Ask Scott: Don’t Blow a Gasket

Fran writes:  First of all, I still miss you guys! Hope all is well on the west coast. Second, this is so rad that you have this on the site. I have a brand new Guzzi Stelvio and I’m putting Agostini headers and y-pipe (de-cat) + a new fueling map on it. I was wondering how important you think it is to anneal the copper gaskets before I put the new headers on? Thank you!

Answer: Fran, Congratulations on the Stelvio and thanks for the kind words. I’m glad that you’re doing well out there. 

Long story short, only install new exhaust gaskets. While a lot of copper  gaskets might respond to annealing, the exhaust ones are hollow with fibre inside so new gaskets are the only way to ensure that you will be leak free and that your work will stand the test of time.