Multiple gaskets on exhaust manifold

Hi folks.
When I took the exhaust manifolds off my 2002 4.0l V8 I found that 3 gaskets had been put on each position. ie 12 gaskets in total. Don't know if this was done at the factory or later. I guess I should put a straight edge across the manifolds to see how flat they are. Just seems a bit excessive to me.
Anyone come across this before?

Berserkerboy said:

Hi folks.
When I took the exhaust manifolds off my 2002 4.0l V8 I found that 3 gaskets had been put on each position. ie 12 gaskets in total. Don't know if this was done at the factory or later. I guess I should put a straight edge across the manifolds to see how flat they are. Just seems a bit excessive to me.
Anyone come across this before?

Click to expand...

Yes, used to be very common on old 6 cylinder petrol series as they ran a long manifold that often warped a little and using 2 or even 3 gaskets with gun gum between the gaskets not the manifold and block faces helped seal them up as machining used to be expensive.

These days machining is cheap, run the manifolds in to a machine shop and get them faced off, and if you're pulling the heads do your sen a favour and get the exhaust ports gasket matched, only a little extra work but very worth it.

Otherwise, put back together using same number of gaskets? The gaskets are in good condition and have had no sealants used, can I reuse them?

Berserkerboy said:

Hi folks.
When I took the exhaust manifolds off my 2002 4.0l V8 I found that 3 gaskets had been put on each position. ie 12 gaskets in total. Don't know if this was done at the factory or later. I guess I should put a straight edge across the manifolds to see how flat they are. Just seems a bit excessive to me.
Anyone come across this before?

Click to expand...

some gaskets are mls multi layer gaskets