Sealing Exhaust joints

[MikeRotherham]

All the exhaust joints leak water apart from the one at the manifold.

I want to separate each joint and remake it.

Do I always need to use paste to seal it?

Any tips for getting the paste into the joint, I would imagine most of it being scraped off when the two parts are shoved together?

[johnnyj]

I am sure there will be folks out there more qualified than me to respond, but I'd pop on a disposable glove and smother both mating faces in the sealing compound. When you have pushed the pipes into one another, run some around the outside of the joint too. Fit new exhaust clamps (and do yourself or the next owner a favour and grease the threads with copperslip!) and run the car to harden the paste. That said, it will harden anyway if left for long enough.

John

[Stag76]

If the pipes are new, you won't need any sealer, but, if they have been removed and re-fitted
a few times, a silicon based sealer is better than paste as it stays softer and doesn't break up.

[MikeRotherham]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I 've actually bought the paste so I'll try with that first.

[dursleyman]

I don't use any sealing paste at all on my stainless system, doesn't seem to need any. Been apart a few times as well with no problems.