There are two flanges on my passanger side header for emmisions equipment. I believe the back flange is for the egr system, but I don't know what the front one is for. And the front flange is were I'm having the problem.

I've had this connection apart several times without a problem. However, back in the summer I had the connection apart and ever since then I can't get it to seal. I've tried new gaskets and everything.

When you put your hand by the connection you can't feel any exhaust leak, but at WOT the O2's are around 0.88 on the passanger's side and 0.93 on the driver's side. And the SES light is on. The O2 numbers are approximate because I'm going off of memory and don't ask me what the trouble code was. I think it was something like a bad heater circuit on the passanger side O2.

Anyway, I tried Permatex Ultra Copper Gasket Maker. This worked for like a day. After I used the gasket maker and let it cure for two days the car ran great. Both the driver's side and passanger's side O2's were around 0.93 at WOT, the SES light was off, and the car felt stronger. Unfortunately, the gasket maker started to disolve, the SES light came back on, and the passanger's side O2 gradually went back to 0.88 at WOT.

I tried using the gasket maker several times and each time the same result. The auto parts store claims Permatex Ultra Copper Gasket Maker is the best stuff for high temperature applications. Apparently not for me though.

Any suggestions of how I can fix this leak would be appreciated!


Thanks and sorry for the long post,

Jim

 

I'd say get a new factory gasket an dmake sure the mating surfaces are flat.

 

just put a ton of red RTV in there
i did that on my factory manifolds, and never had a problem
also used it on my MAC's with the blockoff plates without any prob's

 

Thanks for the replies!

Tomorrow I'm going to check the mating surfaces to make sure they're flat and install another gasket. If that doesn't work I'll try the red RTV.

Thanks again!