I have a 4.6L 97 with 218k miles. Im going to be replacing the intake gaskets this weekend because Im getting radiator fluid into the #7 and #8 spark plugs. I am a huge advocate of replacing items while Im in there to save labor.

Im planning on rebuilding my fuel injectors and replacing plugs, wires and coil packs. Ill also replace the thermostat and related gasket. I also replace the plenum gasket as well.

Is there anything else I should consider replacing while I have the intake out?

I was wondering if I should replace the valve cover gaskets since I will have the intake and related components out of the engine. Are the gaskets with the grommets necessary? Seems like there are 2 versions and the grommets may not be necessary from previous threads.

Thanks!

 

Do u know for sure it's that and not the head gasket. And yep that's all fine and good but when it comes to trucks I've fully learned the old sayn. Don't fix what ain't broken.

 

Great point. Could be the head gasket. I figured intake gasket and if that doesnt fix it, I throw some blue devil in there! BTW, I can say that I dont think there is contamination between the radiator fluid and oil. Oil looks clean and the radiator fluid looks green.

I hear you on the saying, I guess its always easier ripping it apart again if the valve cover gaskets need attention.

 

Ok well I would really recommend doing a compression test to rule that out. Because u can have a blown head gasket and not have water in your oil. It all depends on where it breached at. Like back when I was mobbn a 4.0 danger ranger I had a blown head gasket and never had fluids mixing just coolant in my cylinder

 

Well I finished the job. 15 hours of labor and weekend shot but its done!! I found the failure - the gasket had failed by deforming and cracking and allowing the antifreeze to wick into the spark plug area. I may have been leaking into the intake area as well but Im not certain. One of the hardest parts of the job was disconnecting the freaking fuel lines., I bought 3 different disconnect tools and the only one that worked was the cheap plastic ones from harbor freight. The scissor type was too bulky too get into that tiny area at the firewall.

I took the time to rebuild all my fuel injectors and clean out the intakes. Lots of varnish nothing abnormal, but I did have blocked EGR ports. I highly recommend that engine brush kit from harbor freight. Really took out the sludge in the ports.

I also highly recommend you take pictures of the engine as you dig into it. There are too many plugs and connections and I had to refer to the pics when reassembling everything on top of the engine.

I tried to the do the job with Dorman intake gaskets and they did not fit. The FelPro ones worked like a champ.

Good luck to you if you are going to do the job. The hard parts of the job is the EGR pipe diconnect, fuel line disconnect and having the extensions and universals to access all the bolts toward the back of the motor.

Autozone had an excellent guide when doing this job:

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