Head gasket or engine replacement? Which is easier? | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Head gasket or engine replacement? Which is easier?

rocket22

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Joined
August 28, 2007
Messages
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City, State
La Grange, IL
Year, Model & Trim Level
2002 Explorer xlt 4 wd
Scenario; 1995 Explorer 2WD (is that an issue with the trans hook up? The engine has 191K and is rusty appears to have a head gasket or Intake gasket leak. I can get an engine to swap for 400. I am not going to try the head gasket replacement since I can see a number of broken bolts and other problems. I would think a swap would be better. Or just part it out and buy something else. IS there any good head gasket fix in a bottle recomendations? The truck body is not good, lots of other little issues, but the engine runs fine outside of the leak issue. The leak is not a slow leak, and it is not a freeze plug. Any ideas? Can you seal a leak from the outside? Jen Weld? Any other options?
 






I would NOT try to seal the leak from the outside. In the first place you don't know just where the leak is coming from. Secondly, the pressure is from the inside, so any type sealant would most likely be pushed out when the engine gets hot. If you are determined to try it, I would recommend JB Weld. All surfaces the material comes into contact with MUST be CLEAN and dry . Good luck.
 






Both routes are going to cost you more than you think. If you have the head gaskets done plan on around $1200.

If the truck is as bad as you say it is, just look for another one. Engine replacement isn't hard as long as you know the "new" one runs. There are still incidental costs associated with that though. If you do that yourself it might be worth it.

Its all up to you and how much money youre willing to spend.

I DO NOT recommend any of those in the bottle fixes and you CAN NOT repair a headgasket from the outside.
 






Engine swap I think still would be an issue and....

I we would still have some issues with rust and broken bolts. I am not a fan of the "fix in a bottle" but it bought us the last two years after we had a similar leak. Like they say on the bottle, this is the last fix attempt prior to replacing the vehicle.

Be on the look out for my post of of parting out a 1995 ford explorer.
 






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