Gasket between Manifold,Turbo, and Downpipe.
 

Do you guys use gaskets between these components?

I am just planning ahead you know. I have been talking to some people via aim and they are saying begi kits dont come with gaskets. I am having a bit of hard time believing that the surfaces will be so perfect that they wont have exhaust leaks. I was thinking of getting gaskets, I actually have the one for the downpipe to turbo.

No.

Why not? Whats the issues with using gaskets?

If you make sure the surfaces are flat then you can go without gaskets. That said, I'm using gaskets, going on several thousand miles and no problems with them blowing out.... I'm on the Greddy kit though.
Some people have had gaskets burn and break off into the exhaust before the turbine.

cant blow a gasket that's not there. two flat surfaces = seal.

I hope there are no downside because I like a little bit of extra piece of mind. My DP and Manifold are in the mail so I am not able to check how they all mate to the turbo and im sure without some sort of instrument I wont ever know if they are perfect. But with the gasket I get a little bit of tolerance.


I agree. But surely gaskets dont just blow out, I mean they are made for a reason.

I am not questioning you, just learning, you know.

don't they have very high temperature (red) rtv type goop that can be used to seal exhausts? I have seen people put it between cat's and midpipes/mufflers. turbo heat could be too hot though.

When I got my divorced SS DP from BEGi, they sent me a gasket to use between the turbine and downpipe, along with new studs and all that other hardware. I don't think I'll be using it though. Haven't ever had a problem. I'm just going to make sure that the turbine exit is flat before installing the DP.

Gaskets do blow out. I have a copper one with a huge hole burned right through the side of it. They get hotspots and cause issues and leaks. If you have a gasket go bad the leaking heat/exhaust can cause the flange to warp increasing the problem. If your surfaces are flat, when they warm up they will tighten up a little bit to cure small leaks. If the flanges are flat and you bolt them up tight without a gasket they should never have problems. I'll never use gaskets again.

I ran 7000 miles without gaskets and just installed one between the turbo and the manifold.

Next time the turbo comes off, the gasket comes off with it.

Thanks guys, no gasket it is.

a gasket isnt going to save you if the surfaces become untrue. the gasket will blow. replace the gasket, the gasket will blow.

mill the surfaces and replace the gasket, the gasket will eventually blow.

mill the surfaces and dont replace the gasket, and the gasket will never blow. if the surfaces become untrue again for some reason, you'll still need to have them remilled.

no gaskets.

No gasket, but use the orange copper RTV :bigtu:

More info on this stuff.

RTV for a turbo gasket is the equivalent of the straw house piggy #1 built.

Thats good. I lolled IRL.

I went through tons of them on my old vr6t.