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My specs are in my profile. I have been going through spark plugs of late due to a miss developing after about 15,000 miles on them. After changing them the problem always goes away. On the last change I notices that the rear cylinder, passenger side was wet and smelled like antifreeze. I looked all around the intake for a pool of leaking antifreeze but it was dry. I cranked the engine with no pugs and the cylinders were dry. My check engine light has been coming on and then would reset after a while then go on again. I can’t remember the code generated but it had to do with the catalytic converter failing. I also have that annoying exhaust leak on the passenger side too due to the exhaust manifold leaking. I have also been losing antifreeze lately as well. There are no drips or signs anywhere. I thought it may be a leaking radiator. I decided to hook up my pressure tester and saw that the cap is rated to 20psi. I pumped it up to 15psi and noticed immediately that the pressure was dropping. There was no sign of a leak…The oil is clean with no signs of water contamination. Then to my horror I noticed that there was antifreeze coming from my exhaust! My immediate thought is a head gasket or intake manifold problem. I am not familiar with this modular engine. I am asking if anyone here knows of anything that might get me in the right direction to repair my engine. Is there an inherent problem with these motors? Should i try to find a replacement long block? I am not sure where to go with this… I am an experienced mechanic, but I work in the marine and diesel industry.
Thanks in advance…
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I would say that a head gasket is the problem. This is a popular engine so i would be looking for a used replacement. Just make sure it has a solid warranty.
I have a thought that it could be related to the exhaust leak you referenced at the exhaust manifold. Is that suspected manifold leak in the same area that you found the wet spark plug? For a head gasket failure to permit water (antifreeze) to flow into the exhaust system the affected cylinder(s) would have to fill up with the fluid and the exhaust valve(s) would have to in the open position during the pressure test. My suspicion is that it could be a cracked cylinder head. You did not say exactly where in the “exhaust” you observed the fluid coming out.
I hope this helps you a little bit.
[quote=”sunset” post=61505]I have a thought that it could be related to the exhaust leak you referenced at the exhaust manifold. Is that suspected manifold leak in the same area that you found the wet spark plug? For a head gasket failure to permit water (antifreeze) to flow into the exhaust system the affected cylinder(s) would have to fill up with the fluid and the exhaust valve(s) would have to in the open position during the pressure test. My suspicion is that it could be a cracked cylinder head. You did not say exactly where in the “exhaust” you observed the fluid coming out.
I hope this helps you a little bit.[/quote]
The anti-freeze was coming out of the tail pipe. The exhaust leak is on the passenger side manifold. It is a known defect on this engine and many Ford owners with this engine are having this problem. The leak only lasts for a few seconds on initial cold start and then as the metals expand from the heat the leak goes away.
I am very familiar with blown head gaskets, intake manifold gasket leaks, and even cracks. The problem for is that my experience is with older generation style engines. I have no experience with the Ford modular design engines so I could not possibly know of the known defects and all. To me this problem appears to be a crack since I know of no other way that anti freeze could come out the tail pipe without entering cylinders or the crank case.
Thank you so much for the advice and I will fill you in on what I find. A friend of mine who is a ford mechanic is going to look at this today.I added stop leak to the anti freeze and I have to say that the leak appears to be temporarily stopped. I pressure tested the system again and now it is not leaking out the tail pipe. I do however, have a radiator leak in the core now though….I’ll keep you posted guys. Thanks!
i’ve actually done alot of these vehicles with the same issue its usually the intake that causes it dorman makes a updated design for it which works real nice
[quote=”cookfamilyautorepair” post=63488]i’ve actually done alot of these vehicles with the same issue its usually the intake that causes it dorman makes a updated design for it which works real nice[/quote]
Any idea what the part numbers are for that? I am inclined to look into this?
[quote=”sunset” post=63586]http://www.dormanproducts.com/da-5333-615-175.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-615-175-Intake-Manifold/dp/compatibility-chart/B000CIXMIC%5B/quote%5DThank you for the links , but it turns out that this part does not work on my vehicle.
2007 Ford Explorer Premium V8
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