Gasket sealant/adhesive at manifold connection?

[Figment]

Hello all,

As part of a waterlift conversion, I installed a new flange onto the exhaust manifold, and almost immediately developed a leak at this connection. I installed the gasket dry, but should I have used a particular gasket adhesive or sealant or other-termed goop to ensure a proper seal?

Is there a particular torque recommendation for those bolts?

Thanks.

[Don Moyer]

There is no published torque specification on the manifold exhaust flange bolts.

Don

[bayareadave]

I just installed a new exhaust and bolted the flange to the manifold. I used the gasket that came with the flange and used it dry. It was about 1/32 of an inch thick. I bolted it on there what I would call fairly tight, and I have experienced no leaks. I had put a thin coat of grease on the manifold to prevent rust, but no adhesive or sealant. That area is so hot, I can't imagine using any supplement. Perhaps you didn't scrape off the old gasket good enough and get down to smooth metal on both surfaces? Are you alternately tightening down the bolts on both sides to create a gradual increase in the pressure in a distributed manner?

[Figment]

Mating surfaces were clean, of that I'm certain. There was no "old gasket", which may have been the start of the problem.
I suspect that I simply didn't tighten the bolts adequately, though that is hardly ever a problem for me. I'm usually the guy that casually snaps the head off the bolt and spends the next half hour wrecking things.

I used a bit of copper gasket sealant (oxygen sensor sealant) with the new gasket. That oughta do.