[conrod]

Hmmm - just as things were starting to go well ....

I was giving the inlet manifold a thorough degreasing prior to refitting following the vacuum leak problem, when I noticed something potentially significant.

You'll see from the attached photo that there is a small V-shaped nick in the outer edge of no 6 & 8 inlet ports. These seem to align with the points at which the gasket failed. The question is - did they contribute to the gasket failure, or is it just coincidence? The best way I can describe them is that it's as if the edge of a square file has been drawn across the edge of the port, making a V-shaped groove about 0.75mm deep on no 8 and I'd say 1.5mm on no 6.

If the gasket is placed absolutely central to the bolt holes, the tips of V's touch the raised rubber port seals on the gasket - so I would imagine this must put a strain on them.

It seems to me I have three choices:

1) Put everything back and see what happens - with maybe another failure in a few thousand miles time.Maybe with a dab of silicone sealant over the notches?

2) Buy a new manifold

3) Gently file the notches to make them less acutely V-shaped - might this help reduce the strain on the seals? Again perhaps with the addition of a dab of silicone sealant?

I'm not sure how long the silicone sealant would survive being subject to petrol vapour and high vacuum - not long probably!

Views folks?