4.0 intake leaking coolant | Ford Explorer Forums

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4.0 intake leaking coolant

elkhunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
August 24, 2004
Messages
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City, State
Big Horn, Wy
Year, Model & Trim Level
91 Eddie Bauer Explorer
I installed a new engine from Michigan Motors and had to change a cylinder head gasket that wasn't torqued right from the factory they use. Everything was totally cleaned and finished off with acetone. I put it back together using the method of a little on the heads, a little on the intake, etc. until everything was finally finished off. I used RTV around the water ports and for end gaskets. Now I have a leak right behind the fuel pressure regulater. My question is, do I have to loosen the heads and go through that whole thing again or will just a new intake gasket work? Also, how do I check the torque on the head bolts? Loosen them and redo it with the additional 90* or get new bolts and start over?
 



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You need a torque wrench for this man. Start all over with the heads. Get some silicone rubber gasket material, or some hi-temp RTV, the black tube. You need to apply this to the gasket and to several spots between the manifold, the heads, and the block.

When you replace the intake manifold, use the sealant. This has to be done fast... like as soon as you apply the gasket material, whether its silicone rubber or RTV gasketing. This is probably the issue in my opinion. Also, the way you torque everything down makes a difference as well. Its torqued down in a certian patern to assure a good crush and seal.

You will need all new gaskets.

Torque your headbolts to 44ft-lbs. There is 4 bolts across the top and then across the bottom. From left to right... 1 2 3 4 across top and 5 6 7 8 across bottom. Tighten in this order... 2, 7, 3, 6, 1, 5, 4, 8.

When you put on the manifold gasket, make sure to use the sealer.

Torque your intake manifold bolts to 6ft-lbs. If looking at the manifold from the front, there are 2 rows of bolts, 4 on each side. from front to firewall on left... 1 2 3 4, then from front to firewall on right 5 6 7 8. Tighten in this order... 4, 5, 8, 1, 7, 3, 6, 2.


Now, here is where it gets tricky.

Go back and tighten your headbolts up to 59ft-lbs in the sequence I gave you above. Then go back to the intake manifold and tighten those in the same sequence to 11ft-lbs. Now, go back to the head bolts and give them each a 75 degree turn in sequence. And then go back to the intake manifold and tighetn them down in sequence to 15 ft-lb... and then again to 18ft-lbs.

You have to do it this way to save yourself a lot of headaches.

make sure you RTV your valve covers, too.


good luck! and GET A CHILTONS to help you thru that ****.
 






I did finally get the antifreeze leak fixed. NOW, the engine is leaking a little more each day from the rear seal. I recommended Michigan Motors because I got a good deal, pricewise, for a 4.0 OHV for my daughters 91 Explorer. Now I wished I would not have recommended them and I am very sorry if anyone did buy from them because of me. They answered a few emails about the head gasket but refuse all emails about the oil problem. They sold me a lemon and won't admit to it. I even tried contacting them through ebay to no avail. Again, I am sorry if anyone bought from them because of me.
 






coolant leak for the intake happends all the time...I fix alot of explorers/rangers through out the year for this problem......That and they do leak oil alot.Did you do the work yourself????I do know from experience that you should use the Ford parts for the 4.0L.I is a little bit more $ but the gaskets are bang on.I have never had a problem after replaceing an intake gasket.But a friend has with the Felpro stuff.
 






The engine was a new complete engine that Michigan Motors got from the factory in Germany. When I replaced the cylinder head gasket I used a gasket set from Ford. I also used the Ford gasket set to finally cure the antifreeze leak. The oil seal is brand new with the engine and only has around 2000 miles on it. I think it is just a lemon engine and the dealer wants no part of it! I do have a new rear seal that came with the gasket set but I am tired of working on it. I just don't feel like pulling the engine again or dropping the transmission/transfer case to repair a brand new engine that more than likely will come down with a new disease after I get it back together.
 






Hell bring it to me. I will have it out in about an hr. I have pulled mine enough, I know what size all the bolts are! :D :D

Best of luck though. I know how it is when you do all that work and need to do it all over again. For awhile I was going though trans like crazy.
 






I would need to put a drum of oil in the back to make it there.
 






'91 Looking at doing my Intake manifold. leaking antifreeze right up front by the Temp sensor. Tightened the one nut a bit and that cured it for a few months. Leaking again so it's time to do it right.

Looked at getting just the Intake gasket. There was a side note saying I need Valve cover gaskets as well. Question: The valve covers don't have to be removed to do the Intake Gasket do they?
I've done my fair share of intake gaskets on older Carburator cars. I'm hoping there isn't too many mysteries here.
 






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