Lower Intake Manifold Gasket

[91Explorer-Dude]

Well I have it figured out, there is a little stream of coolant leaking from between the pasenger side Head and the Intake Manifold. I have heard between 3 and 12 hours to do this job. Can anyone tell me what special tools I might need, what gaskets I will need to replace etc... so I can eliminate trips to the parts store. Its been a while since I took on a job this big and am a little apprehensive but I really dont have the money to pay someone to do it for me. I plan on repacing all the hoses and probably the thremostat while I am in there. What do I need to know??? Its a 91 Explorer....

 

[ldearroz]

If the leak is small, maybe you could use stop leak. I have the same leak between the gasket and the manifold. I poured in 2 bottles in the radiator, and it stopped the leak and still holding so far. The thermostat can be replaced easily same with the heater hoses.

 

[ricco750]

If the leak is small, maybe you could use stop leak. I have the same leak between the gasket and the manifold. I poured in 2 bottles in the radiator, and it stopped the leak and still holding so far. The thermostat can be replaced easily same with the heater hoses.

Ditto. One tube of Alumaseal fixed my slow coolant use/leak.

 

[Willard]

Stop leak is only a temporary fix. I used it for mine, too, then it eventually failed again. I went through about three bottles of that stuff before I replaced the gasket.

There's nothing extremely complicated about doing the gasket. You don't need to remove the fuel rail if you don't want to. It just takes more time. I would make sure you mark all the vacuum hoses somehow so you can remember where they go. As long as you have a good set of wrenches, you should have no problem with this job.

I would say it could take anywhere from 3-8 hours start to finish depending on how fast you are and if you go through and clean everything while you have it off.

 

[lovs2fly]

Not really a difficult job. A good set of wrenches and you should be set.

They sell all the gaskets in a kit. I think they ran me about $90. I also think there was a TSB regarding the valve covers. I found it easier to just take them off. Again new gaskets here would save a problem later on.


Regarding the fuel rail. At this point it is very easy and smart to pull the injectors and get them cleaned. After all those miles this would help with the MPG.

Good luck.

 

[Maniak]

The Ford dealer lower intake gasket is metal/rubber. The Felpro one I got before was paper.

Same goes for the valve cover gaskets.. There are rubber ones (FORD) and cork ones (felpro)..

If you can afford it, I'd go with the Ford Metal/rubber gaskets...

Also, if you do take off the fuel rail I found it is easier to put the fuel rail on the lower intake before putting the lower intake onto the engine.. Otherwise its a pain to get all the injectors lined up just right.

~Mark

 

[91Explorer-Dude]

Thanks for the help

I will definately spring for the Ford gaskets. As I said this is a fairly big job by my standards so I hope it goes smoothly and I dont have any problems. I appreciate the help from someone who has done the job and knows what is entailed. Haynes and Chilton manuals are great but I would take personal advice over theirs most of the time.

 

[cculter]

When you pull the head you will need a T-55 socket if you don't already have one, and a good tourque wrench.

 

[Maniak]

If its the lower intake gasket leaking, you don't pull the heads to fix it..

BTW.. you will need some RTV for this job.. as you need to put it in a few places where the Heads meet the block..

I use "Right Stuff" It comes in what looks like cheeze wiz can or in a small caulk bottle.

That the best RTV I've ever found..

Oh yea, if you do decide to take the fuel rail OFF the lower intake (you don't need to) you will need an e7 socket.. its an external torque socket.

~Mark

 

[cculter]

If its the lower intake gasket leaking, you don't pull the heads to fix it..

I guess I missunderstood what exactly he was doing. I thought it was the head gasket.