Winter Maintenance

[Top Speed]

good work

[gnonyx]

The good work is now rework
I'm trying to solve the high BLM numbers of around 136-141
This is after replacing the throttle body seals that were leaking vacuum
Now in the process of working on the downpipe donut, EGR removal, and maybe somewhere an exhaust leak or a pre-turbo leak.
Steve and some other mentors have been helping me out to which I'm greatly grateful.
Will continue to posts

[Steve Wood]

The downpipe side does not affect the readings

[gnonyx]

The downpipe side does not affect the readings

I agreed the downpipe has nothing to do with the reading, it's just one more thing that I thought was taken care of, but was still an exhaust leak

[gnonyx]

All the work of trying to find my problem with the high blm reading is when I finally found the culprit.
I try to do something different and it work out great
I used my homemade smoke machine and connected to the downpipe A/F sensor; connected my shop vac machine to the tail pipe and block off the other end of the tail pipe.
Once I started the smoke machine and the shop vac, is when I notice some smoke and misted baby oil leaking from the driver side header gasket. What really annoys me is I replaced these header gasket about 10 years ago and haven't driven the car. During that time all of the spec was reading within the normal spec, including the BLM of 129.
I believe I used copper header gasket with no silicone and everything went well; so once my transmission gasket get deliver and installed is when I remove the driver side header.   

[gnonyx]

What is a good header gaskets copper, Remflex, or Fel-Pro?

[Scoobum]

Cheapass Felpro. They're hooked on the ends so they're easy to change.

[gnonyx]

Cheapass Felpro. They're hooked on the ends so they're easy to change.

Would it be feasible to get Fel-Pro gasket and use the Permatex copper spray a gasket hi temp sealant?

[Scoobum]

The Felpros compress. I just used high temp sealer.

[earlbrown]

Or just soak them in water first.  That would be cheaper.


Not as cheap as avoiding the gaskets all together, but still cheaper.

[gnonyx]

Finally got the tranny gasket, installed it dry
Start engine, warm up, and check tranny fluid all is good
After engine warm up, check scanmaster and the blm is now 160, I guess the mist of baby oil finally gave more opening between the driver side header and crossover pipe.
Is there a donut between the driver side header and cross over pipe?

[Scoobum]

No donuts.

[Scoobum]

If you need a new crossover pipe cuz the lip on yours has rusted away with age...don't buy the one from Kirbans. It doesn't come anywhere close to fitting.