intake or head gaskets?

kkjb4x4.0 · Mar 30, 2009

97 4.0 . For the last while I have been going through coolant with no visible leaks or signs of where it leaks, but I could smell coolant after it was driven.
Well a day or two ago after I drove and parked her. I could hear coolant pressure escaping from the drivers side somewhere. So yesterday I crawled underneath her to see if I could find the leak
I found it. I have a steady drip coming from the front drivers side behind the a\c bracket. Looks to me where the head meets the block.
My question is,, could the intake gasket leak enough to drip down there , or would a bad head gasket or cracked head be the more likely cause?

Stranger ranger · Mar 30, 2009

your gonna need to pressure test the heads to find out for sure which gasket it is.

kkjb4x4.0 · Mar 30, 2009

Yeah that's what I thought..Tearing it down now in the driveway,,I'll know soon enough. I pretty much had a steady stream of coolant coming down behind the a\c .
As far as I can tell the oil is fine.

JoeCanada · Mar 30, 2009

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38539

kkjb4x4.0 · Mar 31, 2009

at 295.000 kms I was a little worried to tear into the heads, but it's leaking at the lower intake front coolant passage. Gonna buy some gaskets and put her back together today.
Any specific brand of gaskets?

94STXRanger · Mar 31, 2009

While you are there you might think about getting a FelPro head set and do the head gaskets to. The set will have all gaskets from the heads up.

kkjb4x4.0 · Apr 1, 2009

Yeah I probably should , but it's a very good runner and I'm confident it's just the lower intake. I really don't have the funds to go any deeper into it and it's my only vehicle.
I did however, before I realized it ,separate the fuel rail from the lower intake. Hope this doesn't turn into a problem.
Ordered all the gaskets from Ford yesterday but it's too wet to work in the driveway today, I'll have to wait till tomorrow.

fastpakr · Apr 1, 2009

And there's no reason to. Fix the problem at hand and leave the rest buttoned up.

kkjb4x4.0 · Apr 3, 2009

Problem fixed. New gaskets, cleaned the sensors. replaced the drop in k&n with a paper filter and ran seafoam through her. Running very well. just need to change the oil! Oh and a new serpentine belt. no more belt squeal!
New gaskets and assorted fluids. new belt-about $250
No more coolant leak and great running 4.0 -priceless lol.

intake or head gaskets?

kkjb4x4.0

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Stranger ranger

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kkjb4x4.0

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JoeCanada

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kkjb4x4.0

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94STXRanger

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fastpakr

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kkjb4x4.0

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