Exhaust gaskets

M

myfirstii

Founding Member

Feb 28, 2002

401

0

16

chicago,Il.

May 31, 2005

#1

• May 31, 2005

• #1

After installing the new motor my exhaust header gaskets leak quite abit. Whats the trick to getting these things to seal up correctly. Btw the heads are afr 165's which are aluminum if that makes a differece.
thanks for the help
Patrick

 

Blue Thunder

15 Year Member

Mar 20, 2004

1,003

55

68

Upstate New York.

May 31, 2005

#2

• May 31, 2005

• #2

Tighten them down evenly, not one side more than the other. Did you check to see if the header flanges are perfectly flat before installing them?
If you're using those white paper-looking header gaskets, I've read that you can soak them in water before installing them, supposedly they seal better. You can also try trimming regular metal sandwiched manifold gaskets to fit, because those things seal better and last longer than paper crap.

 

Blue Thunder

15 Year Member

Mar 20, 2004

1,003

55

68

Upstate New York.

May 31, 2005

#3

• May 31, 2005

• #3

Oh yeah, make sure there's no header tube interference, such as the collectors hitting the subframe or something similar. If the headers are hitting something down below, the flanges will never seal properly, no matter how much you tighten them.

 

M

myfirstii

Founding Member

Feb 28, 2002

401

0

16

chicago,Il.

Jun 13, 2005

#4

• Jun 13, 2005

• #4

Do i need to use any type of silicone. Or do i just put them on bare? It sucks driving the car around and when you punch it all you see is smoke billowing out from the engine compartment..makes people think that your car is a pos.
thanks for the help
Pat

Btw im using the metal looking gaskets

 

M

Mustangj

Founding Member

Apr 22, 2001

1,228

2

0

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Jun 13, 2005

#5

• Jun 13, 2005

• #5

If money is tight use the cheapo white paper gaskets and soak them in water for an 1/2 hour to get them pulpy. I tried this and they worked really well for a while. I have tried many types of header gaskets and the Earls header gaskets are the best I have tried. They are aluminum with carbon fiber inserts. The inserts are repaceable. These babies are big money, but they really work! 2 summers on mine with no leaks

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Jun 14, 2005

#6

• Jun 14, 2005

• #6

myfirstii said:

Do i need to use any type of silicone.

Click to expand...

Never.

 

M

myfirstii

Founding Member

Feb 28, 2002

401

0

16

chicago,Il.

Jun 14, 2005

#7

• Jun 14, 2005

• #7

Thats all i needed to know Wart thanks for the help.

Patrick

 

M

myfirstii

Founding Member

Feb 28, 2002

401

0

16

chicago,Il.

Jun 14, 2005

#8

• Jun 14, 2005

• #8

Whats a good way to check where my exhaust leak is? Would soapy water work? Or is there a better way? Cause im not sure if its coming from the gaskets or if its coming from the ports where the smog equipment threads into the heads at the front and back of the heads. I used spark plugs and inserts to close them off but im still not sure if there leaking.
Pat

 

D

dmoody

Founding Member

Nov 4, 2002

789

0

17

Winston-Salem, NC

Jun 15, 2005

#9

• Jun 15, 2005

• #9

myfirstii said:

Whats a good way to check where my exhaust leak is? Would soapy water work? Or is there a better way? Cause im not sure if its coming from the gaskets or if its coming from the ports where the smog equipment threads into the heads at the front and back of the heads. I used spark plugs and inserts to close them off but im still not sure if there leaking.
Pat

Click to expand...

Personally I wouldn't use spark plugs to close off the EGR ports. If you've got an exhaust leak, you'll be able to hear it. Having someone sit in the car and rev it, you should be able to isolate which side it is coming from. Then just replace the header gasket on that side.

d

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Jun 15, 2005

#10

• Jun 15, 2005

• #10

Go to a medical supply house, or find one on line.

Get the cheapest stethoscope you can find, This one goes for $9, I don't know what shipping is.

Remove the bell, you may need to cut the tube to do it. Insert a piece of model makers brass tube. The brass is so you don't have to worry about getting it near something thats hot.

Only noises directly in front of the tube will be picked up. Sneak up on your leak as things can get real loud real quick.

Or just get a piece of tygon and stick it in your ear, take care not to puncture your ear drum.


It's hell getting old and start needing these kind of things.

 

TheEvII

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

162

0

0

Lakemoor Il.

Jun 15, 2005

#11

• Jun 15, 2005

• #11

Wart said:

Go to a medical supply house, or find one on line.

Get the cheapest stethoscope you can find, This one goes for $9, I don't know what shipping is.

Remove the bell, you may need to cut the tube to do it. Insert a piece of model makers brass tube. The brass is so you don't have to worry about getting it near something thats hot.

Click to expand...

Or you could just buy one of these for 5.99.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41966

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Jun 16, 2005

#12

• Jun 16, 2005

• #12

only if the end of the probe is open.

 

M

myfirstii

Founding Member

Feb 28, 2002

401

0

16

chicago,Il.

Jun 16, 2005

#13

• Jun 16, 2005

• #13

Alright sweet ill give it a try. Does a exhaust leak take away from performance? I cant imagine why it would but i thought id just ask. The only reason i can think of is because it increases the heat in the engine compartment. Thanks for all the help.
Pat

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Jun 16, 2005

#14

• Jun 16, 2005

• #14

Don't know how badly leaks hurt performance but they have been known to burn plug wires and boots, and can contribute to backfireing.

 

TheEvII

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

162

0

0

Lakemoor Il.

Jun 16, 2005

#15

• Jun 16, 2005

• #15

Wart said:

only if the end of the probe is open.

Click to expand...

It's a hollow tube and it works great for finding more than just exhaust gasket leaks. You can find ticks, knocks, and bad bearings in accessories like Alternator, Power Steering, Idler arm, Smog Pump, etc.

 

Wart

I'm Mad as HELL and I'M not Gonna Take it ANYMORE!

Founding Member

Sep 1, 1998

408

3

58

NE Ohio

Jun 16, 2005

#16

• Jun 16, 2005

• #16

TheEvII said:

It's a hollow tube and it works great for finding more than just exhaust gasket leaks. You can find ticks, knocks, and bad bearings in accessories like Alternator, Power Steering, Idler arm, Smog Pump, etc.

Click to expand...

Cool, the ones I've borrowed seemed to have only a diaphram.

Mom is a nurse, she gave me a set of 'Scopes. Works especially well for finding leaks because the stream blows directly into the hose. Could cause hearing damage.

I guess the mechanics stethoscopes never impressed me enough to buy one and trade in my screwdriver for doing noise probes.

 

TheEvII

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

162

0

0

Lakemoor Il.

Jun 16, 2005

#17

• Jun 16, 2005

• #17

Yep. Done the screwdriver thing a million times.