Don,
Good point. Perhaps I should have said the "exterior access" cover rather than "exhaust".
I ask because, when I take my interior grill off, I can see the backside of the outside access cover. So I assume that if I pressurize this location (which is normally a low pressure point) heat will escape that way. I could go out and try it, but I figure you are all set up and at your temps (too darn cold) it will easily be to detect heat escaping at that location. Perhaps it is sealed well enough to prevent this leakage which makes sense as otherwise it would also allow exhaust CO into the furnace during normal operation.
I'll take a second look at mine and let you know.
Steve