copper gaskets

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 11:27 am

Has anyone tried using a copper gasket between the exhaust manifold and the down pipe? I am on my 3rd steal one. I have used two types of muffler putty as well.

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:31 pm

Copper being softer than steel will probably wear/distort quicker than a steel one.

What is happening to the steel ones?

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:19 pm

the steel ones are OK for about two days, then they start leaking.

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:20 pm

Is this because your exhaust is flopping about, or do you drive over alot of rough roads?

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:27 pm

the roads I drive this car on are not too rough(mainly freeway to work) and I do not think it is flopping about.

Post Wed Sep 17, 2014 2:43 pm

Are all the hangers in place, and is it an OEM-spec exhaust, or aftermarket/pattern?

Post Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:43 pm

It is not an OEM pattern. I just matched the old blown up one with one in the motor parts shop. It looked the same shape. The Hangers are all fixed and in good shape.

Post Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:47 pm

Therein may lie your problem - if it's not fitting to the exacting standards of an OEM-spec BMW exhaust, then you'll have issues.

Post Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:52 pm

This gasket is just not a weak point on e30s. I regularly reuse them many times, with a little exhaust paste when they get tatty, and have never seen one fail, even with the gearbox exhaust mount missing. Your hangers may be all fixed and in good shape, but I suspect at least some of them are fixed in the wrong place.
Dry fit, without a gasket, and check that the faces of the flanges are parallel to each other.