Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

1.8-liter VVTL-i (2ZZ-GE) and VVT-i (1ZZ-FE) engine, transmission, exhaust, intake, and performance tuning discussions
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striker1211
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:05 am
Location: Mid Michigan

Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

I am looking at a Dorman 674-939 Exhaust Manifold Kit for about $130 shipped and figured I'd ask if anyone else has had success with this model. I cannot find the toyota part number anywhere and Toyota is REALLY apprehensive about giving me it for my vibe. I do know for just the donut gasket and springs/bolts they want $80 so... any advice is greatly appreciated.
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
sideshowalan
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by sideshowalan »

I've used Dorman exhaust stuff on other cars. They're nothing special, gets the job done.
Amazon reviews seem to be hit and miss for that kit: https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-674-939-E ... B00GJ1MYGW
2008 Pontiac Vibe
2008 Toyota Sienna XLE
(Former 2003 5-speed Vibe owner)
striker1211
Posts: 56
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

I just spent the better part of an hour taking the heat shield off my manifold after dropping a bolt INSIDE the frame and stripping another one... I had the donut replaced at a shop and they said it must be my exhaust manifold. So I get the shield off and there is no carbon residue anywhere near the flange or manifold gasket at all. I am starting to think they used the wrong ****** donut :|
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
jolt
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by jolt »

So, did you start the car up and verify were the leak is coming from? It seems that no one has done this up to this point from what you have said.
striker1211
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

jolt wrote:So, did you start the car up and verify were the leak is coming from? It seems that no one has done this up to this point from what you have said.
Yeah I stuck my head under the hood and listened and could not easily pinpoint it. So I hooked a DJ fog machine to the tailpipe with the car off and the smoke appeared to be coming from around the mating area of the flange. So then I took the heatshield off after buying some "damaged nut removers" from harbor freight and there is no leak on the manifold assembly from what I can see or feel with my fingers. I ordered the toyota donut gasket for $15 shipped on ebay (part number 17451-0D020) and am picking the bolt kit up at O'Reilly's for 5.99 because the toyota dealer wanted $60 for the bolts/springs and the GM dealer wanted $56. Amazingly the GM dealer only wanted $40 for the donut gasket but I had already ordered it and they said it would take 3-5 days anyway.... I will post an update when I finally solve this mystery. I have wasted so much time researching trying to find the right parts because some people are like "get the felpro" then others are like "i keep having to change the felpro every year" etc etc. I don't know if the dorman would have been good enough but I couldn't find anyone who stated it lasted for any period of time...
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
striker1211
Posts: 56
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

Alrighty to follow up:

A few months ago I had a shop change out the donut gasket. They said that it got even louder after they replaced it so they thought it was a cracked manifold. A few months ago by, I research for hours and never really do anything about it... then I purchased Toyota part number 17451-0D020 for $15 shipped online and the bolts from autozone for around $9 and took it to a different shop a few weeks later. The second shop said that the gasket the first shop put on was obviously not the correct part. They said it was so loose you could spin it around the pipe easily. They even put that defect on the invoice so I could show the other mechanic. Anyway, the second shop used my gasket but said the bolts were not long enough. They guessed that maybe the flange had bent somehow but ended up solving the problem by putting washers between the spring and the bolt head on the old bolts. The car is now quiet again... quiet enough that now I can hear my muffler has a leak (DOH!).... so yeah if you take it to a shop and it gets louder they probably used the wrong part!
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
Jbenrod
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by Jbenrod »

I'm glad to read of your update and success but I'm not for certain which parts you think did the trick.

I made some notes a while back to use the Fel-Pro # 61106 or VICTOR F31662 for the flange donut gasket with Dorman# 675221 for the springs and bolts.

Are you saying it was one of these gaskets that did not work for you and that is why you went to Toyota # 17451-0D020 which did the trick ?
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lannvouivre
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by lannvouivre »

The first shop probably used a completely incorrect donut that's made for a different engine. I don't know if the AWD 1ZZ and FWD 1ZZ need a different donut, but the 2ZZ one is entirely different from the FWD 1ZZ donut and it's very likely the 1ZZ donuts are different between FWD and AWD because they have to have different exhaust manifolds.

Additionally, there's a donut gasket over the rear axle, and that one might also be entirely different. I'm probably not going to look that one up, though.
"If you don't love me at my diddliest, you don't deserve me at my doodliest." - User ktluvscricket of reddit
soccerdad
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by soccerdad »

I'm going to piggyback on this thread to keep the info in one place. I installed the Dorman 674-939 cast manifold kit today on my 07 base 2wd auto vibe as I had a small leak and assumed it was the manifold. The manifold wasn't cracked, it was leaking past the donut, but I decided to go ahead with install as preventative maintenance. First off, the bracket that supports the manifold underneath doesn't fit correctly and only allows one of two bolts(on the manifold) to be used. Second, the middle nut holding the manifold to the head is tucked between the webbing of the middle tubes and it is impossible to get a torque wrench on it. I've wrenched enough to be able to get it close with a regular wrench, but it definitely isn't how I would like it. Thirdly, it leaks. I'm 95% sure it's at the new donut gasket. One thing I noticed is that I can clearly see the donut gasket with everything installed and tight, as if the springs on the bolts pulling the catalytic converter up to the manifold were too short or weak. I ran out of time tonight to tear back into it but will hopefully be dropping the cat tomorrow morning to see if I can see any evidence of the leak and will be comparing the springs, bolts and old gaskets. I also feel that the location of the manifold flange is different when compared to the OEM manifold so the cat has to be in a different position to mate up to it. Hopefully I can figure this out tomorrow, I really hate paying other people to work on my car. If anyone else has dealt with this, I'd like to hear what you ended up doing.

-Tom
soccerdad
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Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by soccerdad »

Took the car to an exhaust shop. They confirmed that the gasket is sub-par and have ordered a replacement one. Will update when problem is fixed.
striker1211
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:05 am
Location: Mid Michigan

Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

Okay to post an update on my car:

The *new* exhaust leak I thought was coming from my muffler was actually echoing from the front in the parking lot so I took it back to the mechanic again and they said that I needed to get the OEM springs since they did not think it was holding it tight. So I had them order the GM OEM springs and another gasket to the tune of $200 with labor. After they got done they said it still leaked and there is a small crack just under the heatshield. I was furious. I got them to take $50 off the bill but I still ended up eating a gasket and bolt kit that I didn't even need. I just ordered the Dorman exhaust manifold kit on amazon for $117 shipped. I am going to just say screw it and do it myself this time so I can actually get eyes on what the **** is going on under there. Either way the manifold is coming off the car so I can check it. I got a torque wrench and am going to make sure I get the mating surface on the gasket nice and clean. If it is still not quiet and I am not satified with the output I have no problem shipping it back to amazon (for free!) I've read your post soccerdad and appreciate the input but the best I could find the OEM manifold for is $300 so I'm going to try Dorman. 99% of this struggle is going to be getting the manifold bolts off (I'm just gonna cut the heat shield off) so if I can get those off without snapping them I have no problem doing the manifold job a few times. I just can't believe I have spent $360 on this problem already. I should have just took it to toyota and paid the $700 like someone else on this forum did. This car has never let me down and it is funny that I am complaining about repairing an exhaust manifold when I did the head gasket on my ford escort two times in two years plus fuel pump, alternator, A/C, tie rods.... in 2 years.... Toyotas spoil us.
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
striker1211
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:05 am
Location: Mid Michigan

Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by striker1211 »

Alrighty follow up time:

I got the manifold off and turns out it wasn't a cracked manifold (that I can see with shields grinded off) at all. It was a blown gasket on the outside edges of the cylinders. My local mechanic sucks. Anyways...

I had ordered the Dorman 674-939 manifold kit from Amazon already so I decided just to put it on. I got the bolts off the manifold/head without having to replace a stud so that was nice. I used some penetrating oil and let it set for a while. I only used a 3/8 normal ratchet. The O2 sensor would not come out so I had to hit it with MAPP gas to get it out. Luckily it did not damage it. I used a 7/8 O2 socket for that. The flange bolts/springs on the bottom came out easily since they were just replaced by the previous ******* mechanic to the tune of $150. The holes for the engine block mount on the dorman DO NOT LINE UP and you have to only use one of the two bolt holes provided on the manifold itself. There is only one bolt on the engine block hanger part. The crappy Dorman donut gasket also would not even go on the manifold so I reused the OEM one I had bought previously. Also the manifold gasket was all bent up so I had to go by the Felpro from autozone for like 12 bucks. The OEM part number for a 2008 Vibe (non-AWD) is 171040D040 if you wanna buy it from Toyota or 88969034 if you wanna buy it from GM.

What this repair has cost me:
$30 for original felpro gasket (when first mechanic said it was manifold after looking at it for 5 minutes including installing the gasket)
$15 Toyota OEM donut on eBay
$96 labor for replacement of toyota OEM donut. (second mechanic)
$24 for follow up inspection of bearings and motor mounts to verify noise was exhaust (second mechanic)
$150 for replacement of flange springs/bolts and ANOTHER new GM OEM gasket from dealer. Second mechanic who SWORE it was the springs not holding tension. This mechanic then told me it was the manifold and said they had to use a camera to see the smoke.... ha.
$118 for Dorman 674-939 "kit"
$12 for felpro manifold head gasket
$200 for labor and use of friend's lift. He cut off the heat shield for me and did most of the arm wrenching work. I cannot get under a car for long anymore because I get panic attacks (srs).

So I paid $645 for what was just likely a bad $12 gasket. I could have took it to the dealer for $700 and had it done on day 1. It's possible the donut was bad too but I don't trust the first or second mechanic at all. I am going to have my friend do all my future major repairs because I just have bad luck with finding a smart mechanic. I'll take a friend (who is actually ASE+) over a business any day....

[edit]

Images of gasket and hole that would not line up:
http://imgur.com/a/goblv
My Vehicle: 2008 Vibe Moon & Tunes 1.8L ATX
soccerdad
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Location: Central Coast CA

Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by soccerdad »

soccerdad wrote:Took the car to an exhaust shop. They confirmed that the gasket is sub-par and have ordered a replacement one. Will update when problem is fixed.
The problem is now fixed 99%. I feel like I might hear an exhaust leak when the engine is cold, but that might just be me being extra sensitive to noises from the engine. In reality, it's probably fine. What it took to fix the problem was a toyota oem exhaust donut and springs/bolts. It leaked slightly for about a week, but as it broke in it slowly got better and it's sounding much better now ( a month later). From what I can tell, the main issue with the dorman kit is that the supplied donut gasket is too big and sits at different spot on the catalytic converter than the correct one, which is closer to the bolting flange, which makes it sit farther away than it should. I noticed a big difference in how close the cat was to the exhaust manifold after I put the oem donut gasket on there. Hopefully this helps anyone else that decides to put on the dorman manifold.
viber06
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Joined: Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:47 am

Re: Is Dorman good for aftermarket manifold/donut gasket?

Post by viber06 »

Recently replaced the donut gasket (gasket next to cat). Found out the original was completely toast, no wonder the exhaust leak was so bad. Anyway, wanted to mention, there are two different gaskets. I bought mine at autozone and there really isn't a good description of which gasket is which. I bought both and found one was too big. I didn't replace the other so not 100% positive but believe the larger one is for the gasket right off the exhaust manifold, the other is gasket next to cat.

When I started installing the gasket that was very snug I started to panic, thought it was too small. Ended up doing the following: lined up the gasket and gently tapped to get it started. Then brought the exhaust together and with flanges and c-clamps pressed the gasket in place. Just made sure to tighten one c-clamp a little and then tighten a little on opposite side and repeating until eventually it pressed into place.

Oh and getting the bolts off was a pain. Sprayed with PB blaster and hit it with the impact and they wouldn't budge. Kept spraying and let it sit for about 15 minutes and then hitting it with impact again. After about 2 hours finally got them loose :)
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