The driver's side LT1 Header Gasket discentigrated last night. Somehow the header came a little lose and the gasket started to discentigrate.

I went and bought another gasket. I didn't want to get another "cheap" paper gasket so I got some aluminum ones since they were just $5 more... (and well, I saw the price of a single copper gasket and I was like . Pluse the port shape didn't match on the copper gasket either; O port instead of D, too small. I installed the gasket, but now, I smell something burning (smells like the aluminum) and see a little bit of white smoke coming from the gasket area about 5-10 seconds after the engine starts. The header is on there tight, so it's not leaking. However now I'm worried, is the engine melting the gasket? Or is just going to initially burn it a little and everything is fine? I've never done this so any help is appreciated. Should I return it (The cashier said if this doesn't work, they'll refund me) and just get a paper one? I DON'T want this car to randomly catch fire or something equally horrible (which is my fear ATM).

5/26/2008 5:51:35 PM

how long has it run? probably just some oil/grease burning off

[Edited on May 26, 2008 at 6:10 PM. Reason : make sure nothing it touching the exhaust]

5/26/2008 6:10:31 PM

^ gotcha. I was thinking that maybe the aluminum is coated and that part of the coating is just burning off? the longest it's run is about 30 seconds. No fire, everything looks in tact. It's just all worry some since I didn't/don't know what to expect from this. I'll let it run some more and hopefully the smoke will clear up?

Nothing is touching the headers, so rule that and a possible leak out.

[Edited on May 26, 2008 at 6:15 PM. Reason : .]

5/26/2008 6:14:20 PM

Update: I let it run for about 5 minutes... It stopped smoking, so I guess everything is okay...

5/26/2008 6:29:01 PM

it's amazing how long it takes for shit to burn off a car sometimes

5/26/2008 8:07:48 PM

or how quickly, depending on what that shit is

5/26/2008 9:07:07 PM

sounds normal. most metal exhaust gaskets and any new exhaust parts in general will smoke a bit, smell, and make a lot of expansion/contraction noise from heat until they're broken in.

5/27/2008 3:21:55 AM

lol if u got me high hanging out with yall would be so fun...i would literally be able to dis assemble a n engine by the end of the night

5/27/2008 4:49:56 AM

^^^ or how much oil gets puked up onto the headers from the dipstick

5/27/2008 7:05:36 AM