gasket silicone on turbo = bad idea, right?

[Korndogg]

hey all
real quick question

i have used and liked gasket forming (high temp) sillicone on my catback, and i was just thinking about installing my new downpipe when it gets here as well as a new turbo in the future... but i can't use this silicone ont he turbo like between manifold and turbo and turbo to dp, can i? i imagine it would fry the silicone..

how hot does the turbo get?

thanks guys

 

[Dan7040]

I don't believe there is a silicone that could withstand that sort of heat. The turbo/manifold gets extremely hot. I spent five minutes trying to drudge up an old pic of a turbo cast glowing bright red after a run, but to no avail. Are you worried about proper sealing? A copper gasket on the manifold and a OEM O2 gasket will not leak when installed properly. If your worried about money youll proabbly only spend about $15 for both gaskets which im sure pales in comparison to the new turbo/downpipe you bought.

 

[Korndogg]

thanks for the reply
i know that it gets red hot, not sure what kind of temps it takes to make it red hot though

i was mostly just curious but it would also be more convenient then ordering special gaskets

mostly curiousity though

thanks

 

[Defiant]

how hot does the turbo get?

On the order of 500°F, or a bit more.

 

[eboy0]

Sorry to bring up this extremely old post, but I was thinking of doing the same thing.
From what I can remember, the RTV Copper holds up to 700f..

 

[marcmsj]

Sorry to bring up this extremely old post, but I was thinking of doing the same thing.
From what I can remember, the RTV Copper holds up to 700f..

It would still probably fail. why not just pick up a gasket? it's only a few dollars and you'll be doing it right and now have to worry about it.

 

[dsm-onster]

Ford turbo manuals still recommend the high temp silicone. The reason is that yes the material will burn, and yes it will powderize. But that powder still locks and seals the minute gaps between the gasket and the surfaces. . . . BTW ford turbo manifolds do not use a gasket between the head and manifold. . .BUT, the manifold flange is shaped differently. Probably to allow for flexing.

 

[Dream On]

I've got it between my manifold and turbo, and turbo and o2 housing. It seals perfect, and has for about a year now.

 

[Splitpi]

the RTV Copper holds up to 700f..

... thats intermitten...not sustained. Which means it "should" last for some time however. But that is also non-definitive.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Buy a frickin $10.00 SS gasket from one our fine vendors and never worry about it again. The tube of RTV probably cost that much alone.

 

[lordnikon_04]

Exactly, if you're going to be doing something, especially with the turbo, use the change under you couch cushions to go buy the proper gaskets so you don't have to take everything apart later just to replace a gasket.

 

[Ajax]

Well am having a diff. kind of issue no one seems to be able to tell me what housing I have so I can't buy a gasket took a chance and bought a T4 and thats to big. So I just bought a sheet of exhaust gasket material the good kind I think its ceramic with reinforced wire. That should work right? I can look at the label tonight.