Exhaust Leak?

[Black Beast5059]

I could have sworn I always noticed hearing the exhaust farther up then I should after installing headers on my 2019 Tahoe, also the exhaust smells very rich, this could just be because of my new high flow cats on the aftermarket exhaust however. After checking I noticed the headers seem like they aren’t connecting flush to the Y pipe. I also notice some black powder on the connection. Does this look like a leak?

 

[Joseph Garcia]

It looks like a leak to me. Other more knowledgeable folks on this Forum will chime in.

 

[swathdiver]

I could have sworn I always noticed hearing the exhaust farther up then I should after installing headers on my 2019 Tahoe, also the exhaust smells very rich, this could just be because of my new high flow cats on the aftermarket exhaust however. After checking I noticed the headers seem like they aren’t connecting flush to the Y pipe. I also notice some black powder on the connection. Does this look like a leak?

That's a leak. You loosen everything up and tighten it up more uniformly and that should give a tight seal this time around.

 

[OR VietVet]

Agreed, definitely a leak and loosen as @swathdiver says but IMO, I would open completely and have a look see to see if there is a crack or something keeping it from seating together correctly. I have seen where a small weld of some sort, on either side depending, where the seal spot is higher there than it should be and is not sealing flat, surface to surface.