Blown Apart!

[prophecymiller]

This is what I call a high flow gasket! What do you suppose this could be caused by?


http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/3892/turbinegasketxu5.jpg

[drcustom]

Lots of heat...usually from running lean.

[Kibo]

In my experience, it's pretty common to blow out that gasket once the OEM fire ring has been removed. Loose turbo bolts and a missing downpipe brace will contribute to the problem. My recommendations would be:


Use the 2G method of dual concave washers cupped against each other under each turbo bolt
Replace the turbo bolts, and use high-quality anti-seize. I use this stuff (http://www.henkelna.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_us/hs.xsl/1554_USE_HTML.htm?countryCode=us&BU=ut&parentredDotUID=brands&redDotUID=0000000I5F), as recommended by Grocmax.
Don't use a copper gasket. I've had nothing but problems with all the different types (dead/soft, embossed, etc.). Just IMO.

[sbiggi]

I was melting the SS ones untill I resurfaced the manifold and turbo.

[WANTED]

I've had that happen quite a few times. Was caused by a bad exhaust leak, which turned out to be a burr in the manifold. Could have been a machining error, I've never been fully sure to this day. But a trip to the machine shop fixed the issue right up..

[99mitsuspyder]

I also had the surfaces on my manifold trued and never had a problem again.