In 2005, I installed an A-Spec GT35R turbo kit. It has about 13K miles on it.
For a few months I have heard a faint exhaust leak and a slight smell of fumes. Today the unit was pulled for inspection.

The original WG gaskets were a metal mesh filled with some type of fiber like many exhaust system gaskets are. Two sides the gasket on the exhaust manifold side were partially burnt out.

The newer gaskets are now stamped crimped metal and hopefully will not burn out.

 

i would have not used a gasket and used maniseal. Never leaked. Havnt had a maniseal join leak on my gt4202 in 5 years.

 

What is this maniseal you speak of

 

pffft! My gaskets only lasted a few hours on the track!
I cut some copper "gaskets" not issues since then.
http://www.reganrotaryracing.com/gt35rpage4.htm - bottom of the page.
Regards,
crispy

 

Yeah you will see ebay knock off wastegates come with those style of gaskets now.

 

curious about maniseal too. is it a paste?