Need fix for 3.8 V6
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Need fix for 3.8 V6
I have been reading a little bit about the 3.8 head gasket problem and it sounds like it is because of the aluminum heads and the iron block and how they expand and contract differently. I am wondering if there is a fix for this? Is there a certain gasket that i could use that would help prevent the problem? Any ideas?
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,532
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From: Trussville, Alabama
If it were me, I'd probably use Ford's revised gasket.
I'm assuming (but don't know for a fact) that the same gasket material used in the early 4.2 was used for the early 3.8.
Ford's revised gaskets seem to fair much better.
Two of us here got to about 150-160,000 miles before the gaskets began to fail.
But note: the 4.2 problem is with the lower intake manifold gaskets (and sometimes timing chain cover gasket).
I'm not sure about the 3.8. You mentioned head gasket. Are you sure it is the head gasket and not the same one(s) as the 4.2?
Either way, unless I could find someone who really knows their stuff that could suggest a specific gasket that is known to be better than the Ford gasket, I'd use Ford (Motorcraft) gaskets.
To my knowledge, there is nothing you can do to prevent the problem.
I'm assuming (but don't know for a fact) that the same gasket material used in the early 4.2 was used for the early 3.8.
Ford's revised gaskets seem to fair much better.
Two of us here got to about 150-160,000 miles before the gaskets began to fail.
But note: the 4.2 problem is with the lower intake manifold gaskets (and sometimes timing chain cover gasket).
I'm not sure about the 3.8. You mentioned head gasket. Are you sure it is the head gasket and not the same one(s) as the 4.2?
Either way, unless I could find someone who really knows their stuff that could suggest a specific gasket that is known to be better than the Ford gasket, I'd use Ford (Motorcraft) gaskets.
To my knowledge, there is nothing you can do to prevent the problem.
