intake manifold gasket help?

[magnetman]

See, the threads that I posted in this thread:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=977062

These should explain the problem and the procedure to fix. One also has links to types of plenums and where to purchase.

As far as the ebay plenums are concerned are they stock OEM? If they are you may have the same problem down the road. If they are the new style with the redesigned stove pipe then they might be okay.

[Fuergrissa]

I found those links in other threads while I was researching here, but unfortunately they 'no longer exist'

[magnetman]

Well, it appears that the entire "Techinfo" section of the site is gone. I'm betting on a forum glitch and that it will be back up and running again. May have to check back later.

As a matter of fact, none of the forum topic "exist" either. I'm definitely betting on a server glitch.

Sorry!

EDIT: It seems that the host server company had some sort of goof. It's being worked on and should be up again soon.

[magnetman]

Links are back up!

[Fuergrissa]

Well I got it all apart, not a bad job, but I don't see any evidence of where it could have been leaking, so I'm a little nervous that this repair won't fix my problem. It was diagnosed as an upper intake vacuum leak by the dealership because it looked like there was some coolant in the area. It looks like there is a pretty clean border around the gasket area and I don't see any signs of coolant penetration. also, the entire inside of the intake is covered with oil and carbon, and I don't see anywhere that has penetrated the gasket either. I'm posting pics of everything to get a second opinion. Should I just install the gasket, re-assemble and hope for the best? or is there somethign else I should look into? I have a persistant 'bank 1 lean' code which is what set me down this path in the first place btw...

In the first and second pic you can see what looks like a puddle of coolant, but I see no evidence it came from the plenum, do you?

Also on re-assembly I will clean the surfaces, but should I put RTV on the new gasket or no?

[Fuergrissa]

Now that I look at it agian there is oil all around my valve cover on the front bank (bank 1?) could a bad valve cover gasket be making me run lean on that bank?

*edit* also you can plainly see the oil pooling in the low spots of the inside of the LIM, should I be concerned about that?

[magnetman]

Looks like the UIM has the reduced stove pipe and doesn't appear to have any signs of deterioration.

Are you going to take the LIM off also? This may be where your coolant leak is. Have you been running Dexcool? Has it been changed on a regular basis?

If it's the original LIM gasket chances are that some of the gasket material has deteriorated and is leaking coolant in to the cylinders.

[Fuergrissa]

what does the reduced stovepipe tell you? are you referring to the EGR tube?

well LIM gaskets came with my kit so I guess I may as well do it all and just hope one of these things fixes my lean condition. I just hate not having a smoking gun. not a big fan of pursuing possibilities untill the problem goes away. Wish I could have properly diagnosed the problem from the start, although at the time I thought I had (via the dealer).

[tooshady]

well everyone here is the update, finally gave up and took the car to a professional mechanic that I trust. after he fixed it he said he does not believe that was ever the problem. and here it goes ready ...believes it was something down in the motor maybe a rod... he said you would have to tear the whole motor down and check for problems and it would be cheaper to just find a new motor and swap it. after paying for parts twice plus new plugs and wires plus labor I now need a new engine. After he fixed it the car still made the same, drove the same everything so the intake was never the problem, something in the motor maybe bent rod, so now i have to look for a new motor and pay to have it put in, not sure if its worth it

[magnetman]

Originally Posted by Fuergrissa

what does the reduced stovepipe tell you? are you referring to the EGR tube?

well LIM gaskets came with my kit so I guess I may as well do it all and just hope one of these things fixes my lean condition. I just hate not having a smoking gun. not a big fan of pursuing possibilities untill the problem goes away. Wish I could have properly diagnosed the problem from the start, although at the time I thought I had (via the dealer).

Yes, the EGR tube that goes up into the Plenum.

The reduced stovepipe size was the fix used by some companies to reduce the deterioration of the plastic plenum around the stovepipe. The clearance of the original was much tighter and, with the high temp provided by that tube, the plastic would deteriorate into the coolant passages and cause leaking of coolant into the UIM.

As far as lean condition, my son in law and daughter's Mazda had a lean condition. It ended up being the MAF sensor being dirty. Make sure you clean that and the Throttle body well.