Heard something new today. A fellow was saying that he always uses sealant on his exhaust pipe installs along with a clamp. I was taught that proper fitting exhaust pipe tubing only needed a clamp to tighten and seal everything up... Comments?
When everything is just right 2 pieces of pipe fit together very well and a single clamp makes a perfect seal. Other times ...
I was.surprised to see a sealant used in a late '60's GM Assembly Manual, it was called grease. After seeing that, we used plain old #2 grease, and a side benefit was a little easier movement while lining everything up. It will run out of the joints a little, but there was little if any smoke or smell from it. Now we use it on almost every exhaust system we work on.
I use copper grease on tube joints. The grease does dissappear with the heat but the copper thats left behind makes the joints easier to separate in the future.
I've never used it but there are some out there Amazon.com: Permatex 80335 Muffler and Tailpipe Sealer, 3 oz. 3-Pack : Automotive Thinking about it, there have been some clamped exhaust pipe and muffler connections that I have worked on that I could have really used it on.
used to use it on all clamped joints. pushed in through the slots then tightened up, doing it for $$ you dont want to be mucking around trying to find a little leak somewhere, I have a horrible feeling it had Asbestos in it but there are non Asbestos onesaround now
I have used that exhaust sealer on doughnut and steel to steel bevel connections at exhaust manifolds and head to manifolds. Helps with slight gaps warpage etc.
I've used it several times, after seeing it done when i had an exhaust made for my 55 chevy. I was of the clamp fit seal also and then had a set of headers that i had to choose weld or exhaust seal-used the seal and it work fine. I like it because its a one time thing, seal it, clamp it--done deal. (another little trick i like is to use copper based rtv on manifold to head seals, either with or without gaskets--stuff actually does the job. Be sure its the 700 degree grade)
I saw they used it on one of those European car shows on TV. I always wanted to ask at the parts store, but didn`t want to sound like an idiot.
I've used a JB weld product for joints that wouldn't seal, that was after trying with just the clamp though.