make your own Turbo gaskets? cheaper alternative?
 

I'm looking at the prices on these turbo gaskets and they are ridiculous! I need the turbo-downpipe gasket and its looking like $50! I looked at the prices for engine - manifold and manifold-turbo, and the prices are insanely pricey. I've used copper silicone before and it doesn't work

Anyone know an aftermarket company that makes a good replacement?

How about making your own material that would hold up?

Just a note, because I know some people are going to swear by rtv silicone. I used to also! I took my turbo setup apart recently and saw black leakage area from turbo to downpipe. I did not see it from my manifold-turbo, probably because this is a multilayer gasket that is ok to reuse. My downpipe gasket is probably an origion RB gasket the precious owner had

You can sometimes find good used gaskets for sale if you ask around.

I got an s5 Turbo to manifold gasket and a backplate with bolts for $25 shipped.

the OE gaskets are $$, but they last the life of the car vs 10 minutes for the aftermarket junk.

I dont think I recall anyone ever suggesting RTV for the turbo gasket

the OEM non turbo gaskets with the fire ring will survive, not quite as long as an OEM but they do work if you're a cheap fuck. ;)

who really thinks silicone could withstand 1600F? come on...

I've actually searched old posts and I read a ton of replies with people using it. I've tried it on my downpipe with my original gasket, and I could see where it leaked after taking it apart.

Well my buddy was telling me about using copper sheets to make gaskets. The reason is because there is no gasket for the plate at the turbo that bolts to the exhaust side. I am going to make a Bellmouthed downpipe and I need to make a gasket to seal that area. After the welding it might be a little off. I believe that stock piece looks cast, then machined flat on the mating surface

I'm telling ya man try the classifieds, even Craigslist for some used ones, there's some sittng somewhere collecting dust that have no use to the owner.

I sold my extra Turbo manifold to block gasket for like 25 shipped.

you would be better off welding the bellmouth to the turbo backplate and welding a V-band onto that.

copper won't work for turbo rotary exhaust either.

link me please- no one questioned this advice?

:bss:

i've seen people try using it, the only remnants of it's existence was the junk that oozed out during assembly and even that stuff is half baked and not quite silicone anymore.

yeah dude... i'll sell you a brand new one for 25 bucks!

difference-between-s4-s5-turbo-downpipe-gaskets-754624
The other posts I saw was diferent and there were quite a few forum members saying they also used rtv copper silicone

I searched "turbo rtv". I'm sure there are plenty of others

the S5 downpipe gasket is a multi layer steel type, the S4 is the older style asbestos sandwich type.

You don't think copper sheets will hold up huh?

the results were not stellar when i fabricated a gasket from 1/16" copper sheet.

You drive an rx and you said a 50 bux gasket that last the life of the is "ridiculous"?

What a cheap fuck

It is quite pricey for what it is considering you can get gaskets for diferent turbo flanges for half the price, but I should have posted the main reason I am asking this question I am making a bell mouthed downpipe. There is no gasket available for that flange because it's machined. But I would even like to add a gasket anyways even if I wasn't. These turbos are all old and cracked, etc, etc

But seriously calling me cheap! If it takes me one hour to make this gasket, because I actually do my own work unlike a lot of people, it would be worth it. I get the material for free. It will probably take me a good 30 minutes to make it. Sorry, but I don't make $100 per hour, if I did, I would not care.

I am one of those guys that likes to change all the gaskets after I remove something. I know they can be reused. But considering you can spend over 200 under 300 on gaskets alone for turbo connections including lines, that is pretty pricey. And saying you can reuse a gasket doesn't mean that after 24 years or so, it's still ok, their not lifetime.

it's cast iron and about 3/4" thick, it doesn't need a gasket.

Just make your own gasket and let us know how it works out, we can either wait for 3 more people to say buy used and call you cheap or you can prove us wrong.

You answered it yourself- half hour of your time and free materials- so go for it

Honestly the turbo gaskets really aren't something you want to take a chance andd chince/skimp on, reason being entirely that if it does turn out to be waste a waste of time you will be spending hours uninstalling an reinstalling everything again, the Turbo is not easily taken off at all, and will usually require taking off the entire intake manifold.

He doesn't seem to be looking at the whole picture

I only re-used my old one because it looked fine to use again, the Turbo gaskets are expensive but the saying "you get what you pay for" definitely applies to these gaskets.

NA exhaust manifold gaskets are easier to replace so those I wouldn't worry about as much.

Buy new! 25 shipped dude... I'm almost GIVING it to you!