Hi everyone,

An year or two ago, I was recommended GM aluminum gaskets for my MAC headers.

Since I've had MAC headers, I've had an exhaust leak I just could not pinpoint. I even did !egr just to make sure that wasn't leaking.

Anyway, I took the car to "Carrtech" performance exhausts over at mission viejo. I described my problem to him (slight ticking at idle, turns into hiss under load and hesitates), and he said it is undoubtedly one of the ports leaking through a blown gasket.

I then told him I had brand new aluminum gaskets on it, and he told me that's the reason. Apparently, aluminum gaskets leak, a lot? He recommended some hi-temp graphipte/paper gaskets.

So, I'm going to swap gaskets and hopefully my ticking will go away.

What are your experiences with paper/alum gaskets? Are aluminum gaskets as bad as he made them sound?

 

Dead soft copper gaskets are great.. I used them with my old macs.. I used some copper RTV around the ports too.. I have a set laying in my garage.. 20 bucks shipped if you want them... They are in perfect shape..

 

I used copper gaskets with my MACs at first...that was a mistake. After about 2 weeks I went back in and changed them out with the paper ones they sent me and there is no leaks now.

 

I have copper gaskets and no problems. If you use paper gaskets, soak them in water for about 30 min. It will swell the gaskets and make them seat better.

 

I have the percys dead soft aluminum gaskets and they definitely leak. It seems like these gaskets are rediculously easy to overtorque creating leaks.

 

We tried the aluminums on a buddy's car and they leaked...the Fel-Pro's work great.

 

i went through about 4 sets of fel pro's in about a year, gm factory ones are in now and seem to be doing ok.

 

i have used Aluminum gaskets on some cars before and they were horrible, took them back off and trashed them. normal paper gaskets are horrible too, they turn very hard and brittle and leak a lot. i have used copper on a few combos too with poor results. i have had my best luck with Mr Gasket Ultraseal gaskets. they dont get so hard like normal paper ones and seal much better/longer. after a few heat cycles after the initial install you will need to go back and retighten the bolts since the gaskets will compress some with heat. if you dont retighten them leaks will eventually form or your bolts will back out. that applies to pretty much any paper/fiber based gaskets

 

I had Gm aluminum gaskest and they leaked I now have Mr Gasket coppers and they still leak so I doubled them up with GM aluminums and the coppers and so far so good.

 

 

I have had my Fel-Pros on for about 3 years now. I retightend the header bolts during a few heat cycles when I first installed the headers and haven't had a problem yet. Very good gaskets.

 

Fel-Pros have treated me just fine. Make sure to retorque them though.

 

I actually now use Earl's Plumbing Aluminum gaskets with Silicone/Graphite inserts. The body of the gasket is aluminum, and the area around where the header primaries are is a fat insert. This eliminates flex, and a lot of gasket burnout. Also helps them seal. I am very pleased.

ACDELCO - Burned out
Felpros - Burned out a little, but not as bad as the...
Copper Mr. Gasket - TERRIBLE. Did not seal at all
Regular Mr. Gasket - Burned out

 

I agree completely.. you're list of the ones tried almost matches mine line for line..

I put the Earls on, and they are SWEET... sealed everything right up.. no more leaks...

 

no one mentioned bolts!? I used jet hots paper gaskets with Breslin 12 pt locking bolts never retorqued them. 5000 hard miles almost a year and no leaks!