Intake manifold repair help.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

east302

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Posts
1,686
Reaction score
1,681
Location
Mississippi
Is that from the heater hose fitting at the intake?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
Is that from the heater hose fitting at the intake?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Close! I thought I'd popped the intake gasket, but it was one of the heater control valve hoses.

I'm not sure about the steam from the tailpipe. It runs great, good response and power. Stand for awhile, then stopped. Not sure if it's going to keep doing it, only time will tell. I did use compressed air in the engine to try and blow the coolant out. Maybe that somehow got it into the exhaust?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
What I don't get use that I didn't have any steam coming from the tailpipe before I changed the intake gasket. How do I tell if it's intake vs heads?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kenny D

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,236
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Crosby, Tx
If I remember when I replaced both heads on my 99 burb I didn't steam and I had mine apart for a week waiting on my heads. The only way water can get into your cylinders is a leaky gasket. I don't see how it would be your heads or head gaskets, you didn't mess with them. I don't remember if the plastic upper intake had any water passages that could have cracked during install or removal, but my guess is a gasket is leaking. Did you use sealant on your intake bolt threads? There are a couple that thread into a water passage.
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
If I remember when I replaced both heads on my 99 burb I didn't steam and I had mine apart for a week waiting on my heads. The only way water can get into your cylinders is a leaky gasket. I don't see how it would be your heads or head gaskets, you didn't mess with them. I don't remember if the plastic upper intake had any water passages that could have cracked during install or removal, but my guess is a gasket is leaking. Did you use sealant on your intake bolt threads? There are a couple that thread into a water passage.

That's what I'm hoping concerning the heads. That they aren't the issue. Just wasn't sure if I should take the time to address any future issues while I'm that far into it.

I used new fel pro bolts that had sealant on them already.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kenny D

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,236
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Crosby, Tx
I know I asked before, but did you confirm that the intake manifold bolts held torque after the sequence? It took me going through the sequence about 5 times before they wouldn't tighten any further.
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
I know I asked before, but did you confirm that the intake manifold bolts held torque after the sequence? It took me going through the sequence about 5 times before they wouldn't tighten any further.


Without taking anything off! I was only able to get to half of them. They were all to spec.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kenny D

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,236
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Crosby, Tx
it's the 4 in the rear that would be my main concern. That is where the water flows.
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
0dd94f9e28bce20fa6e1ba5ca1332061.jpg
ebef5a2a15945a2cb7ca72e2dd117d78.jpg
2d24d6134e529c1391955aac1ec22756.jpg
20406cc7a7d488fc1526b4e6dcb64bd5.jpg
8e40103438067bf4a6f9fae667994503.jpg
6169f1579e8d23d953720cb050c6e271.jpg
059d78da06565ffdb1aac635b94ae0a0.jpg
fcd5a413fb174f8ad2a369c1e65cf647.jpg
73aae4cb1884a627e22cfcb435b21853.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

east302

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Posts
1,686
Reaction score
1,681
Location
Mississippi
Couple of questions...

Did you put a small bead (4mm) of adhesive between the gasket tab and block at all four corners...

55BE8DCC-717D-4DF1-B008-A558AB5291B4_zpspx6asscv.gif


Spec calls for the sealant bead along the block to overlap the top of the intake gasket by 1/2".

ACF168BB-A0A7-4185-8918-C9034FB4C8BA_zpsq4yptqpw.jpg


311D1AF6-5C2B-4885-962A-0DF32092315D_zpsriu6yix3.gif


44FF0751-B19B-4D42-B2B2-6D66A05F8FF6_zpsuxibseio.gif



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kenny D

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,236
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Crosby, Tx
I will explain exactly what I did to my intake manifold.
When I went to install the gaskets, even though it said not to, I applied RTV around all water ports on the heads and RTV where specified. I used a liberal amount. I applied gaskets after letting the RTV sit for about 5 minutes. Then I put RTV around the water ports on the gasket itself. I let the silicone sit for 5 minutes again then installed the intake. That is probably why I had to do the torque sequence so many times. I was setting the silicone. In the 3 or 4 years after I did this and sold the burb, I never had any other issues with coolant leaking, overheating, or steaming.

EDIT: I had the exact same manifold gaskets as you.
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
Couple of questions...

Did you put a small bead (4mm) of adhesive between the gasket tab and block at all four corners...

55BE8DCC-717D-4DF1-B008-A558AB5291B4_zpspx6asscv.gif


Spec calls for the sealant bead along the block to overlap the top of the intake gasket by 1/2".

ACF168BB-A0A7-4185-8918-C9034FB4C8BA_zpsq4yptqpw.jpg


311D1AF6-5C2B-4885-962A-0DF32092315D_zpsriu6yix3.gif


44FF0751-B19B-4D42-B2B2-6D66A05F8FF6_zpsuxibseio.gif



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I put some sealant under the gasket up to the tab, but not on top.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
OK, let's review my symptoms chronologically, without rose colored glasses on.

-oil leak from front of intake
-may have lost coolant internally, really unsure since it was new to me.
- seemed under powered
- no overheating. In fact I always thought the temp seemed low.
- used my Lisle combustion detector, twice. No sign of exhaust gases in coolant.

-plugs:
825af7241ca846bc5122ecd73b3339a3.jpg


Then I "repaired" the leaking intake gasket and replaced distributor, plugs, wires, and spider fuel injectors.
Symptoms afterwards were:
- billowing white steam from tailpipe (none previously)
- coolant in oil
- air bubbling in radiator (thought it must have been burping itself)
- no overheating

Replaced intake gasket again and current symptoms are the same as above.

Did a dry compression test which showed cylinder 4 was low, about 130. Wet test showed 135.

Gathering all my Google knowledge and brain power, I have narrowed it down to three probable options. 1- blown head gasket. 2- cracked/warped head. 3- cracked cylinder.


Options?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
OK, let's review my symptoms chronologically, without rose colored glasses on.

-oil leak from front of intake
-may have lost coolant internally, really unsure since it was new to me.
- seemed under powered
- no overheating. In fact I always thought the tempo seemed low.
-
825af7241ca846bc5122ecd73b3339a3.jpg


Then I "repaired" the leaking intake gasket and replaced distributor, plugs, wires, and spider fuel injectors.
Symptoms afterwards were:
- billowing white steam from tailpipe (none previously)
- coolant in oil
- air bubbling in radiator (thought it must have been burping itself)
- no overheating

Replaced intake gasket again and current symptoms are the same as above.

Did a dry compression test which showed cylinder 4 was low, about 130. Wet test showed 135.

Gathering all my Google knowledge and brain power I have narrowed it down to the options. 1- blown head gasket. 2- cracked/warped head. 3- cracked cylinder.


Options?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Cattivo

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Posts
1,251
Reaction score
2,208
Location
The Concrete Jungle
Sounds to me like a blown head gasket...I had an older Jeep with a blown head gasket and white smoke(steam) would constantly exit through the exhaust along with that nasty smell of antifreeze mixing with the oil.

Easiest way to tell is open the radiator cap first thing in the morning when the engine is cold, start the engine and see if there are any bubbles inside the radiator...if their are, you have a blown head gasket:(
 

east302

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2016
Posts
1,686
Reaction score
1,681
Location
Mississippi
The second time you did the intake gasket, did you put the gasket sealer on top of the intake gasket as shown in that diagram a few posts up?

I would think that a blown head gasket would show a zero psi on two adjacent cylinders. There's a test that a shop can do to see if combustion gases are mixed with the coolant. The kit goes on top of the radiator and uses some chemical that changes color if there are gases in the coolant.

Like Cattivo said, another good way to check is to let the engine cool, open the radiator cap, stand back and start it. If coolant overflows out, then that's a head gasket.

Has the truck ever overheated to your knowledge?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
The second time you did the intake gasket, did you put the gasket sealer on top of the intake gasket as shown in that diagram a few posts up?

I would think that a blown head gasket would show a zero psi on two adjacent cylinders. There's a test that a shop can do to see if combustion gases are mixed with the coolant. The kit goes on top of the radiator and uses some chemical that changes color if there are gases in the coolant.

Like Cattivo said, another good way to check is to let the engine cool, open the radiator cap, stand back and start it. If coolant overflows out, then that's a head gasket.

Has the truck ever overheated to your knowledge?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To my knowledge it hasn't, but I've only driven it a couple hundred miles.

From what I've read, putting gasket sealer on top of the gasket was before the FEL pro metal and rubber gaskets were used. I did put some a half inch up the the top as directed.

Before I started the repair I checked for combustion gases, twice. Negative results each time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kenny D

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2017
Posts
1,236
Reaction score
1,283
Location
Crosby, Tx
If you are sure you correctly followed procedure on your intake gasket, then you are looking at a blown head gasket.
The first time I did an intake gasket on my 99, I followed the book word for word and I had a failure and within 20 miles ruined two heads due to overheating. $1200 later and the procedure I stated several posts above, I had 50,000 trouble free miles before trading it in. Good luck.
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
Pressure test revealed..........??







I need a new radiator. [emoji35]





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
U
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Posts
37
Reaction score
0
Was at the Wal-Mart buying carb cleaner, when I saw a bottle of k-seal. Figured, why not?!

Started up the burb, waited to make sure a wandering car repair magician didn't happen to stop by and fix it while I was asleep (waited for it to start steaming out the tailpipe), and poured in the k seal. Few minutes later, there was a dramatically reduced amount of steam. Drove it awhile, realized it was missing due to the map sensor being unplugged. Drove it some more. No smoke. No leaks.

Going to check it again in the morning...

https://www.kseal.com/products/k-seal



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
137,761
Posts
1,991,413
Members
102,747
Latest member
TejasPitt
Back
Top