I am the newbee on the block 4 cooks/4 days. I melted my gasket on day 2. I wanted to try a seared stake. Got the dome up to 650-675.

Being very concerned about the information TNW put up about flashback, I opened the lid 2-4 inches, then closed, did it again, then the third time the exiting heat was so hot I couldn’t continue to open the dome. At that point the gasket was fine. I opened it again to burp, two times then opened the dome all the way. At that point the gasket looked like it was melted, in actuality I don’t think it was, however the glue had released and the gasket was moved on the surface and somewhat when opening stuck to the top gasket.

The upper and lower gasket pulled apart when the dome opened. I turned the steak and closed. 1 ½ minutes I cut the dampers completely closed. When I tried to open the dome it was stuck. I finally got it opened took out the steak (which was great).

Then proceed to let the fire snuff out.

The gasket didn’t look to be burned but it appeared to have shrunk. I didn’t know enough to look more at the gasket so I can not say for sure if it did shrink, somewhat like heat shrink tubing but not that dramatic.

The heat was extreme to the feel when I tried opening the dome and that heat went over the gasket several times before I experienced the gasket problem.

I realize that I am the new kid on the block (well old fart actually) with no bge experience, just some thoughts…

After reading TNW’s comments about not having problems with the gasket after 2 years made me wonder.

1. Out here locally another new ex bge owner ruined his gasket on the first day. Has the company changed the adhesive on the gaskets as there are a lot of people having the gasket problems?!
2. Is it possible the way we are burping the bge causing the failure of the glue/gasket. In my case I am pretty confident it was a glue failure? Or my allowing too much heat for too long to escape over the rim.

I wonder if I would have burped once maybe twice then fully opened the dome if my gasket problem would not have happened.

Thanks everyone for your comments.