Head gasket woes
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 318
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From: Huntsville, AL
Head gasket woes
My '90 Ford Aerostar 3.0 V6 started leaking water like a sieve today. Traced problem and discovered a blown head gasket on the passenger side. My question is, Is it possible to replace the head gasket with the engine still in the van? Is this feasible to replace in the back yard or garage or do I have to send it to the shop? If I cannot replace it myself, approx. how much will it cost for a shop to replace it?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 125
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From: New Brunswick
Head gasket woes
Dude... Have you even popped the hood yet?
There's barely enough room for anyone to get to the spark plugs, let alone changing the head gasket with the engine still in!!
You would need to get a lift to hoist the van up as the engine MUST be removed underneath. Second is how to get the engine out without dropping it out!! I would seriously recommend you take it to a shop to have the engine removed. It would be cheaper and they have all of the tools to do the job quickly. If you went and bought all of the equipment yourself then it would cost more than it would to have a mechanic do it if you know what I mean.
Good luck!!
Timothyap5vm
1992 Aerostar. ERROR kilometers and still going!!
There's barely enough room for anyone to get to the spark plugs, let alone changing the head gasket with the engine still in!!
You would need to get a lift to hoist the van up as the engine MUST be removed underneath. Second is how to get the engine out without dropping it out!! I would seriously recommend you take it to a shop to have the engine removed. It would be cheaper and they have all of the tools to do the job quickly. If you went and bought all of the equipment yourself then it would cost more than it would to have a mechanic do it if you know what I mean.
Good luck!!
Timothyap5vm
1992 Aerostar. ERROR kilometers and still going!!
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Huntsville, AL
Head gasket woes
Update. Bit the bullet and pulled the head. The gasket was in good condition and all mating surfaces were clean. Replaced head gasket and manifold gaskets, and PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. My question is, How likely is it that the head became warped during normal everyday use? If the head is indeed warped, would it be possible for the surface on the head to be reground? If not, I will be visiting a u-pull-it later this week. What other problems can cause antifreeze to escape from between the head and the block? I have never heard of a warped block but is it possible?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Huntsville, AL
Head gasket woes
Another update. Discovered that it isnt the head gasket or head and never was. The water is coming from behind the timing chain cover. When the engine was running it looked like the head gasket and a mechanic even said that it was. Shut off the engine and squeezed the main hose coming from the water pump. Sure enough it started to bubble and run from the top of the cover. Took me 8 hours to replace the head gasket and it was for NOTHING!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 125
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From: New Brunswick
Head gasket woes
Hey hey!!
You replaced the head gasket and now you can rely on it not blowing in the future. So don't beat yourself up about it!! There has to be some good out of this you know.
You replaced the head gasket and now you can rely on it not blowing in the future. So don't beat yourself up about it!! There has to be some good out of this you know.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Orland USA
Head gasket woes
My 89 was leaking around the timing chain cover. when I took it off it looked like it was casted bad and had some pits in it. I had to put some Blue Gasket on it to fill the pits to stop the leak.
Oh...If you haven't replaced the waterpump in the last year or two now would be a good time.
Oh...If you haven't replaced the waterpump in the last year or two now would be a good time.
