hi lads
could do with a little help here
my 2001 L keeps blowin head gasgets,3 times in 1 month! ive allso got wear on the two middle bors in the same position on the in side of the V.on the passenger side. it looks like ive driven 100,000 miles yet only done 15,000. have removed the engine and cannot find anythin that points to a problem? i think the problem is its getin to hot,if so wot can i do to stop this happening? what is even more weird is that ive had these mods since last year with no problem till now!
i have got fitted to the L
sals 6lb pully
sals cooler plugs
sals 4 way chip
kn air filter

 

grgreves

I assume since you have Mods, your repairing it yourself ???
If it happen 3 times in a month that pretty much tells the story,
The Alum Head is warped on that side
Have it milled down a bit "from a good machine shop",
and MAKE SURE you use the NEW and IMPROVED Ford head gasket next time around.

GOOD LUCK, please keep us informed

 

i have had both heads skimed and haved used the new revised head gaskets! the first time this happend i had the repair done at a garage and it only lasted for 30 miles till it poped agian,was only drivin through traffic.no heavy WOT. Took it back an they re done the one side two hours after pick up blown again!! as i live in the uk i cannot take the L to a ford dealer so i decided to have a look to see wots going on

 

Take it to another shop or do it yourself. Still sounds like a warped head.

 

grgreves,

Have your leaks all been on the passenger side in the back? If so, it's most likely the bad design problem. Since you're aware of the revised gaskets, I assume you know about the TSB and the problems they've had with the passenger side head gaskets. If not, do a search on head gaskets in the messages area, there's a thread that discusses this, and it even has some input from a Ford tech. He basically says that it's a bad design, the high pressure oil passageway is too close to the thin back wall of the head/block and there's no way to get enough pressure there to seal them together well. I've had it done twice under warranty so far on my '99 Lariat. Both times they claim to have checked the head for warpage, and said to me that it's flat. Since you're in the UK, I don't know what advise to give you, but are there any dealers over there that can get in touch with Ford or a US Ford dealer that can give them the exact repair procedure that Ford does to these things? Just a thought. The first time, they just did the stardard fix on mine. The second time, Ford had released the TSB, and they had the new gasket. Also, the fix procedure was revised and they pulled the whole engine out. Don't know what else they did different, but that was part of the new install. Good Luck.

 

The only other thing i could add at this point.. Are you using the correct tightening sequence/torque??

Other than that, all i can think of is warped head..

(Had to edit this one due to brain fart)

 

What did the surface of the heads look like when you got them back from the machine shop?

These motors WILL NOT seal unless the finish looks almost like a mirror. Any roughness and the MLS headgaskets that these engines use won't seal. The same applies to the deck surface of the block, any pitting or scratches will eventually cause leaking or blown gaskets.

You should also look into putting on a pair of the '03 heads with the additional plug threads.

 

Try the new Ford head gaskets also. They work better.

 

03 heads are not a bad idea..

PEacE...............
Jim

 

I hope you changed the bolts, they are not reuseable. Have you installed the ARP studs.
Dale

 

Dale,

I was just about to say that...

Herb

 

What Dale said, the head bolts are a torque to spec type bolt. In other words they stretch when you tighten them down and are NOT reusable once removed. You have to buy new one's. Better yet is the ARP head studs, they are reusable, a hell of alot stronger, but more expensive. If your running alot of boost and/or nitrous, they will help prevent your heads lifting under WOT as well.

 

thanks for the replys lads. every time the passengerside head gasket was replaced we used new bolts an the revised ford head gasgets. then tightened down to what svt told us to do them at.
what would also be the cause the wear on the two cyliners? is the head getting to hot??

 

I say you go for the modmax head's !

 

Did it show any obvious signs of overheating? I mean, it wouldnt be the first time a stat or pump cooked a head. As for the scratches???