2.9l exhaust leak

[86ranger4x4owner]

I have a 1988 ranger 4x4 2.9l and it has set of headers on it i dont know what brand i know they are short headers though.But they are leaking where they connect to the engine and i was wondering since they are leaking can that cause any loss in horsepower?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think a leak could cause horsepower loss with efi. On the exhaust stroke you can hear the pressure pulse [the leak] what you don't hear is the vacuum after the pulse sucking in air and making the O2 sensor think the engine is running lean. So then the computer tries to compensate and adds fuel. Then the computer goes in the opposite direction when the O2 sensor gets a whiff of the over rich condition. This would be my theory but I'm not a mechanic, I've been trying to learn how efi systems work on my own.

Richard