Question, and could use some opinions..
 

well I bought my berk HFC's used, and it didnt come with any gaskets to go between the exhaust manifold and the cat. Couldnt buy any locally, so i was SOL. Well the guy helping me install them recommended we use liquid gasket, which basically is a tube filled with high temp silicone. We put it on around the flanges/bolt areas, etc, and bolted it down. Mind you, there wasnt a whole lot of space between the exhaust manifold and cat when it was bolted up. We applied the stuff, bolted em down good and tight, let it dry, and I went on my merry way. Anyone ever use this stuff? Do you think it will hold up? The stuff said its good up to 500 degrees, and he says he's used it to connect headers to exhausts before, what do you guys think?

I have used it many times on my Snowmobile exhaust systems which I would be willing to bet get hotter than those will. If it is good quality stuff than it should hold up just fine. Thats not too say that somewhere down the line I wouldn't replace it with the actual gaskets. I do recommend re-applying the liquid gasket at least once a year though to maintain it's sealing ability.

why didn't you reuse the cooper gasket from the og cat? if the gasket diameter is smaller than the hfc you can remove some of the inside gasket to match the hfc diameter flange or reuse the gasket like I did without modifying it. the crap you put on the flanges to serve as a gasket is eventually going to leak and you will be under the car again so take for what it's worth....

the stock cats have a lip that fits inside the exhaust manifold pipe, goes in about 1/4 inch with a copper ring around it to seal it. I was unable to use this on my Berks because they dont have that little lip for the ring to fit around. If it does in fact begin to have leak issues, I'll go to the berk site and buy the gaskets.

The gasket that Berk provides is towards the engine side the of the hfc other side towards the rear of the car is where you reuse the cooper gasket.

yeah, I re-used the copper gasket toward the rear, I didnt get the ones toward the engine. Thats where I used the silicone gasket stuff.

ive used it before on a milltek system i have on my previous car.

it works fine if you apply enough and correctly.

Not that that would have been my first choice but beings you didn't have a gasket it will work.I've used it many times and have always had good results.So don't worry you should be okay.

thanks for the reassurance gentlemen, this is only a temporary fix, 2-3 months tops, when I add the headers, i'll add some real gaskets.

Did you check the inside flaps of the box they sometimes staple it to the box. when I got mine I thought the same thing till I saw it stapled to the inside flap if not they goofed.

500 Celcius, maybe, 500F - not a chance.

Exhaust temps are around 1200-1400F.

I'd be surprised if that stuff is still there after the drive home....seriously.




Call up Berk, order the correct gaskets, install them, and don't worry.

I bought them from another member, I think he forgot to include them. And in response to kannibul, I've been driving it hard for 2 days so far, no issues or SES light for that matter, being that its before the O2, if there are any leak problems, it would throw a code.

You sir are a funny guy... LOL... you know that 500C > 500F right? 500C is more like 932F hahaha ... and exhaust temps are NOT 1200F thats more like your manifold temps...

OK, 2 things.

1) I was refering to "Do you think it will hold up...it's rated for 500 degrees" - as in, if it was rated 500C sure, but not if it's rated 500F.

2) What do you think the HFC gasket he's referring to( and being replaced with a silicone sealant), is connected to, other than the HFC?

:tiphat:

Just an annoying exhaust leak contact Berks or head to a local muffler shop they might have it in stock for a couple buck's and if you don't feel like getting under it for some a little cash they can do it in no time.