Sounds about right - if you aren't loosing coolant, do not have coolant where it doesn't belong, or other things that don't belong there in the coolant, then the noise is probably "external" and is from a gasket. It may be between the manifold and the head, or maybe the manifold and the downpipe. Just as a off-chance, though, look over some of the shrouds and heat shields. When the thermostat was changed,something may have been made "not right" - bent or not put back right. Sometimes the oddest things can make the oddest noises...  ...as Vanagon owners we have seen lots of that! LOL!

James Benthall <Taobythesea@AOL.COM> wrote:Hi all,
My neighbor lady has a terrible loud noise (that sounds like an exhaust
problem to me)
coming from her engine and it gets louder the faster she gets. There is no
coolant loss
or coolant in the oil, or oil in the coolant. She has a older model Toyota
Camry (sorry
for the NVC but she is elderly and I knew you guys would know the answer) I
think an
'89 and she has been having an overheating problem due to a broken thermostat
that has
since been replaced. Now no overheating but she noticed this noise. (She
also doesn't
know if the noise was there before the overheating or not?)
Question:
I think it is an exhaust manifold gasket but her mechanic told her on the
phone that it
could be a "blown head gasket". What are the symptoms of a BHG? I thought
you
would have coolant loss at least, or coolant in the oil? Could it still be
the BHG if the
car is no longer overheating? Thanks for any advice you can give her.
james in houston

Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender
1972 Chevy P/U
1993 Bonneville