So my first one arrived damaged. Got picked up by fedex and I got sent another. The second exhaust got even more damaged from Fedex's deilvery system than the first. Mufflers dented, entire flange/lip on the mid pipe completely bent/folded in. Somewhere they dropped it off a 20' building or something. The good news is I'm waiting for a 3rd (HOPEFULLY last and perfect) system... the bad news is that Invidia isn't shipping exhausts or at least won't be arriving in the USA until around June (for the burnt TI tips) I believe I could get a s/s system now no problem.... so I got another two plus months before I even get it... :-(. Part of me says s/s would actually look really good but I do like the little splash of color from the TI tips from the test picture I did above.. it's subtle. How long the tips would last like that, I don't know? I know with s/s it's super easy to clean and polish but you can't really do that with TI,.. .once it starts loosing the colors it's done and that could be amplified by certain cleaning products if one isn't careful.

Sucks, but I'd like a system that isn't damaged so I'm OK with waiting. Part of me wants to perhaps get a different exhaust like the Tom's system but I can't see spending $5k for an exhaust system.. that just seems foolish. So I'm just buying the time until June comes. Hopefully then I can update.

Things I am going to be doing is using the 3" grimmspeed gaskets. I can't seem to find a nice 2.75" gasket like grimmspeeds... or I'd replace that as well just for good measure..
Painting the rear facing part of the muffler. I thought about doing the entire thing but it's probably going to get chipped up from road debris so it will look like ***... So I am OK with the entire muffler being shiny other than the rear most part that you'd see. That should take very minimal damage if any from rocks/sand...etc. And if it starts to flake off, it's easy to tape off the tail pipes off and then just quickly spray the back section and you are good to go without having to remove everything again.

-Nigel

 

I can't remember if I asked before but figured I'd ask two questions.

1. What paint did you use? I keep seeing Rustoleum high heat bbq paint satin/gloss being thrown around on the internet to paint the rear mufflers.
2. How has it held up so far? Any flaking/peeling or anything that you have to touch up here and there?


Thanks,
-Nigel

 

Well, I guess my luck ran out. I got a CEL 18 months and almost 10K miles on the Invidia exhaust. P0430 catalyst system efficiency below threshold.
I'm sure it is the front gaskets leaking causing a P0430 code. I'm going to try tightening the bolts tonight, but I'm not optimistic that is going to fix it.
​​​​​​​
I am looking for a higher quality replacement for the gasket and found this, but not sure of the exact measurements of the Invidia gasket.
Has anyone tried this gasket with the Invidia Q300 or know the exact measurements of the 3" front gaskets?
https://www.grimmspeed.com/grimmspee...kaAnLHEALw_wcB

 

That really sucks. I had mine for longer than yours. About 30 months, but I have not driven it nearly as much as you. Maybe, 2000 miles at the most. Please do keep us updated. I would like to know how you resolve it.

 

Jon on fb did use the grimmspeed thicker gasket. But hasn't had it installed for that long.

(Using his picture here).

I think what is key when using the gaskets is also using sealant. Eventually any flat will start to leak I think with just the vibrations and movement of the exhaust moving.. Etc.
I wish exhaust manufacturers would use OEM design and just charge more to avoid the above issues..



-Nigel

 

I ordered the grimmspeed gaskets and will see if that fixes it. I'd hate to have to use sealant. I know you can only see it under the car, but still...

 

Report back on the gaskets for us.
I personally have always used the permetex copper sealant with exhausts as good measure. It's one of those things that should be used but people use it for the wrong way they use it instead of using a gasket and think that it's going to seal the exhaust and that's not the case. I've always looked at it as an aid in using a good exhaust gasket. And you don't even need to use a lot just a little bit on both sides we'll just help to seal it and keep it sealed.

But honestly you should check the bolts to see if they're loose... The gaskets could perfectly be fine on your setup especially since you've gone this long It could just be that the bolts have backed out slightly in which case would definitely be a leak if they're not tight. I also have always used loctite on exhaust bolts just for the piece of mind. IE used to proper torque spec for the hardware and then I always have a blue loctite for the bolts. Blue is easy enough to get off. Red would be almost permanent which wouldn't be fun. Purple is even less strength than blue but I'm not sure how hot those bolts would actually get so I've always used blue with things like that.
​​​​​​
-Nigel

 

I have sealant as well. There was a strong silicon like smell for the first week and I ask the shop. They said it was the sealant.

 

Find these gaskets as well. Looks much thicker than the posted pictures of Invidia's.
​​​​​​
https://stmtuned.com/products/stm-re...asket-bolt-set

https://stmtuned.com/collections/exh...t=212528332809

After looking at the above site both of those gaskets look thicker than the Invidia. On their site they have an exhaust gasket that is by Vibrant, and it looks identical to Invidia's. I'm guessing Invidia uses just generic 3-in thin exhaust gaskets... Who knows though? Both of the above are high temp graphite gaskets.

More options I guess?

-Nigel

 

Damn that sucks. Thanks for the update, wondering if the invidia gaskets eventually fail in time. Keep us posted. Where in AZ are you from?

 

Bolts were not loose, but I tightened them up and reset the CEL. CEL came back after 3 short drives. I'm waiting for the grimmspeed gaskets and I'll let you know if that resolves the issue.
At least now I have a reason to pull the exhaust off and paint the back cans black.
I'm in Tucson

 

Welp hopefully it was the gasket leaking then. It should be pretty easy to tell once you remove it you'll see marks on the gasket where air was leaking out. Do take pictures if you don't mind if you see that. Perferablly in th same way you removed it so we might be able to see if it was leaking form the bottom/sides/top..etc. I have a feeling that what probably ends up happening is that it flexes there.. the little flexes over time will start to break the gasket.
Definitely post pictures of when you paint them! It will be fun to see your before picture and then after when it's black. Are you planning on doing the entire mufller or just the rear part that is seen when you stand behind the car?


Just an FYI for everyone there are two different 3" 2-bolt Grimmspeed gaskets.

One is 7 layers thick but thicker than OEM gaskets of this type: (which I am sure is still thicker than the invidia one) And it still maintains a fire ring in the center.
https://www.grimmspeed.com/grimmspee...back-3-gasket/

The other is double the thickness and is 12 layers thick. (also has a fire ring in the center of the gasket)
https://www.grimmspeed.com/grimmspee...sket-2x-thick/

I think in all reality BOTH are going to be substantially thicker than the oem Invidia gasket.

EDIT: Found this one as well. It's 10 layers also with a fire ring. So an in betweener of the 7 layer and 12 layer Grimmspeed above. Also cheaper: Looks to be a quality gasket:
3 2 bolt Exhaust Gasket; 10 layers S/S + Firing Ring -reuseable [3 SS Gasket] - $12.00 : X3E Motorsports

I would think the steel gasket would last much longer though since it's not going to blow out like a fiberglass/graphite gasket would with flexing. This is probably why Lexus/Toyota uses their ring gasket it. What is annoying most to me is that I haven't seen a manufacture use the same style recessed area like the oem exhaust has. If they did then it would be a no brainer to use the OEM gasket and it would seal no problem. I wish things were V-banded though. For what some of these exhausts cost and the fact they aren't is crazy to me. V-band I've never see issues with but it is more expensive.

Side topic not to hijack the thread but is the Apexi mid pipe use a flat gasket or does it use the OEM style gasket? I have never seen someone take a picture of the end of the pipe to show whether it's flat or has a recessed area like OEM that would mate to the bottom of the header....

-Nigel

 

Just finished installing GrimmSpeed gaskets on my 15 RCF to replace the front gaskets that came with the Invidia exhaust due to a CEL. I didn't use any sealant, just installed the new 7 layer metal gaskets after cleaning up the surface.
Looks like the passenger side gasket had a leak out the bottom on the Invidia gaskets that came with the exhaust.
So far, no CEL and I'll let you know if it comes back. If solves the CEL, this might be an option for those just purchasing an Invidia or dealing with a leak and CEL.
I also painted the back of the exhaust cans black. I just did the back and left the rest since you can only really see the back from behind the car and it looks good from underneath with the chrome.



Invidia gaskets. Passenger bottom side appears to be where the leak was.

Invidia Q300 after blacking out the rear of the cans

Stock Invidia Q300 exhaust

 

Looks great! The black out look is nice! Shame about the gasket but yep, you can clearly see it failed. Which makes me wonder if perhaps the gaskets that are provided are simply not thick enough from the flex of the exhaust..

If you remember, do you know how much thicker the 7 layer grimspeed gasket was over the standard invidia gasket?

Also which paint did you use for the rear of the mufflers?

*Fingers crossed this solves the problem for ya!

-Nigel

 

The 7 layer grimmspeed gasket was about the same thickness as the Invidia gasket, but definitely higher quality.
I used VHT FLAMEPROOF Coating for painting the cans after sanding with 320 grit and cleaning with rubbing alcohol.
There might be better paint, but that's what I could get on a Sunday morning at AutoZone. Looks so much better in my opinion.
Went for three drives to cure the paint and no CEL. Fingers crossed!