FE385

My '06 V6 with 100m miles has an exhaust smell that is noticeable in the cabin while the engine is running, it seems more when the engine is cold. My first thought was that one or both of the exhaust manifold gaskets are bad, since the fresh air intake is adjacent to the engine compartment. When driving the car there is that characteristic compressive hissing you here on acceleration, usually indicative of (a) bad manifold gaskets. Since the block is aluminum and the manifolds assumed to be cast iron, it would make sense that any leakage is worse when the engine is cold.
My question is, has there been a problem with this generally in V6 Escapes? Is there another possible/historically common origin for the exhaust leak, maybe something like part of the EGR system?
Changing the exhaust manifold gaskets myself looks doable, though I'm sure it would be a thrash. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

tomw

Generally speaking, when an exhaust manifold gasket leaks, or the manifold is loose from the head due to broken or loose bolts, you will get a noise when the engine is running. It can be a chirp, whistle, or other spiky sound, especially if the manifold has a crack. The leak or crack can close up and quiet down a lot when all the parts are heated up.
If you don't have a noise, you don't likely have manifold gasket problems. I would look further down in the exhaust system, near the final catalytic converter or the 'flex hose' area.
tom