custom20aj
Active Member
- Joined
- March 22, 2005
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1992 XLT
Almost 1 year ago, coolant was disappearing badly on a trip my wife was taking. I went down and traded her cars. The Explorer was burning coolant so bad that the exhaust manifold on the driver's side rear (between the two spark plugs closest to the firewall) was wet and steaming, and the exhaust donut gasket was also wet and steaming. I put Bar's Leak tabs in, and then a bottle of the Bar's Leak liquid with pellets in, and voila, no problem until now.
The other day it started to idle rough and blow white smoke again, which told me it was leaking again. The oil is still at the correct level and clean. I tried another bottle of Bar's Leak which did not help. I then tried the Bar's Leak Head Gasket Repair, which is a PITA to use (I think I spent as much time doing that as I would have tearing the intakes down).
Now everything is worse. I even tried putting back in new Bar's Leak tablets to get back to square one, but it's undrivable now.
Oil is still clean. Blowing terrible white smoke, and using coolant up in about a mile after thermostat opens. No external evidence of leak, except donut gasket is steaming.
Is there a good thread showing tear down and replacement of gaskets? If I go in, I should do both sides, correct? About how much money total (and time) would I have in the job?
One more thing: When I bought the Ex, I was told the engine was changed a couple of times. I have no way of knowing how many miles this engine has on it (car has 208,000). The oil pressure guage runs normal most of the time, but at idle, drops to nothing (pegs). I changed the sending unit before, but no change. So.... Is it worth repairing the heads, etc..., or is their an engine problem creeping not too far in the future?
It's a shame. I have changed a LOT of parts in the last two years, including a LOW mileage A4ld transmission. I hate to give up on it, but I am considering it.
As far as working on it, I'd do anything, but personally, I'd rather change a whole engine than head gaskets anyday.
The other day it started to idle rough and blow white smoke again, which told me it was leaking again. The oil is still at the correct level and clean. I tried another bottle of Bar's Leak which did not help. I then tried the Bar's Leak Head Gasket Repair, which is a PITA to use (I think I spent as much time doing that as I would have tearing the intakes down).
Now everything is worse. I even tried putting back in new Bar's Leak tablets to get back to square one, but it's undrivable now.
Oil is still clean. Blowing terrible white smoke, and using coolant up in about a mile after thermostat opens. No external evidence of leak, except donut gasket is steaming.
Is there a good thread showing tear down and replacement of gaskets? If I go in, I should do both sides, correct? About how much money total (and time) would I have in the job?
One more thing: When I bought the Ex, I was told the engine was changed a couple of times. I have no way of knowing how many miles this engine has on it (car has 208,000). The oil pressure guage runs normal most of the time, but at idle, drops to nothing (pegs). I changed the sending unit before, but no change. So.... Is it worth repairing the heads, etc..., or is their an engine problem creeping not too far in the future?
It's a shame. I have changed a LOT of parts in the last two years, including a LOW mileage A4ld transmission. I hate to give up on it, but I am considering it.
As far as working on it, I'd do anything, but personally, I'd rather change a whole engine than head gaskets anyday.
