What's the record for the most exhaust gaskets on one engine?

Just took the exhaust manifolds of my D2 2003 V8 and whoever took them off last time used 3 gaskets everywhere, a total of 12 gaskets. I don't know if they just kept the old ones and added new but it didn't look right.

I've heard that if they have double gaskets from the factory it's a good idea to do the same, so I had already bought 2 sets but surely 3 gaskets is just creating even more surfaces that have to seal and not leak?

I'm wondering what's best to do when they go back on. Anyone seen this before?

I haven't seen the use of multiple gaskets on any engine I've ever worked on, nor can I think of a reason for doing it, other than maybe the exhaust manifold is warped and a previous owner used a number of gaskets in an effort to thicken up the seal and to hopefully take up the effects of any warping.
I would certainly get the manifolds checked to make sure that their mating faces are true.

Put a straight edge across manifold to assess what it’s like

Just two of the tandem style manifold gaskets are fitted to each manifold, therefore four baskets in total. The reason for doubling up on gaskets would only be to stop the leaking of the exhaust gases.

What's your reason for removing the manifolds now, do u know why they were removed previously? Overheated engine maybe giving cause for the tubular manifolds to warp and plus the head gasket replacement.




Sent from my iPad Air on a train.

Thanks all, yes I thought something wasn't right. The heads are coming off to get them skimmed and replace the gaskets. Had a recent overheat (just this one time), stopped within a few seconds of the red light coming on but knowing the temp gauges on these it's already too late by then. Coolant and steam was coming out of the coolant cap, a lot of pressure. Then it came home on the back of a recovery truck and the next day I topped up coolant to see how much had been lost, about 2.5 litres.

I ran it from cold for about 30 seconds and it sounded fine, no warning lights or weird noises. There was vapour coming out of the coolant even though it was cold and a strong smell of petrol and a lot of bubbles coming up in to the coolant tank. It had also been making a very loud ticking sound but only when warmed up not from cold so I was going to check the exhaust and gaskets anyway.

I don't have the manifolds off the car just detached from the heads. I wasn't planning on removing them but it does look like that has to be done now.

The heads will be coming off in the next day or two and I'll post pictures of what I find. Anyone recommend a mail order head skimming service? If I take them to be skimmed it's going to be bus and a walk so I'd rather just send them off somewhere and wait.

Ok sounds as u are on top of it and have a plan, if you lucky it may be just a head gasket replacement and no requirement to skim anything.
To add to your list if not already there is, try and identify where that tapping or ticking sound is coming from, I sure you have heard that a cylinder liner can become loose following an over heated all alloy V8 engine, there's a video on U Tube on that subject, something to check when u have sight of the cylinder bores.
Anyway the best of luck as I may be Mr doom and gloom .

Plymouth is a big place, no doubt there an engineering company that will skim your cylinder heads not too far from you.

Thanks, yes I wouldn't be surprised if it's a liner. The ticking was quiet at first but got a lot louder over about 2000 miles of driving. So it did sound like a small exhaust gap getting gradually bigger. Do you know how engines with slipped liners usually die? I'm wondering if it was a liner that has slowly destroyed the gasket.

And you're right, I'm sure I'll find somewhere local for skimming. I won't know if it's worth it until the heads are off, bit of a delay with that but should be this weekend latest. Thanks for your help.

@Basil1973 These chaps are in Cattledown - is that near you?

http://www.paulinch.co.uk/

Spong said:

@Basil1973 These chaps are in Cattledown - is that near you?

http://www.paulinch.co.uk/

Click to expand...

Several years ago they rebuilt a Rover V8 for one of my old mates, new high lift cam, honed the bores out, crank grind, 15 thou off the heads and they even machined the intake as it didn't match the heads after so much machining over it's lifetime.

Bloody thing went like a rocket and they weren't silly expensive either. Can be a bit of a lead time as they used to scratch build engines from components.

Got the heads off, the gaskets looked fine but I've got what looks like coolant in cylinder 4. I can't see how it was getting in there unless it's coming up the back of the liner, not good. What are the options in order of cost?

https://goo.gl/hAcjfC

Spong said:

@Basil1973 These chaps are in Cattledown - is that near you?

http://www.paulinch.co.uk/

Click to expand...

Thanks for that, yeah I think I know the place so definitely could take them there. I'm not sure I'm going to need to now though, see post above.

Are you also asking about this in the V8 section of the forum, here....
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/its-a-v8-mate.42/

I started a thread there about the secondary air pipes getting in the way. But there's someone else in the V8 forum at the moment with a thread about an overheating V8 as well. Sorry if I've posted this thread in the wrong place.