intake gaskets

[morpho18]

I'm pulling off the intake this weekend to clean it out and clean my EGR valve and IAC to get rid of a pesky idle problem and 332 code. I've read a few how-to's online and one says that you will more than likely need to change the intake gaskets when you take off the intake. Another says that the gaskets should fine to re-use. Should I buy new ones? If I reuse the gaskets, what should I clean them with?

Thanks.

 

[masho95]

morpho18:
I'm pulling off the intake this weekend to clean it out and clean my EGR valve and IAC to get rid of a pesky idle problem and 332 code. I've read a few how-to's online and one says that you will more than likely need to change the intake gaskets when you take off the intake. Another says that the gaskets should fine to re-use. Should I buy new ones? If I reuse the gaskets, what should I clean them with?
Thanks.

Depending on the age of the gaskets is what really determines whether you can reuse them or not. If the intake has never been pulled off or if it's been a long time since it's been off I'd order a new set to be on the safe side.

<small>[ April 01, 2004, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: masho95 ]</small>

 

[sdpatt]

Please be aware that the only access to the EGR nostril outlets in the manifold are through the throttle body opening. You can obtain the same access by removing only the throttle body from the manifold. If you should desire to clean the horizontal and vertical passages through the access plugs, removing the manifold is required.

The metal shim type intake manifold to head gaskets are reuseable unless the black coating is chipping at the sealing area of the ports. These gaskets (2 required) can be had as the Motorcraft E9DZ-9439-A from FordPartsOnline.com for $11.90 or FordPartsNetwork.com for$12.49.

 

[Blue-By-U]

I would replace the intake to head gaskets. The intake manifold gaskets may rip and tear when you take the intake apart, so having an extra gasket set on hand might be beneficial.

If you want to clean the gunk out of the intake runners I suggest using Berryman's B12. You'll need about 8 cans to get those runners clean.

 

[morpho18]

I'm not disassembling my intake, just taking it off to clean and to fix my problem with the EGR and IAC. I need the gaskets by this weekend, and the only place around here with the means to get them is the ford dealership. I called them and was told that i would need 4 gaskets at 7.28 apiece, and 2 gaskets at 9.22 apiece. but it sounds like you all are telling me that i only need two gaskets.

 

[masho95]

I'm not disassembling my intake, just taking it off to clean and to fix my problem with the EGR and IAC. I need the gaskets by this weekend, and the only place around here with the means to get them is the ford dealership. I called them and was told that i would need 4 gaskets at 7.28 apiece, and 2 gaskets at 9.22 apiece. but it sounds like you all are telling me that i only need two gaskets.

Obviously if you've already done the work this doesn't help you, but you only need the 2 intake to cylinder head gaskets.
If you've already done the work did everything work out for you?

 

[morpho18]

the dealership didn't have the gaskets available so they had to order them, so now i gotta pick them up tomorrow. another question i thought of was, do I need any kind of gasket sealer or gasket adhesive? Now that i pushed the work back a weekend, I'm gonna be able to do the work with my best bud who is a mechanic for a volvo/porsche dealership out in cincy, oh. I've read the shophoenixproject upper 60K front and back, i think i can handle it. i'll let chall know on monday how it worked out.

 

[jelloslug]

No sealent is required, just make sure the surfaces are clean.

 

[morpho18]

well everything went well this weekend. I put in white faced gauges and cleaned my intake in all of 3 1/2 hours on Saturday. My knuckles are swollen and arms are scratched to my elbows, but its done. The intake was a mess! The two EGR nostrils inside the intake were plugged all the way through. I got them clear and clean, and cleaned out the opening to the IAC, and about 10 cans of berrymans and half a bottle of simple green, I had the intake sparkling clean. Got it put back on in about half the time it took to take off, and now everything runs like a champ. The CEL came on halfway home and I began cursing, but remembered that I forgot to plug in the single post connecter on the EGR valve. Pulled over to the side of the road, plugged it in, CEL turned off, and hasn't come on since. Thanks all for your help!

 

[morpho18]

I was thinking about replacing my ECT while I had the intake off, but I couldn't get the bottom clip to slide off to unplug the electrical connection. Also, there were 3 lines running in front of the ECT that were hard to move out of the way. What tool would I use to remove it? It's too big for a socket, and a wrench was too long to fit into the confined space. I think the ECT is the problem to my gas mileage as of recent, although cleaning the intake seemed to help that a little.

edit>> I just noticed on my way home from work yesterday that I could smell coolant. This morning I started the car up on the way to work and the low coolant light was on. I must have missed a line, or one is tight or something. I know that I triple checked to make sure I had every connection right....hmmm....i'll take a look at it after work and see what the problemo is.

 

[morpho18]

*bump*

 

[Rockledge]

I was thinking about replacing my ECT while I had the intake off, but I couldn't get the bottom clip to slide off to unplug the electrical connection. Also, there were 3 lines running in front of the ECT that were hard to move out of the way. What tool would I use to remove it? It's too big for a socket, and a wrench was too long to fit into the confined space...

I used a crows-foot socket on my ECT, worked well.

 

[AutoSHO]

The ECT is a 1" Hex. I was able to use a deep socket and ratchet on my MTX, but the ATX may be a little tougher to get at.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Not as hard as one would think.