Does this look normal? My exhaust shop who is re installing the exhaust after I had the car in the dealership for some issues bought it to my attention. The dealer probably did not take the heat shield off to inspect. Could this be a blown gasket from the hot side to the manifold?

Based on research I was told that this may just be normal from where the wastegate is?

 

its probably the o2 housing gasket. doesnt seem to be a whole lot of soot. i would clean it off and check it again in a couple weeks to see if it builds up again.

 

Thanks. I have the exhaust shop checking the gasket out and doing a smoke test.. just in case.. Others have told me these markings are normal for our cars.

 

Normal, if the gasket was blown it would be quite brown and burnt looking.

 

The area to the lower left is a little bit of black soot (normal). The area to the lower right is brown, almost like some sort of dried fluid. Not sure what that is but there is not a lot of it.

In either case, I had the gasket visually inspected and they said it was fine. I also had the car smoke tested after the exhaust was reinstalled and all was said to be good

 

I've got one guy who burnt a hole clean through it after he cocked up an exhaust install.

Your's looks 100% fine.

 

Thank you! Thats why I do the simple bolt ons and let the pro's do most of my work.