Manifold to Downpipe Gasket

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

The exhaust started blowing on my clio (Mk1 Ph2 1.4RT) the other night on the way back from work and today I had a look and found that the manifold to downpipe gasket was split.

I managed to get the old gasket off fine but having put the new one on I can't get the bolts with the springs on them to go back on. I'll check again tomorrow but I'm thinking maybe the gasket isn't quite right and may be too thick. Is it common for these to be a right bugger to put back on?

I have a pic of the spring and bolt (below) and just wondered - should it have come out the way shown or should the end to the right have stayed in the flange and just the nut to the left and the spring have some off?

The gasket I got wasn't from renault themselves but from a local motor factor who said it was correct for the clio I have. I didn't get one from renault as nobody was answering their bloody phones Evil or Very Mad

Anyone know how much these are from renault?

Thanks.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

8 quid from renault.

anyway they can sit funny or even sometimes leave the old thing metal insert on the manifold so the new one doesn't go on right.

the nut shoudl come off and it makes it easier but the stud shoudl go back in.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

The problem is that the gasket won't quite sit right so the stud can't quite reach the hole for it to go in. I can't get the nuts off the bottom as they are totally seized on and I have no way of gripping the rest of the bolt to allow me to try.

When the gasket wasn't sitting on it properly I was just hoping it would sort itself when I tightened the spring bolts on but I can't even get them in. I think I'll take a trip to renault tomorrow and see if I can compare the gasket I got to the proper ones.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its not sitting properly cos the old metal insert is still on it more than likely.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

cheer chris (once again) - I'll take a look at it tomorrow morning. Is the old metal insert pretty easy to get off?

Also, could this have been affecting my MPG in anyway if it's been leaking slightly for a while? Just wondering as it's pretty close to the sensor on the exhaust and as I said in a thread ages ago I get pretty poor MPG.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yes it will affect mpg and power etc.

the metal ring can rust so they can be tricky. Its part of the gasket but the gasket falls apart and leaves it on the manifold!

A small flat screwdriver should get under it.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

Excellent - when I saw that's where it was leaking I was hoping that might have been the cause of my MPG problems. Could it also have anything to do with a lumpy idle for the first 30 seconds or so after you start then engine on cold mornings?

This place is great, it's like the anything you need to know about renault forum Wink

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

There was a metal insert still on there. I managed to get that off but I just can't get the bloody studs back in - one of them goes fine but the other one just won't reach. I think I'll just get another one of renault tomorrow as I can't get the bottom nut off it at all and with it on there it just wont reach far enough.

Checked dialogys and it's Â£5 for a new one, but I suppose that will probably include the spring even though I have no need for that.

If I took the down pipe off completely I could probably get the stuf in fine as it's just that the downpipe is at a slightly funny angle - if I could twist the whole system by a fraction of an inch it would be prefect.

Anyone got any suggestions or will I just have to go to renault for a new bolt.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the ren price is just for the stud nothign else.

you need to start 1 stud in a couple of turns then the other Don;t wind 1 all the way in.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

Yeah, I tired putting one in a couple of turns and then the other one but the down pipe doesn't sit totally flush with the manifold so one side has a slightly bigger gap between it and the downpipe than the other, meaning I can't get that side in.

It's just so bloddy frustrating because it's literally about 1mm away from reaching it but no matter what I do I can't get it to reach. If i took the downpipe off I would be able to get it done but TBH think I'll just get a new stud and do it that way.

No doubt renault won't have any in stock anyway and I'll probably have to wait till wednesday now before I will have a chance to fix it.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

matey yo uneed to bet the downpipe right up on it properly.

Is it s 1.4 you have?

If so I have a full system incl mint cat for sale, and for a small fee I'll even fit it.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

Thanks for the offer but I'm not really wanting a whole new suysten - I put a decat and cat back system on a few months ago.

Having re-read my last post it's not so clear what I mean about the downpipe. What I mean to say was that if I disconnected the downpipe at the join to the decat I could then proably get it to sit flush and could then reconnect it to the decat.

How much would you want for just the downpipe off that system chris as my downpeipe isn't in the best of shape (few dents in it)?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

tenner mate.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

How much would it be posted and when would you be able to get it to me do you reckon? Unless you happen to be coming near edinburgh in the next few days in which case I could meet you somewhere?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well I have to pick docs welder up at some point, just waiting to hear from the guy so I'll pop over with it.

I was over at crammond island the other day to!

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

well if your coming over anyway that would be ideal. Any idea when you would be over? also, where in Edinburgh would you be going?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

liek I saidm, when this guy gets back in touch, when I know you'll know matey. Will be at night if its during the week.

Sunny portobello is where the welder is.

But I can meet you/go to yours if that suits you better.

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

That fine with me - if you could just give me a txt or something once you know when you will be coming through (I'll PM you my number).

Would you be coming through via the M8 as I live in currie which is just 5 minutes from where the M8 ends so I could meet you at Hermiston Gait or somewhere like that (if you know where that is).

You don't happen to have any studs lying around like I was going to buy from renault do you?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yeah I know gait, I normally meet peeps at halfords! lol

you don't nbeed new studs. Yours are fine, you just need to stop beign a girl and fit them properly!

use a jack under the downpipe if needed

Level 10 User Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 575

lol, I tried a jack under the downpipe but rather than the downpipe moving up towards the manifold the engine itself started going up - so I let the jack down asap. The downpipe is basically douching the front of the engine so that mean I can't lift it any further up. But yes, I probably am just being a girl Wink

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

it will go, you just need to get it. I deal with them all the time and only ones I make the effort with tbh are 16V studs as they are awful.