How effective are exhaust patch kits in terms of longevity and limiting noise and leakage?
Specifically I'm looking at using the kind that consist of heat-activated tape, an aluminium sheet and two pipe clamps, like this one, on a very small hole on the pipe between the catalytic converter and the resonator (which happens to be directly below the center console). Is there a downside to doing this before a more permanent repair?
I used these kits occasionally when I was young and broke, so my knowledge isn't that current. Back then, they were good for a couple of months, maybe a little longer depending on how bad and where the hole is.
If the exhaust pipe is so rusted it'll break in a few months, that kit is not going to last very long as the movement of the breaking pipe will mostly render it ineffective.
OTOH if it's a small hole and the rest of the pipe is in decent shape, it'll last you a while.
As @ Timo states they are a low budget repair.The fact that the sheet is aluminum and thin enough to wrap around the pipe will limit its' longevity. It may work ok for a hole, but won't support a broken pipe for long. How long it will last will vary. The closer to the engine and the catalytic converter the higher temp and the shorter the life. I would use it as a repair for the shortest time needed, no longer than it takes to get special order,not stocked parts or get a warranty replacement etc. These repair kits tend to fail with little warning. My experience has been that if the pipe is rusted enough to have a hole, the rest of the pipe won't be much good for long.
Not terribly effective in my experience. Mean time before repair failure seems was around a month on the multiple times we patched my wife's (then GF with no money) car a few years ago. Just buys a little time for you to save up some money and then get the exhaust system replaced.
