if it's blowing it won't
help either but you'll get a right racket from it too but the joint does have a gap as such anyway mind as it seals on the washer itself and doesn't close flush
look for black soot marks as obvious signs of blowing or cup your hand round to feel any escaping gas BUT note the pipe will be VERY HOT !! so careful
pm me ya reg number so i can double check all the parts as there is a chassis change etc too