4.0 OHV failure...

[35Remmy]

OK, so after 3 years of almost incessant pinging and changing out every known part/sensor related to pinging, seafoam treatments, cylinder head replacement (drivers side changed once by me, once by previous owner as when I removed the head the first time I found aftermarket gaskets), lower intake manifold gasket twice, etc. etc. etc. my 4.0 really did it this time. I'm done with this motor. I'm guessing the block was warped from the get-go, hence the sealing issues. Had the manifold checked and it isnt warped. LOOK at the SLUDGE!!! I guess that's what happens from a massive vacuum leak. Felt like a semi- plugged cat for about a month, until she would barely move. Scanned CEL and has misfire on cylinders 1, 2 and 3. This ones almost ready to pull...the exhaust maifold bolts that attach to the collector pipe (?...2 on each side) are pretty frozen...will PB Blast for the next 24 hours, otherwise I'm guessing I'll have to cut them off? Either way, what a PITA). New long-block getting delivered Monday. Believe it or not, this motor still started right up in half a crank, heh. Pinged like a pinging MACHINE when she "failed", and made not-so-normal noises at idle. Only 128k miles. My '88 2.9 went 263K. Oh yeah, this engine started to use a quart of oil a week and a GALLON of coolant every 2 1/2 weeks. Yeah, not good!!!

 

[nine-teen91stxranger]

i dont see any problems with it.

 

[AllanD]

I see "Mayonaise" (the result of coolant mixing into oil), not "sludge"

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[pcollins]

Thats coolant mixed with oil. not sludge. Something with the heads wasn't done right when they were off. The 4 liter is a pretty bulletproof engine.

 

[35Remmy]

Well that explains where all the coolant was going then, huh? Couldn't this have been the result of the lower intake not sealing properly?

The longblock arrived today (so beautiful)...had it delivered to work so I will be bringing it home tomorrow. The gasket kit they sent is a Victor Reinz.. I have to be honest, they look like a better quality set than even the Fel-Pro's I've used the past 2 times.

Two questions, if anyone can answer...there are the 3 seperate rubber gaskets for the upper intake...then there are TWO other "regular" one piece gaskets; if I lay these gaskets against the upper intake, it covers up the rubber gaskets and matches the upper intakes outline and ports perfectly...it does the same for the fuel rail. Any idea how these are used? I'll get some pictures up to show what I'm talking about.

The set also comes with aluminum silicone sealant (high temperature, 500 degrees plus)...what is this used on??? I've never seen it before. Thanks!!!

 

[35Remmy]

OK, so the "aluminum silicone sealant" is just another term for the RTV used at the front and rear of the block to seal up the lower intake manifold gaskets. Still searching those 2 other gaskets.

 

[35Remmy]

OK, so here is a picture of a part of the set I have...the gaskets I'm talking about are the ones inside of the valve cover gaskets. They are thin, and NOTHING like the thickness of the fel-pro fuel rail gasket. You'd have to stack 10 of these together to be as thick as the Fel-Pro. Where do they go? Thanks!

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=2646770

 

[np24]

The rubber gaskets are for the plastic intake manifold.
The ones inside the valve cover gaskets are for the aluminum intake.
The one you need for under the fuel rail wasn't included with this kit. You'll have to purchase it separately.