Exhaust carbon build up

[Nurse Julie]

Hi Chaps
I've taken the exhaust system off as need to clean up those frilly clamps, where the pipes go in to the head I can see a fair amount of carbon, mainly at the lower side but probably no more than I would expect. Should I clean the carbon out that I can see or just leave it?. Also should i put new gaskets in when I put the pipes back on even though the one's there don't look too bad.

Ta in advance
Julie

[hairygit]

I'd scrape out what carbon I could reach while the pipes are off, and trying to re use old exhayst gaskets is asking for spitting and blowing from the head, and popping on the overrun. New gaskets are cheap compared to the aggro of taking it all off again if they leak, and then people try to tighten them up further than they should, and break a stud

[Nurse Julie]

Does it matter if a bit of carbon goes down into the workings ?

[hairygit]

Stuff a bit of rag in each port, that will stop anything getting inside

[Nurse Julie]

Thank you 

[Clem2112]

I would leave the deposits as is.... Will build up again !

The seals may be ok ..... If they have clean contact faces and show no sign of leakage they should work. I used to leave them in anyway, never had a problem. If a new set of headers were going on then new seals of course. Ones I have removed often look ok.

[Green1]

You can heat the copper gaskets with a torch so they expand I do the same with sump plug washers never had to replace one yet.

Mick

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Mick
You cheapskate have heard of that but never tried it will from now on cos you said it first
Cheers
Ralph
Have a nightcap on me mate

[Green1]

Forgot to mention I quench them after to make them nice and shinny.

Mick

[Clem2112]

Copper washers can be annealed for re-use.........but these exhaust seals are a rolled steel and fibre type for very high exhaust temperatures.

Happy new year !

[Bryanj]

even the copper ones have a fibre filling so can't be anealed---also the sump plug washer is ally so heat tp red just gets you a lump of yeuk

[Green1]

Iv always used copper washers
Maybe I was lucky then because no:1 pipe leaked I heated the gasket and it seems to have stopped.

Mick 

[Nurse Julie]

With the gaskets still in situ I must say I can't see any copper at all, only what appears to be fibre. I will take them out later and have a closer look but have decided to fit new ones anyway

Regards
Julie

[hairygit]

Depending on the age of the gaskets when fitted, there's a very high chance that the fibres you're seeing are asbestos, so bw especially carefull getting them out as you know how harmful the dust can be:'(

[Nurse Julie]

Depending on the age of the gaskets when fitted, there's a very high chance that the fibres you're seeing are asbestos, so bw especially carefull getting them out as you know how harmful the dust can be:'(

You were right Hairy. Just happend to have some surgical masks at home so put 1 of them on and gaskets straight into a bag and tied, I don't think I will come to any harm with that small amount and they came out without breaking. Thanks for that.

Julie