If you haven't installed your new TP's yet, I'd highly suggest grabbing Z1 metal gaskets. Use the directions from the RTV bottle, applying a thin layer on both sides, and waiting for the RTV to cure before re-torquing. My mechanic actually just use copper RTV spray on my metal gaskets and they don't leak. Well, they sound like they leak but it's just the nature of the beast when running test pipes.

 

I have the z1 gaskets ready to go. Hopefully get them installed this weekend. The gaskets that came with the TP's are already blown on both sides.

 

Update: 550 miles so far. No CEL. Here's a cold start video

 

Just a thin film of the RTV on both sides of gasket, lightly snugged the bolts, waited an hour, then torqued it up. You're not supposed to drive it for 24 hrs. but I could only wait 12 lol. So far so good

 

My CEL seems to come and go. I saw it pop back up on my dash yesterday and hasn't gone away yet

 

How's the gas smell inside the cabin? With the AC or Heat on do you smell it? Really looking into high flow cats right now to pair with my stillen catback.

 

Is this with your blown gaskets? Or have you updated your gaskets to the Z1's now and your getting CEL's

 

I don't have any gas smell whatsoever inside the cabin. If you're outside of the car, behind the car, you can smell it if you try, but it's not nearly as bad as most people make it out to be. IMO at least.

This is with the new Z1 gaskets and RTV. CEL was still on as of last night when I got home.

 

I've got a feeling one of your sensors is problematic, since you've had intermittent problems over time. No CELs on mine and another 1500 miles in the books, about 7k miles now.

And ditto what Jfish said about the smell, it can be strong in an area w/ no breeze and you wouldn't want to be behind your car w/ it running for very long, but you won't notice it when driving. If you're in a traffic jam or a drive-through waiting for food I'm sure the car behind you won't be that excited w/ your test pipes

 

Thanks for the responses guys. About to pull the trigger. I live in MA so not sure about passing inspection. My friend does my inspections and doesn't hook up anything other than and OBD so I think I should be fine. What are you guys doing about inspection?

 

In New Mexico there's none, as long as your cars not on fire as you go down the road you'll be left alone

 

Lol! Just ordered my set can't wait! Need to order z1 gaskets too

 

Are these the gaskets you ordered @blnewt?

https://www.z1motorsports.com/exhaus...25-p-8909.html

Also do I only need 2 right?

Thanks in advance

 

No, these are the ones (the upper gaskets that go to the headers) and you will need 2.
https://www.z1motorsports.com/exhaus...ts-p-6448.html
You can re-use the oem 2 bolt stacked thin metal gaskets, or the ones that come w/ the RTPs w/ a smear of high temp RTV on both sides.

 

Hmm for completeness I'll probably grab the z1's so I don't have to return to this job later to fix it. Thanks blnewt!