Turbo to stock manifold gasket or not?

[Realspool]

Some guys say that gaskets are junk,others have to use them.i want to be sure about what Im doing before dropping my Te-44 on the flange.Some guys have posted about the Riveria gasket and said they had no problems with them.Maybe i should check out this but my previous turbo had never any leaks for 5 years any i installed a new turbo with a new copper gasket.After driving it 50 rough miles a ticking noise but a noise that gets less as the car gets warmer.Who knows what to do but im leaning without a gasket here while for the exhaust manifold to the head i think a gasket would be wise there.

 

[wlaukaitis]

Hello,

I will be putting a new turbo on soon, as soon as they (precision turbo) decides to ship it. I have copper goo (not spray) that I will be using. I have a ticking/puffing noise from the DS header. I have heard that the PS side header cracks too. I am sure that the original turbo was never removed and there was no gasket when I took it off. The engineers didn't use one for a reason (at least on my car) and I think they would know better than I do, so I will not use one.

Does that make any sense?

Bill

 

[Realspool]

It does make sense if the factory didn't use a gasket why use any type of gasket.I am just going to use Permatex ultra copper.I guess i should apply a thick bead in the middle of the flange and hope i don't put to little on.I wonder if putting on alot with out it going in the header could be ok.i just want to get it on right and forget about them dam leaks.

 

[salvageV6]

Ummm, permatex copper is an RTV gasket maker.

I was recommending Ramchargers and Full Throttle perf. NOT for the Copper gaskets but FOR the Composite Graphite based gasket used on the Riviera Turbo Cars.

Hope that clears it up a bit.

I have never tried a copper gasket.

 

[Realspool]

Misunderstood ya there.

 

[YGETV8]

Yes... the factory never did use a gasket, but they were assembling a brand new turbo to a brand new header under very controlled circumstances. Are we? NO!

Anyway, I have tried copper gaskets in the past and will not use one again if they are the same old thin flat ones. An embossed copper or dead soft aluminum gasket would work awesome, I'd think, but I have never seen either one offered.

I always use a large mill bastard file to true up both surfaces, slap a little Ultra Copper on and usually have good luck. For whatever reason, that didn't work this time. I, too, am just wanting to make sure it doesn't leak this time!

I have seen the turbo Riviera gaskets, and, if I'm not mistaken, the inlet is slightly smaller than our "non hot air" turbine housing inlets, aren't they (not to mention the larger PTE housings)? Can they be easily trimmed larger if need be?

Thanks all!

Jay

 

[mgmshar]

It's amazing how passionate people can get about gaskets...

I've had good and bad luck with copper gaskets. The first time I installed one, I didn't do a good job truing up the surfaces, and lo-and-behold, it leaked very soon after installation. This was the gasket that has the embossed ridge around the inner hole.

Then I did two things:

1. I smoothed-out the flange on the manifold (the exhaust housing was new).
2. I torqued the nuts until the embossment was fully crushed. What this means is that I kept tightening the nuts until there was no gap between the flanges and the un-embossed part of the gasket. I checked this with a .0015" feeler gauge.

The result is that the gasket does not leak, and it's been on for several months.

One thing to keep in mind - if you hear something that sounds like an exhaust leak near that joint, check your wastegate shaft. When my car is cold, the slop between the wastegate shaft and the downpipe is so large that water comes out of it.

Good Luck,

 

[YGETV8]

Mike,

May I ask where you got the embossed copper gasket? Thanks, Jay

 

[mgmshar]

I got them from Precision Turbo and Engine (PTE).

The embossing is only around the center hole (where the exhaust gas goes), otherwise the gasket is flat.

Just started the car prior to our winter storm tonight. I checked - no exhaust leaks. The gasket seems to be working well.

Good Luck,

 

[salvageV6]

Measured the composite gasket spares I have.

2.125" hole.

Same as in my spare TA62 I also measured Garrett .68 housing.

Gasket is a bit larger than the inlet to the stock turbo I measured at 2.1" or so.

I guess that's why I just put them on and go. Never had to port one of them for any of my turbos.

 

[8UWITH6]

Ive always used copper coat. Crossover pipe, header to heads, and manifold to turbo. Seems to work just fine (for me). HTH

 

[Realspool]

Thats what it looks like im going to do myself.Smarter decision.