My 89 240 wagon has blown three exhaust flange (exhaust manifold to pipe) gaskets in last year. It may be my imagination, but it seems to run better with a blown gasket than with one that isn't leaking.

Has anyone had experience with this? Is this a sign that my converter is plugged and needs to be replaced. The car has 125K on it and has let go with another gasket in the last couple of weeks. If the converter is suspect, is there a reliable way to test it?

Thanks, as always

Zimm

I think there is a port on the downpipe, isn't there? It's a welded on fitting with a plug screwed in there. If you have the equipment to test, you can take that plug out (It sure seems like it would be a bit** to remove), and measure the exhaust backpressure. Or have a shop do it. This will indicate whether your cat is clogged or something is clogged.

If that gasket keeps blowing out, maybe you do have too much backpressure. I don't know, I don't have much experience with that. Are you using new locknuts like Bob asked? Maybe your mating surfaces aren't clean or aren't flat?

Greg

Are the gaskets blowing or are the nuts working loose? REPLACE all three lock-nuts when replaceing the gaskets. These nuts are not to be re-used. That goes for the manifold to head nuts also.