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I don't know If this works or not. basically the car sounds like a little turbodiesel engine when it is started. then no sound. only when the throttle is blipped you can hear the whispy sound

While you were checking out the manifold did you check out the heat shields? There's 2-3 of them on the manifold, o2 housing, and further down the exhaust.

the only heat sheild I removed was the top one that covers the manifold itself.
i soaked all the studs in WD40 and checked to see if they were loose, the last two (top and bottom) were loose and I re-tightend them.

the burnt mark on the head from exhaust gas was not as evident as some pictures I'm seeing. and its only right there above were the loose nut was. it was not near as dark and large as some I've seen.

who knows it could be a combo of that, and some other flange leaks...really I'll probably end up replacing all the gaskets on every bit manifold -> back until I see a reduction. Ill also be going through and checking leaks on the intake side. I really hate those stupid C-spring clamp things lol. I wouldn't mind replacing them all with screw on clamps or T-bolt clamps

update:

Finally the gasket I ordered came in, its a multi-layered steel material for the manifold to head, but I cant find the gasket for the turbine inlet (manifold-to-turbo) inlet anywhere! should I go ahead and re-use the turbine inlet gasket?

curious as to what is the best way to tell if the manifold surface is warped? Do i just try to line up a T-square on it or will it be such a minor imperfection that I won't know?

also I'd Really like to replace the stock spring clamps on the intake piping with bolt-type clamps, All i can find are the other type that use a Phillips head and have the serrated band....Do you think that they work about the same or should I wait until I can get the T-bolt style?

also going to change both trans and Diff fluids today. engine oil will follow.

Best way is to have brought it to a machine shop to be checked while it was off :(

Edit: never mind. Read MLS thought head gasket.