intake and fuel rail gaskets

[Stranger ranger]

So, I called ford garage today, looking for some gaskets. The kind gentleman explained to me that there is a lower intake gasket, and just the plenum upper intake gasket and that there is no gasket between the fuel rail and the lower intake manifold. Is this true? He said the o rings for the injectors seal this upon bolting together? So if this is true, I'm only going to need two gaskets for the intakes and one for the valve cover correct? I'm buying parts soon so I need to know, thanks guys.

 

[MAKG]

On a 4.0L? He's smoking crack.

There IS a gasket between the fuel rail and lower intake. It doesn't hold fuel back, but it sure as heck holds vacuum. It's identical to the UPPER intake gasket.

I'll bet the vehicles THIS guy works on all have good vacuum....

Don't separate the fuel rail from the lower intake unless you have to. You'll need an E-7 socket and some Vaseline to lube the O-rings. And be careful about shop manual tightening sequences. Quite a few are backwards for this application. ALWAYS tighten first in the center and expand outwards in a spiral.

 

[Stranger ranger]

Don't separate the fuel rail from the lower intake unless you have to. You'll need an E-7 socket and some Vaseline to lube the O-rings.

First of all I'm glad to see your still around for these type of things, and second of all, isn't that lower gasket,(the one between the rail and lower manifold) the one that you need to replace when you have a high idle issue? Or is it the one between the upper and fuel rail?
I've already done every self test possible and gaskets are not that much and its not my daily so I'd like to tear into it just to see. I cant be having a 1500rpm idle at every stop light, and in one of my previous posts I stated that this motor was hydro locked with oil and I would imagine the gaskets are swelled.

And whats an E-7 socket?.

Thank you sir.

 

[Giant squid]

my 4.0L does not have gaskets between fuel rail and lower intake just that thick spacer. Mine has been like this since factory, When i changed my heads the gasket kit i got has 2 more gaskets left. I left the fuel rail and lower intake as one piece in my operation, so its clear thats the location for the gaskets, but there are none there from factoy........Are the "factory gaskets"big enough so you can see them when its all pressed togather? I know these aftermarket ones are. (victor Reinz) Or am i a fool and that 1/2" spacer is a gasket?

 

[MAKG]

A high idle problem can be caused by ANY vacuum leak. If that particular one is leaking, you can find it by spraying "something" (carb cleaner or brake cleaner are often suggested) on the joint while idling, and listening for changes in the idle.

But I'd suggest you go after vacuum accessories first. Disconnect and cap everything from the vacuum tree and see if your idle gets better. If it does, reconnect one by one until you find the problem. I've seen power brake boosters and even rotted out vacuum caps do this. It would suck to tear into the engine over a 10 second, 50 cent repair.

An E-7 socket is a specific size of "external" Torx driver. It's the inverse of a T-7.

There are other potential causes for high idle. Vacuum leaks are just very likely. Another is a stuck-open thermostat (overcooled engine, continuously warming up). And there are others.

 

[AllanD]

a 1995-up 4.0 has no gasket between the upper and the fuel rail
and a thick o-ringed plastic spacer between the fuel rail and the lower.

the 1990-94 has a green "print-o-seal" paper gasket between the fuel rail
and the lower and an identical gasket between the fuel rail and the upper.


IF someone were building a 4.0 I would HIGHLY recommend swapping in
a 1995-up lower intake, the gasket face to the fuel rail is shorter to allow
the use of the plastic spacer (and still seat the injectors) and thus thermally
isolate the fuel rail from the lower intake.

AD

 

[Stranger ranger]

I'll do some checks again, but the way my luck has been with this motor over the past 5 years, it was never a ten second fix.

If I start it up for the first time let say in the morning, yes it idles high but I know its supposed to, if I leave it be for a few min, it goes to about 850, 900 and I can deal with that.

Once I get in and start driving, it shoots up at every time I shift or push in the clutch to come to a stop. And if I blurp the gas pedal I can get it to come down to 900 again, but thats far and few between.

 

[Stranger ranger]

And whats wrong with the gaskets from autozone or advance? Just crappy all together or what. Its not an everyday driver but I dont want them to fail me after a month.

 

[Stranger ranger]

Wouldn't it be wise to separate the fuel rail and lower intake since I'm there and going to have the gasket in the kit in the first place? Just asking here, I mean it doesn't make much sense to tear into it and not replace it.

 

[97ranger4x4]

You certainly can take it apart. But when you put it all back together, it can be a bit of a pain in the ass to make sure you dont kink the o-rings on the fuel injectors. That will cause them to leak, BAD!!! I know from expereince. Thats why you will need to lube them with vasoline so they are less likely to get messed up. Also be careful with the injectors themselves. They can be sorta fragile in themselves. It helps to have a friend and take your time. Also follow the proper torque sequences so all that hard work doesnt get messed up.

 

[Stranger ranger]

thanks guys i'll discover what i can this weekend