terky

I am putting new downey headers on my 22r and after i got them on and started it there are 2 exhaust leaks on both sides under where the exhaust enters the headers.

Its my only car and i need to know if its ok to drive it until i can get another gasket or if you guys know anything that will help stop the leak.

Thanks

rimpainter.com

Its ok to drive for a short period of time. The gaskets will eventually blow out completely, and you will have no power at all.

What do you mean by "under where the exhaust enters the headers"? Are you talking about the exhaust ports of the head? Or the header primaries that meet at the collector? Got pics?

cubuff4runner

Go buy a lot of Bubblegum!!!

96 is right, it should be fine for a little while, but it will eventually blow out the gasket completely and really sould like crap.

terky

Ok thanks. i just need to get to school and work. I will be getiing a new gasket from downey tomorrow. they say not to use the regular gasket cuz it isnt strong enough, does anybody know if Autozone would have a gasket that could handle it?

EDIT: Yeah the exhaust ports, it seems like the gasket split in half and the exhaust is leaking out between the 2 sides.

mikedog

Are you using copper based RTV sealant on both sides of the header gaskets? When I put my Thorley header on, I had to make sure to put a large bead of sealant on both sides of the header gaskets.

Oh yeah, did you replace the stock header nuts with stage-8 nuts or bolts? The factory OEM (exhaust manifold) nuts are a "one-time-use" part. If you reuse them, they won't tighten properly leading to leaks at the flange area in the future.

terky

Nope didnt change the nuts, where can i get some more? And the instructions said to just spray it with the copper sealant, Is there something else i should put on there too?

Horseshoeing

All of my toyota trucks leaked somewhere. If I fixed one leak , It started to leak somewhere else. I'm on my 3rd truck now. Is this just me?

terky

bump

rimpainter.com

The sealant will be in a tube. Just get a new gasket and use the sealant (follow the instructions on the tube). Then be sure to cross-torque it slowly and use new nuts.

terky

can i get the nuts at a place like Autozone?

terky

Ok wnet to autozone and got everything. I got a gasket from Fel-pro. In the felpro box there are 2 gaskets. one that has metal on one side and the other is paper or whatever on both sides. which gasket should i use?

terky

bump

terky

Ok i put a new gasket on tightened it all up and now i am going to let it sit and let the sealant dry, i figure if its wet when i start it with my luck i will blow a big hole in the seal. anyways thanks for all your help guys!!!

tallboy

Terky

I have been running a stock gasket with my Downey header for about 4years with no leaks. When I got my header I use Downey gasket and even follwed there instruction's and it leaked. I remember something about that if you used a stock gasket it would mess up the egr system. But that was not the case. It works fine more me even in the hot summer days in az.


Greg