HEAD gasket ?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, VA, USA
to the best of my recollection I have NEVER heard of a single modular engine "blowing" a head gasket in the traditional sense.
the gaskets are made of 3 or 4 layers of steel and are very durable.
however some of the guys with VERY high boost levels have reported that the heads will "lift" off of the block (most likely the head bolts stretching) and cause momentary external leakage.
but once the boost is removed from the equation, things seal back up and no driveability concerns are present.
why do you think you have blown head gaskets?
I'm just saying that it's pretty unlikely.
my .02
later,
chris
P.S. if you have your heart set on checking for blown gaskets, you can use a "block tester" that checks for combustion gases in the coolant, do a compression test with a manual guage, do a cylinder leak down test by applying pressurized air to each cylinder with the valves closed, check the oil for water emulsion.
good luck.
the gaskets are made of 3 or 4 layers of steel and are very durable.
however some of the guys with VERY high boost levels have reported that the heads will "lift" off of the block (most likely the head bolts stretching) and cause momentary external leakage.
but once the boost is removed from the equation, things seal back up and no driveability concerns are present.
why do you think you have blown head gaskets?
I'm just saying that it's pretty unlikely.
my .02
later,
chris
P.S. if you have your heart set on checking for blown gaskets, you can use a "block tester" that checks for combustion gases in the coolant, do a compression test with a manual guage, do a cylinder leak down test by applying pressurized air to each cylinder with the valves closed, check the oil for water emulsion.
good luck.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 0
From: NY
Well I went to the track and on the second run about 3/4 down the track I lost acceleration at about 95mph. Got back to the pits and the truck was running like crap. Ruff and idle and shaking a little. Then I look under the truck and there is a small amount of oil accumulating / dripping from the bottom of the front of the tranny. Coming somewhere btween the oil pan and tranny???
Also when starting the car it takes several turns to get it to catch.
also with the engine running it sounds like there is a tick noise about 2 ro 3 seconds apart tick..tick..tick...hopefully no boom.
Can I lift the heads with just a 4lb and apten port? I see between 14 and 16 psi on my autometer?
Any input is appreciated.
Also when starting the car it takes several turns to get it to catch.
also with the engine running it sounds like there is a tick noise about 2 ro 3 seconds apart tick..tick..tick...hopefully no boom.
Can I lift the heads with just a 4lb and apten port? I see between 14 and 16 psi on my autometer?
Any input is appreciated.
Last edited by halflife; Mar 15, 2004 at 06:23 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 1
From: Lexington, KY
Well, I lifted mine with a 6 pounder and a stock eaton,
so I would say the answer is yes.
Same symptom ... Oil and coolant down the rear passenger
side. Limped it on home and they put a new head on it the
next day. I think I got the '03 improved head but I don't
know, because the guy installing it told me whatever
the replacement part was, that was what they ordered.
Anyone (Chris, Sal?) know if the EC change on the head
would have made it into the replacement parts for the '02?
Cliff
PS... my guy at Ford said they replaced about three a month
fo rthe past year or so, and they were not all Lightnings.
Seems it's cheaper to fix the ones that break than to do
a recall across all 5,4's.
so I would say the answer is yes.
Same symptom ... Oil and coolant down the rear passenger
side. Limped it on home and they put a new head on it the
next day. I think I got the '03 improved head but I don't
know, because the guy installing it told me whatever
the replacement part was, that was what they ordered.
Anyone (Chris, Sal?) know if the EC change on the head
would have made it into the replacement parts for the '02?
Cliff
PS... my guy at Ford said they replaced about three a month
fo rthe past year or so, and they were not all Lightnings.
Seems it's cheaper to fix the ones that break than to do
a recall across all 5,4's.