One of the first symptoms of a problem with an exhaust manifold gasket is an excessively noisy engine. A faulty exhaust manifold gasket will produce an exhaust leak that will sound like a hissing or tapping sound coming from the engine. The sound may be especially pronounced during a cold start or during acceleration.Click to see full answer. In respect to this, what are the symptoms of a bad exhaust manifold? Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Exhaust Manifold Noisy engine exhaust. One of the first symptoms of a problem with the engine exhaust manifold is an excessively loud exhaust. Decreased power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. Engine performance issues are another symptom that can be caused by a problematic exhaust manifold. Burning smell from the engine bay. Subsequently, question is, what problems does a leaky exhaust manifold cause? An exhaust manifold leak can cause burned exhaust valves, improper fuel trim as the leak introduces extra oxygen that is picked up by the oxygen sensor, and slow warm-up time which also causes high fuel consumption, which will also cause your catalytic converter to fail prematurely, and the exhaust fumes can easily Additionally, what does a blown exhaust manifold sound like? In the event your manifold gasket is blown, the exhaust gas will escape at the seal between the manifold and cylinder head, resulting in a loud bang or pop noise each time that cylinder fires. This noise can be commonly confused with an engine knock.Can you drive with a bad exhaust manifold?Driving with an exhaust leak is potentially dangerous as the fumes contain carbon monoxide. An exhaust leak can decrease fuel efficiency, causing your engine to work harder, and you to fill up your gas tank more frequently. A third sign your exhaust may be leaking is if your gas pedal vibrates while you are driving.