Blew out a Remflex gasket WTF?!?!?

[jpwalt1987]

I was leaving the post office today and eased into the gas a bit, probably about 18psi boost and heard something funny. Damn gasket blew out on #2 cylinder towards the turbo. These gaskets have about a 1000 miles and were torqued to about 20-25 ft lbs. anyone else have this happen?

 

[williamsGN]

Did you do a retorque after some heat cycles. I don't have problems, but I run Copper RTV 'gaskets'

 

[jpwalt1987]

No I didn't retorque them. Not supposed to need it. I will check the torque before I tear it apart to see if the bolts loosened up.

 

[S10xGN]

I removed my Remflex EG's and replaced them with a thin smear of silicone after blowing out #4 last year. Found out (after the fact) that I wasn't supposed to use the factory torque spec, but even so, there was < 1/8" of gasket material where it blew...

 

[gnfanatic]

my remflex have seen 30 psi, no issues at all. I havent touched them in about 4 years

 

[1KWIKSIX]

I was leaving the post office today and eased into the gas a bit, probably about 18psi boost and heard something funny. Damn gasket blew out on #2 cylinder towards the turbo. These gaskets have about a 1000 miles and were torqued to about 20-25 ft lbs. anyone else have this happen?

Here's your problem......20-25 ft lbs torque.
Remflex only recommend 15 or 16lbs torque on these gaskets. You've overtorqued them.

 

[jpwalt1987]

I could have sworn that the instructions said 20ft lbs. ??????? Oh well. Got a new set on order already. Gotta check everything out and make sure the manifolds are good also. I'll update on what I find.

 

[jpwalt1987]

Found the problem. Header bolts on that cylinder were loose. Barely needed any force with a 1/4 inch drive ratchet to remove. They must have backed off since installation because I know I tightened them more than that.

 

[TurboBuRick]

With stock headers you are better off with no gaskets. Have the flange flattened on a belt sander then use a thin film of high temp rtv.

RL

 

[Jerryl]

With stock headers you are better off with no gaskets. Have the flange flattened on a belt sander then use a thin film of high temp rtv.

RL

Agree.

My philosophy on header and exhaust gaskets is;
They work . . . if done right . . . but also limit the heat transfer unless you use copper gaskets.
With the reduction in heat transfer . . . you keep more heat in the exhaust for spooling . . but also increase the chance of warping and cracking.

 

[jpwalt1987]

These are some old school BGC headers that Keith mease supposedly made/designed back in the late 90s/early2000s mates to a set of GN1 aluminum heads. I am going to check the flatness of the flanges with a straight edge and correct if necessary.

 

[TurboBob]

Agree.

My philosophy on header and exhaust gaskets is;
They work . . . if done right . . . but also limit the heat transfer unless you use copper gaskets.
With the reduction in heat transfer . . . you keep more heat in the exhaust for spooling . . ...........................

I doubt anyone could ever detect the difference.

 

[TurboBob]

On my old engine, the header bolts kept loosening themselves (usually the rear ones). The only thing that stopped that was a set of "stage 8" header bolts with the locking clips.

Bob

 

[Jerryl]

I doubt anyone could ever detect the difference.

Agreed.

 

[CGASTON]

My #6 blew with less than 100 miles on them and I torque them at 14-15#. i am going to contact Mark and see it there is a warranty or something. I may just go back to felpro 1400.

Clint

 

[TurboBuRick]

Huh, go figure.

 

[jpwalt1987]

Found that the flange surface was warped. Bad. Had to bolt it to an old iron head and break out the torch. Got it close then had to use the belt sander, file and straight edge. We will see how this works out this week. It is within .005 flat across the entire length.

 

[meanchicken]

If your flange is warped excessively you will blow them no matter how you TQ them.

Assuming the flange is straight, when TQ-ing, don't go straight to 15lbft on each olt...instead gradually sneak up on the TQ while alternating your pattern from the middle out to the ends same way you'e TQ head. You're trying to get an even crush on the gaskets without over-TQ them.

 

[CGASTON]

If your flange is warped excessively you will blow them no matter how you TQ them.

Assuming the flange is straight, when TQ-ing, don't go straight to 15lbft on each olt...instead gradually sneak up on the TQ while alternating your pattern from the middle out to the ends same way you'e TQ head. You're trying to get an even crush on the gaskets without over-TQ them.

I know that my flanges are not warped. Why? Cause they only have 500-600 miles on the headers. I bought them new from ATR 12 + years ago before I went back into the Army and the car has sit in storage for that whole time. Not enough time for them to warp or get really hot.

 

[Pronto]

They could have been warped from ATR. Wouldn't be the first set of headers that were warped by the welding to assemble. Ask me how I know.