exhaust paste or not

[stagwingnut]

hi gents ,is it advisable to use exhaust paste on the joints of a stainless exhaust system ? ,rgds Graham

[wilf]

I wouldn't personally. As I like things to come apart again in the future.

[mjheathcote]

I have, and no problem pulling it apart after several years for maintenance.
I think you will find you need a little for the exhaust to be gas tight.
Cheers
Mike

[TonyC]

I have, and no problem pulling it apart after several years for maintenance.
I think you will find you need a little for the exhaust to be gas tight.
Cheers
Mike

I was against exhaust paste but it's the only way to have a gas tight exhaust. I didn't do it at first but then after some hundred miles, you can see around the clamps some black traces, clearly the proof that even witht tight clamps, some gas passes through. And it's not that difficult to take the exhaust apart if you need it.

Regards

Tony

[Westfaling]

Guys
Thanks for answering a question I hadn't got around to asking. I was wondering why Rimmers supplied a tube of sealant with their SS exhaust sytem fitting kit.
Nick

[DJT]

I fitted a DoubleS stainless system to my first Stag in 1992 without paste. Removed and replaced it several times over the years without any leak problems. That exhaust is still on the car, other than one piece that was replaced under warranty 9 years after purchase.

The stainless system on my current Stag is also fitted 'dry' without leaks or concerns from the MOT man.

Dave

[GDPR]

In the course of my life, I have to remove and refit quite a few Stag stainless systems (tbh I haven't seen a mild steel one for years) and have found them variable in quality and fit - when many fairly routine jobs, oil pump O rings, fitting oil pressure gauge T pieces, clutches etc require exhaust removal, the biggest problem I have is seperating the pipes where the clamps have been overtightened so much in the often futile attempt to seal it, it dents the pipes - this often means beating eight bells of crap out of the system getting it apart, which aside from the frustration isn't good for it.

Exhausts assembled with paste tend to seal better, and therefore aren't subjected to gorilla style clamp tightening - this means less damage, skinned knuckles and swearing. Furthermore, when you break the seal of a pasted joint, the paste turns to powder, and can often act as a lubricant helping disassembly....

Just my threepennyworth....

Russ

[Stagdad]

I have found flue silicon and makalor clamps to work very well And easy to take apart the only down side for me is that the silicon has buggered my 02 sensor but that shouldn't be a problem for most.

Cheers Steve

[mjheathcote]

Makalor clamps Steve, very nice.
(I get mine through work, they always appears to be a few excess to requirement ones kicking about, stainless too!)