It has been since last fall that I have replaced my lower intake
gaskets SEVERAL times they keep getting leaks and going bad.
I have no clue why.
This is on my ES Stealth , NA
No engine mods,
K&N intake, also chrome cold air intake. That's it.
When I replace I have clean surfaces and torque to spec.
What is going wrong?????
Is there a better gasket out there? I think I got my last set
from Napa.
Guess what their bad again!
Tim

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Why do you think your gaskets keep going bad? I don't understand.

I believe that the napa ones are more of a fiber, where as the genuine mitsubishi ones are more of a rubber that encloses a crush gasket. The mitsubishi ones you can't really re-crush.

I'm also curious like Greg, though... how do you know your intake gaskets are bad? Can you hear a vacuum leak from right there, or something?

perhaps try a mitsu gasket, and some rtv for good measure....?

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Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

My Dad who is a import mechanic and I have come to a couple
of conclusions...
About 3 sets of gaskets before you could hear the leak to some degree.
listening in the front of the motor right on the lower intake with a screw
driver to ear you could really note a louder air exchange going on and even hint of a his.
How did I know something was up, to begin with the cars RPMs would randomly drop sharply idling and then would return to normal. This is
symptomatic of a possible vaccum leak and the the coumputer senses
it but compensates for a few seconds then seems to go back to normal.
But as the leak would get worse it starts to happen much more frequently
Also a strange thing that was noticeable also was that engine seems to run louder. After I put the gaskets in the car quiets down .
Anyway my Dad and I wonder if this problem is caused by 1) bad gaskets which I have consistantly bought from Napa.
2) I have a polished Plenum and lower intake that is polished he thought maybe the mating surface was irregular. maybe even unseen to the naked eye.
When I remove the gaskets Its obvious that black silicone bead that is around each is exhaust port that has a leak looks blown out .
Does this explain it better.
When the gaskets are replaced it appears to remedy the problem.
Tim

_________________
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns because they taste funny?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Don't put it back on. your car doesn't really need a lower intake.

I'd try a mitsu gasket, personally. and a bit of RTV.

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

I agree with Linus.

I have a ported and polished plenum, and no issues, with a Mitsu gasket.

Give it a shot and let us know.

Best,

SJ

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I will be getting on this right away tomorrow . Beacause I t never really
hit home that the gaskets were crapy till like the 5th try and I am going
Why am I here again.
I bet this will work .
I will post an answer as soon as I have them in .
Tim

_________________
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns because they taste funny?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Sounds like a plan Tim.

I don't know about the rest of the crew, but I THINK most of us use OEM parts as much as we can.

Food for future purchases.

Best,

SJ

_________________


Racing is life. Everything else is just waiting.

http://umg.mn3s.org

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Why is the mating surface polished? You don't see them. If it is, then yes, this is your problem. Sand them with some 250 grit paper. The surface is too smooth for the gasket to make a seal.

Napa gaskets aren't the greatest quality either, however, I have them on my SL's intake plenum as well. *shrug* They're very thin. Don't use RTV. Looks like crap and makes pulling off the intake plenum harder than it needs to be.

Yes, as the gasket seal starts to fail, you get unmetered air into the motor which causes it to run lean and the ECU goes nuts trying to compensate. Same thing can happen if you forget to tighten the clamps for the intake hose.

Greg, the surfaces were not polished just the outside of the parts.
I have sanded the surfaces lightly the last 2 times I have replaced
them. Mainly due to part of the gaskets sticking to either the lower
intake or to the head.

I called on Thursday and ordered the gaskets from Van's Mits in
GreenBay I will get them on Tuesday or Friday next week.

It will be interesting to see what they cost in comparison to Napa.
Tim

_________________
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns because they taste funny?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

Well got the parts yesterday.
First) the price 51.00 for the 3 sum of the upper and lower gaskets.
2nd) the diffrence in gaskets NAPA = total flimsy paper gasket
MITS= gasket/ aluminum/ gasket. NIGHT AND DAY diffrence.
Got that gasket in 2 hrs ( distractions from the kids) Car is fixed again and ran great today. I had to drive it 100 miles today round trip and it rean really good. no problems noted. After looking at that its gasket I know that I probably never have a leak for a long time.
My old gaskets had visible leaks/ tears from expanding and contracting in 5 of 6 cylinders!
Thanks for your help everyone!
Tim

_________________
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns because they taste funny?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?