.”source ↗