Exhaust Manifold To Pipe Gasket

[JWilliams]

ok so I am getting tired of replacing these two gaskets about every six months. What makes them go bad? The passenger side is leaking again and I hate the puffing sound the air makes as it escapes. Do you guys have any suggestions on what to use to seal it off better. Is this a normal problem for anyone else. I have a 00' DII.

 

[nursemcdonald]

when you fasten the manifold to pipe, tighten the bolts at the exact same rate (number of turns) in opposing order. Similar to how you would do the lug-nuts on a tire mounting. This should make certain you have not produced a small offset. I would love to know if there is a better sealant or adhesive that could reinforce the seal....

 

[JWilliams]

thanks nurse. I have tried that a couple times.. it does seem to work well for awhile. Should I be using lock-tite on the nuts? I guess that would help a little. But then what if the stud loosens from the manifold. The whole process just really hit my nerve yesterday haha.

 

[antichrist]

Are your mating surfaces smooth? If you've had blow-by for any length of time it will erode the surface and then you'll have leaks again soon.

 

[JWilliams]

So is there any type of sealant I can use to fix that? or is the answer to pull the downpipes completly out and file them smooth?

 

[antichrist]

I used a 3" sandnig disk on a straight die grinder when I has problems with mine. But no, it's unlikely that any sort of sealant will last very long. In my experience anyway.

 

[nursemcdonald]

Oh yeah, for sure smooth out the surfaces... i start with a 100 grit and taper down to 300 and steel wool for a nice clean fit.