blown head gasket? Please Help!

[TsiJohn333]

I have a really bad exhaust leak somewhere which is causing a really slow spool now. i just replaced the turbo because i had one stud that was broken off in my exhaust manifold to turbo thinking that was the leak. i replaced the turbo, i replaced the exhaust manifold gasket, turbo to exhaust manifold gasket, the o2 housing to turbo gasket and the o2 housing to the downpipe gasket and it STILL sounds like a really bad exhaust leak. it sounds like its coming from right under the exhaust manifold and my exhaust manifold is it perfect condition. could this be the symptoms of a blown headgasket?

 

[WES_393]

I would check for cracks as well as the O2 housing to downpipe gasket. Usually blown head gaskets will cause coolant loss and overheating. I have never personally seen a headgasket leak exhaust out from under the head.

 

[herms99gst]

Are you sure its a exhaust leak? Is their anyway you can pist a video of the sound your hearing?

 

[codeofdastreets]

I cant see this being a blown hg, there would be much worse sign"s then what you have posted.. Check all gaskets on exshaust from manifold to dp, also make sure all studs and nuts are tight and there..

 

[TsiJohn333]

ill post a video right now hold on

 

[99gst214]

If you had access to a smoke machine you could find your leak alot easier! This def doesn't sound like a HG. Vid will help! I do agree with checking for a cracked exhaust component.

 

[TsiJohn333]

20111221_214816.mp4 - YouTube

heres a short clip i took with my phone

 

[urmomsaniceguy]

Have you had you manifold checked to make sure its true and straight? If its warped the gasket won't seal properly. I have the same issue, I'm almost 99% sure my manifold is warped.

 

[TsiJohn333]

i didnt know you could warp a manifold. i might have an extra one laying around so ill throw that on and see what happens. how would i warp it tho since i never overheated or anything. i replaced the exhaust manifold gasket about 2 weeks ago with a copper one with sealing rings on it from extemepsi. IMO i dont think that would cause the issue but i could be wrong.

 

[99gst214]

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

From ffwdconnection. (embossed copper gasket)
You might also consider one of these. They work amazing. And by warped it means that the flange matting to the head is not true and 100% flat. It could be this, one of the other gaskets isn't sealing or there is a crack or hole in one of the components. This is def an exhaust leak tho!

 

[TsiJohn333]

thats the gasket i have right now that i ordered two weeks ago. the reason i ordered it is because i had 3 snapped exhaust manifold studs and thought eh this could be a band aid until i get the arp exhaust mani studs. Do you think i blew this gasket with the 3 snapped bolts and thats what could be causing my slow spool and my exhaust leak since its a pre turbo leak?

 

[urmomsaniceguy]

Wait...... You are still missing the three broken exhaust studs? If so YES that would cause a leak. I have one and it leaks from where its missing. On top of it being warped at the turbo/manifold mating surface.

 

[romeen]

Although I've never personally used the copper exhaust manifold gasket there are several threads with guys reporting their copper gaskets blowing out. It seems that they seal up well initially but weaken and fail after some driving. Not saying that it's necessarily the situation with you. Have you looked for the tell tale black soot marks around the gaskets?

The OEM 4 layer stainless steel gaskets for EVO's has earned a very good reputation. That's what I've been using for the last few years.

 

[TsiJohn333]

i replaced the three studs that where broken the other day but didnt change a thing. And now that you mention it, i do have the black soot marks around the gasket. On each end at cylinder 1 and 4 and towards the bottom of it as well.

Are the evo exhaust manifold gaskets a direct fit for our car and between what years. 03-06?

 

[russ96gst]

It probably blew due to the broken bolts, now that you have changed them, I would say you now need to change the gasket once agan.

 

[TsiJohn333]

i think im gonna get an oem evo gasket and try that out. what year do i get it for?

 

[WES_393]

Are the evo exhaust manifold gaskets a direct fit for our car and between what years. 03-06?

They have different heads so I don't think they are. I could be wrong. But a gasket won't fix a warped exhaust manifold. And an OEM Evo gasket isn't any better than a stock DSM gasket. In fact it might be worse since it is made for a totally different head. Take the manifold to a machine shop and ask them to check it and mill the mating surface.

BTW I am talking about exhaust manifold gaskets, I highly doubt your head gasket is blown.

 

[romeen]

i replaced the three studs that where broken the other day but didnt change a thing. And now that you mention it, i do have the black soot marks around the gasket. On each end at cylinder 1 and 4 and towards the bottom of it as well.

Are the evo exhaust manifold gaskets a direct fit for our car and between what years. 03-06?

Yes, they are a direct fit. The part number is MR323654. ExtremePSI actually shows the same p/n for both the EVO and DSM gaskets.

http://www.extremepsi.com/store/product.php?productid=19172&cat=863&page=1

They have different heads so I don't think they are. I could be wrong. But a gasket won't fix a warped exhaust manifold. And an OEM Evo gasket isn't any better than a stock DSM gasket. In fact it might be worse since it is made for a totally different head. Take the manifold to a machine shop and ask them to check it and mill the mating surface.

BTW I am talking about exhaust manifold gaskets, I highly doubt your head gasket is blown.

The only difference between the stock EVO vs DSM exhaust manifold gaskets is that the DSM is 2 layers while the EVO has a 4 layer gasket. They are otherwise identical. The DSM gasket is probably fine for most. But if there is a tiny bit of warp the 4 layer might help seal it up better. But I agree that a perfectly flat sealing surface is the most important factor.

 

[WES_393]

The only difference between the stock EVO vs DSM exhaust manifold gaskets is that the DSM is 2 layers while the EVO has a 4 layer gasket. They are otherwise identical. The DSM gasket is probably fine for most. But if there is a tiny bit of warp the 4 layer might help seal it up better. But I agree that a perfectly flat sealing surface is the most important factor.

Thanks for clearing that up. But I still think it would just be a band-aid to a bigger problem. A machine shop wouldn't charge more than $30-40 to plane the manifold. So for the price of the 4 layer gasket plus shipping, you could have a perfectly flat exhaust mani.

 

[Turbotsiawd]

Yeah I would just have the manifold milled.
Or now would be a great excuse to upgrade to
A forced performance log style mani that flows
Better then stock.

 

[TsiJohn333]

well i had my exhaust manifold milled for a case of beer and spanked on a new exhaust manifold gasket and no more leak! thanks everyone for the help!

 

[ulitka]

well i had my exhaust manifold milled for a case of beer and spanked on a new exhaust manifold gasket and no more leak! thanks everyone for the help!

Glad your issue is resolved! What kind of an exhaust manifold gasket did you install?

 

[TsiJohn333]

I installed a 7 layer cosmetic exhaust manifold gasket. Imho its way better than my old copper gasket

 

[Calan]

I installed a 7 layer cosmetic exhaust manifold gasket.

 

[TsiJohn333]

!!!! i mean 4 layer gasket! i used the dsm/evo one. i used my phone to type that last post real quick and was talking with my buddy about the cometic head gaskets! How embarrassing!