Head Gaskets
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Head Gaskets
I was woundering if anybody had head gasket problems with the 5.4 We bought a 99 F250 4x2 auto with 14,200 miles on it . Well today I thought I smellet a valve cover leak and it turned out to be a head gasket. Wow thank god for warrenty. But I was woundering if this going to pleg the truck the rest of its life and how to prevent this from happning again. Also this truck has not been beat. Thank you for your input.
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From: Allen, Tx
That was a common problem for 1999 5.4L be it in F150's or super duties. The rear passenger side is probably the one leaking. There were several theories on that ranging from unpropperly machined mating surfaces on the head and block to casting shavings that got in between the gasket and one of the mating surfaces.
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Head gaskets
Thanks for your input n578md. Can you tell us is the new head gasket going to last? We have a lot of work for this truck this spring? I hope we can make it last for 3 years. This truck has low mileage for its age. The truck has a 8ft rack body dump. check it out in the gallery.
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From: USA
Who ever does your repair make sure they use the latest headgasket available .
There was a change to the composition of the gasket ,to help fill any void or machine marks in the heads or block.
Also they should chk for head flatness.
Rich
There was a change to the composition of the gasket ,to help fill any void or machine marks in the heads or block.
Also they should chk for head flatness.
Rich
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From: Allen, Tx
SG,
From the threads that i have read, most people who got the repair done correctly (as 40 said when the head was planed to make it completely flat) the repair was as good as new. Those who just got a gasket replacement with nothing else done had the same problem within 10,000 to 20,000 miles.
From the threads that i have read, most people who got the repair done correctly (as 40 said when the head was planed to make it completely flat) the repair was as good as new. Those who just got a gasket replacement with nothing else done had the same problem within 10,000 to 20,000 miles.
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Head Gasket
The truck is at David Ford Keene NH They have the best crew on the job.I mean they are great. I realy like the feed back on this matter. I just hope this do,es not happen to our 2004 F250 4x4 5.4 3.73 gears I have always been qiezzy about alm. heads & cast block.
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From: Allen, Tx
This just happened to some early-1999 5.4L, I had a 1999 1/2 (made after DEC 1998) and it never had any problems.
Last edited by n578md; Feb 26, 2004 at 05:32 PM.
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Posting Legend
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Headgasket
Yes the truck was made 10/98. I hope I won,t have any more problems with after it is fixed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
88 F250 2wd 300 six 5spd
99 F250 Super Duty 2wd rack dump 5.4 auto 4.10
00 F350 Super Duty 4x4 9 ft rack body power stroke 6spd 4.10
04 F250 Super Duty 4x4 5.4 pickup 6spd 3.73
-------------------------------------------------------------------
88 F250 2wd 300 six 5spd
99 F250 Super Duty 2wd rack dump 5.4 auto 4.10
00 F350 Super Duty 4x4 9 ft rack body power stroke 6spd 4.10
04 F250 Super Duty 4x4 5.4 pickup 6spd 3.73
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From: USA
Just to clarify something ,if in chking these heads for flatness and they find something not right .
These heads cannot be machined due to clearances being that close .
They must be replaced $$$$$$$$
This coming straight from Ford
Rich
These heads cannot be machined due to clearances being that close .
They must be replaced $$$$$$$$
This coming straight from Ford
Rich
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From: Allen, Tx
The same Ford that says you can't use Bigserts in their craptacularly designed heads and wants you to pay for new ones even though it's their mistake? That one? I'd say "Hey, you didn't make theses heads properly in the first place, YOU pay for 'em."
You eat it, they pay for it, private Pyle!
You eat it, they pay for it, private Pyle!
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Posting Legend
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Head gaskets
Well from now on when we buy a truck it will be a power stroke we have one now and no problems. Gee if they made truck like that power stroke we have we would save a lot af money in fixing them.
===========================-----------==========
88 F250 pickup
99 F250 5.4 2wd rack body dump auto 4:10
00 F350 4x4 power stroke 6spd 9 ft rack body 4:10
04 F250 4x4 pickup 5.4 6spd 3:73
===========================-----------==========
88 F250 pickup
99 F250 5.4 2wd rack body dump auto 4:10
00 F350 4x4 power stroke 6spd 9 ft rack body 4:10
04 F250 4x4 pickup 5.4 6spd 3:73
Posting Guru
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From: Allen, Tx
Oh, you don't have to worry about your 2004 5.4L, it already has the redesigned heads that have the full 8-thread spark plug hole. These have been installed in 2003 1/2 truck and later. And the blowout thing doesn't occur very often anyway. My wife's company has some 1999 F250's that have more than 400,000 miles on the same engine.
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From: USA
I agree ,
I said flatness which means over the entire length of the head not ,machining marks around the oil return port .(usually where it leaks)
the clearance issue is with the valves being that close to the piston tops.
Rich
I said flatness which means over the entire length of the head not ,machining marks around the oil return port .(usually where it leaks)
the clearance issue is with the valves being that close to the piston tops.
Rich
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From: Allen, Tx
I guess if the machine shop screwed up and planed them too much, they'd have to notch the pistons a little deeper or worse yet, use a thicker gasket. I hope that someday, Edlebrock comes out with iron heads for the 5.4L