1. My engine is a 4.6L. Should all of the spark plug wire inlets on the spark plugs be facing the same way? (to the outside of the engine). On my engine there is one spark plug on the drivers side at the very back that has the spark plug wire inlet facing the inside of the engine. I can't rotate it so that it is facing the same way as the other 7 spark plugs because the fuel rail is in the way as well as a few other things. I thought this might be a likely cause of the misfire I experience every once in awhile. Should I worry about it?

2. On the right side of the plastic cover that says "4.6L" on it there is a little black adjustable **** about 1.5 inches in diameter. What exactly does this **** do? My best guess is that it is the IAC adjuster valve... anyone?

3. About a month ago, I drove to a buddy's house and was there for about 2 hours. When I came outside to leave I could smell coolant the second I stepped out the door. I looked under the truck and there was a puddle of it. I drove home (only a couple of km's) and parked it for the night. I walked outside in the morning expecting to see coolant on the driveway but there was none. Then yesterday morning (a month later) I walked out the door and could smell the coolant right away. There was another puddle of it under the truck... it was fine this morning.

Any ideas?

4. Why is it that whenever I bring my engine past 4000 rpm for more then a couple of seconds I smell exhaust gases in the cabin for about 30 seconds.. ?

 

Are you talking about the angle of the spark plug wire boot? If so, the direction of the bend should not matter as long as the plug is properly clipped into the metal tab inside the boot. If have coil on plug and I don't know it, just ignoore my comment.

I don't have a 4.6l to look at, but there is no adjustment under the black plastic cover that uses a big plastic ****. I think it is really a big plastic part. Again, I'm not looking at a 4.6l and I haven't seen one in awhile, but I recall no big plastic ****.

You have a coolant leak, or your recovery bottle was way overfilled. I'm guessing you have a real leak. It may be a little hard to spot, but it should leave a crusty trail as it dries up. If the leak gets bad enough your recovery bottle will stay at its current level because the expansion and contractoin will happen through the leak rather than your recovery bottle. Monitor your level anyway, but I'd get into looking at this soon. If you aren't going to do the work its time to make an appointment.

Are you positive it is exhaust smell (coolant?)? If so I'd guess you have an exhaust leak that is only bad when you have a load on the engine. The engine will twist in the mounts some when you load it and it can open up cracks in the exhaust. You should be able to see these cracks and openings as soot lines and marks after the fact. Shut off your truck, let it cool and climb under. Don't do it after you have driven in the rain, the soot might get washed off. You could have a leak under the hood too, that gets in the cab.

 

Here is the adjuster thing that I'm talking about... see the cutout in the red plastic cover just above the power steering reservoir... that is an adjustable ****.



Yeah the smell that I get smells like exhaust (sometimes with a hint of burning) it's not coolant. Thanks for your help, I'll get it checked out.

 

Check your water pump for signs of coolant leak. Coolant leaves a residue, so it's not too hard to spot. The seal sometimes leaks only at a particular spot and whether or not it leaks depends on where the pump shaft happens to stop. That's why sometimes, the coolant leaks out and sometimes it doesn't. Haven't really looked at the late model water pumps, but in the past, there was a weep hole that would show some residue as the pump seal starts to go bad.

Can't help with the other things, sorry.

 

BTW, what year is your truck? I like the custom paint job. That red really is an eye-catcher.

My truck is less than a year old and I'm ashamed to say that my engine NEVER looked as clean as yours does.

 

Regarding that black plastic ****, unless I'm thinking about the wrong thing, it isn't adjustable. You should be able to spin that "cap" in either direction forever. That "cap" is attached to the solenoid that is used to control the amount of vacuum applied to the EGR valve.

 

Here's a thought no one has brought up. You said that every once in a while you get a miss. Now I know for a fact there is a coolant line that runs over top the back one or two plugs on the passenger side. Maybe the miss is because of a leak here explains the miss and the smell of anti-freeze.

I'm not for sure on the plastic **** thing. I am pretty sure it is non adujustable just as everything else on the trcuk is.

The boots on the plug wires have a flange that are sort of angled. You should try to get all them seated down so no moisture gets in. This task is easier said than done. I spent two hours trying to get all the boots perfect. It just doesn't happen. You could also throw this into the coolant leak/miss problem. For example if the boot is not seated the colant could leak into the plug hole and cause the miss.

 

Thanks for your help guys... I'm going to check out the water pump and the coolant lines tomorrow to see if they have residue. I'll probably have some more questions though...

Dennis: That isn't a picture of my engine, I just used it for reference.