Introduction
There have been reports of loose intake bolts on some of the Ford 4.0L engines built in the 1990’s. Here’s how to check and tighten them.
Check
- Check for loose lower intake manifold bolts.
- Pull your #5 plug and check it out. If you see the fuzzy head or have some oil present around the sides of the plug, then bingo.
The 1993-1994 have this problem very often. Usually, you can fix it by simply tightening the bolts, but sometimes you need a new gasket.
Do you notice a loss of oil with no leaks? Say 1-quart every 1500-3000 miles?
Tightening
You will need:
- 1/4″ Socket Drive
- 6″ extension
- Short wobble adapter (the broken neck socket adapter)
- 10mm socket
Follow the pictures below for the location and proper tightening sequence. Most should be able to solve the problem by simple tightening, but some may need to replace the entire gasket as it may be shot. Make sure you follow the sequence for tightening!
Tighten the bolts (in the proper sequence) and torquing them to 21-25 Nm (15-18 ft lb),
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About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.