Coolant in oil,98 3.8 Windstar

[rdana]

Found leaking intake gasket,what is the best method of cleaning up the engine(inside)after replacing the gaskets. also while removing the lower manifold the coolant pipe running thru the middle of it came loose.is this normal? do I tap it back in place or will it leak.

Thanks Bob

[wiswind]

The link in my signature takes you to my pictures that I have posted on webshots of various repair projects on my '96 3.8L windstar.
In there is a series from my lower intake manifold project.

My motor was already very clean inside......so I did not have any work there.
I DID pour new oil in over things....letting it drain out through the oil pan drain, before I put things back together.
Problem with cleaning a LOT of junk is that getting too much crud loose at one time can (and it HAS happened) clog the oil pump intake screen.....robbing your engine of oil.

I installed a brand new cross over pipe when I did my repair......shown in my pictures.
If I were to do the job again......I would still put a new one in......peace of mind.
Otherwise......if it is in good shape.....it should go back in just fine.

One other thing.......I would use a beam style torque wrench......NOT a clicker type when tightening the lower intake manifold bolts down.....
Several of us have snapped a bolt off.......
Remember.....INCH pounds.......NOT foot pounds.

My intake manifold job was at about 153K miles........now just over 197K miles and things are still doing really well (as in no need to add ANY coolant).

Use EXTREME care handling the IMRC actuators.....they are vaccum driven.....and a leak in the diaphram will have you shelling out close to $200 each for those little things.

Another hint......once you have the lower manifold in place......fuel rail in place.....and ready to put the upper manifold in place........turn the ignition key to the "Run" postition......do NOT turn the motor over........then look over the fuel rail, injectors, etc for any signs of leakage.
At this point you can get a good view of any leaks.....and it is still easy to get at them.

Of course....the motor oil and filter MUST be replaced before the motor is started.

[tripletdaddy]

Wiswind, is it necessary to wash out the engine of the antifreeze contaminated oil and if so with what, how?

Second, what's so bad about clicker torque wrenches?

[wiswind]

When you remove the upper intake manifold.....you WILL get a good amount of coolant down into the engine.....regardless of how well you drained the system....there is still coolant sitting in the lower manifold.
I heard a "Whooosh" when I lifted mine.
I would simply pour a quart or so of oil over the inside of the motor.....that you see with the lower manifold off.
That should clean it up OK.....maybe a short Oil Change Interval for the first oil.

When I was tightening my lower intake manifold bolts down.....I broke 1 bolt off.......with a brand new clicker wrench.......
I think that the sealant that I had put on the threads made the tightening gradual enough that it did not click.......
My mechanic told me that he prefers a beam type for the lower torque values as one may not feel/hear the click.
So I was passing this along, based upon my goof....and what my mechanic said.
However......this is only for the lower torque values.
My inexperience was 90+% of the problem.....as I am not a mechanic.
I am sure that experienced hands would not have had a problem.
Having read about a couple of other folks having lower intake manifold bolts break on them.......the beam type torque wrench might be the better choice for the lower torque values......in inexperienced hands.

[tripletdaddy]

It is true that the clickers are "quiet" on the low torques. I finally got myself an in-lb wrench, needless to say it's a clicker too. I try to take my time with those questionable nuts and bolts. Big stuff like lug nuts I'm not afraid to crank away. My philosophy is that if it was so easy to twist off, then it needed to be replaced anyway. I would also add that whenever you lubricate a fastener and then tighten it to a specific torque, you need to decrease how much you tighten it so you don't actually overtorque it. It think you need to decrease it by 10%, but I don't feel like hunting all day for where I saw that.