Well, I've had my new trans in for about 2 weeks now ($1700)... I look under my truck yesterday and there is a puddle of oil... Head gasket... ... I think i am going to just replace the motor, rather than putting the time and money into replacing the head gasket on my 160,000 mile motor. I was told at least $1500 to have the head gasket done, and $3500 for a fully warrantied motor. I think I am going to put the motor in myself if I can find one cheap enough. If any of you have a 4.6 or 5.4 your looking to get rid of PM me... Also, does anyone know if the mountineer has a 4.6 winsor or romeo motor? Is there any difference between that motor and an F 150 motor?

 

Well first off I doubt it is the head gasket. Check your oil because if the headgasket blew you would have coolant in it.

With that out the way check with Kar Kraft they always have motors for sale. As for the install if you have a hoist and some mechanical ability it is a piece of cake I could probably pull the old, install the new and be showered up by 6:00pm.

 

I took it to the mechanic. He confirmed it was the head gasket.

 

Well if I were you I would check out the situation a bit further before you write it off as a head gasket.

Alot of Mechanics will write it off as a head gasket becuse it pays very well, well enough that once they have the car/truck they can basicly fix whatever it is without exceeding the ammount of money you are going to pay them save for a cracked head and or block.

I have been dealing with 4.6's since 98 and I haven't seen a single n/a motor blow a head gasket. I have seen some f/i motors blow them and some head swap cars blow them but never have I seen a factory built block blow a gasket.

You say you have a puddle of oil under the car, if it was a head gasket it wouldn't be a puddle. Most times the oil just drips out and hits the exhaust manifold and stinks thats what gets people looking. If I were you I would suggest the following before writting it off.

1.) Leak Down test
2.) Start car with radiator cap off if the head gasket is shot you usually will get bubbles in it
3.) Get a glass jar and drain some oil into it, let it sit overnight and the coolant should seperate
4.) pull the spark plugs on the side that you think the gasket is bad on see if they have oil or coolant on them.
5.) While the plugs are out Get some of thoes really long q Tips, the wooden stick with the swab on the end and stick them into the cyl. and see if there is oil and or coolant in them.
6.) When you drive does it blow smoke out the exhaust?

If you are convinced it is a head gasket then by all means go ahead and change it or get a new motor. I am just warning you from past experience. A friend of mine brought his car to a shop and they told him it was the head gasket and how much they wanted to change it. Not having the money he decided to do it himself. We checked it out before pulling the motor. I pulled the valve cover off of the side he thought was bad and the valve cover gasket was torn allowing some oil to seep out and drip on the exhaust manifolds and leaving a trace of oil around the head/block mating surface. I know for a fact that the shop would have still charged him the full price of a head gasket r/r even though it was a valve cover gasket. Cost him about $20.00 and 2 hours of drinking beer and staring at the motor to fix the problem. He has put about 20K on the car since with no problems.

 

sounds more like valve cover gaskets... they are pretty common to leak.. after high miles.

 

I just bought a 4.6L engine from www.aerengines.com. Cost me $ 1900.00 US. Its got a 3yr 100K warranty. They even delivered to my door and came and picked up the core a couple of days later. It comes with the oil pan installed and a flexplate. You gotta swap everything else. For a couple hundred more than you paid for the transmission, you can have a new engine too.

 

Your looking at a pile of money one way or another, or time at least. A puddle of oil happening quick is no good. 160 000 miles? since it's that high of miles, and your doing a good sized job anyways, things will need to be replaced necessary or just preventative anyways so $$$ come to mind. I would say go to Kar Kraft and get a new engine and they can hook you up with the same or a different engine plus all info needed. The Mountaineer engine is a Romeo, and if it fits may not be a bad choice. All the best from THAT side of the border

 

Find a new mechanic......

Anyway, my 2000 5.4 runs as good as new....And I just turned 159k...Only prob im having now is an exhaust leak, but im suspecting manifold studs...Seems to be a common prob on these engines....I would however if I was you, get another opinion, If it still runs good, try to diagnose that oil leak before dumping dough on a new engine....

 

Hi I noticed you live in my neck of the woods, if you end up buying another engine and end up your current one sitting around. I might be interested in buying it from you. The reason is I'm planning on taking an engine rebuilding class at my local colloge and would love to have an engine to rebuild for my truck. I don't know if this is allowed but my email is jbrazil@cablespeed.com

 

I will shoot you an email as soon as I find a new motor.

 

Hey kicken what do you have on your truck suspension wise? My truck is just like yours but it is a 4x2 and I like the way yours sits.

Good luck with the motor too, if I were you I would look at Kar Kraft and see if you can find a 99+PI motor whole as it will really simplify the install for you.

 

Nothing suspension wise... Just the torsion bars almost all of the way up, and 33's.