Sounds Fishy

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Aug 5, 2009 | 07:06 AM

toolman401

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Sounds Fishy

Took my 2002 F-150 4.6 V8 to ford to have the valves done.
after a couple of months the truck started to blown white smoke in the morning. Took it back to ford they the intake gasket was leaking, and since it was a reuseable gasket they didn't change it last time so this they will and the bill is on me. If you open the engine to do heads wouldn't you change any gasket that was involed or they just trying to get me to pay so it doesn't come on of the dealerships pocket.

Aug 5, 2009 | 07:49 AM

Bear River

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Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Salt Lake City, Utah

Yes, all gaskets you encounter are typically replaced. You don't go through all that work to do it half. I never like to be a pain, try to be nice to the dealership, but if they insist on being difficult, tell them you will get an attorney involved.

Aug 5, 2009 | 07:58 AM

Joe Finn

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From: DC

I know there are some reusable gaskets, but I wouldn't have thought that the intake was one of them. I'd check with a parts guy (at a different dealership) to find out if the intake is reusable. I'd also have them put the warranty denial in writing. There can be a HUGE difference in what people will say vs. what they will put their name to.

Aug 5, 2009 | 10:08 AM

fordmerc

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The intake gasket is reusable but should have been replaced when the original work was done. They are too cheap to risk using the old one.

Aug 6, 2009 | 09:10 AM

Johnny Langton

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From: SE Texas

The intake manifold, cam cover,timing cover,oil filter adapter and oil pan gaskets are all reuseable on a modular. The only time they need replacing is when the plastic body is cracked,or the nitrile rubber gasket bead is damaged,or in the case of the cam cover or timing covers,if you damage the rubber bead gasket itself.
It's normal service procedure to reuse them unless it's specified by the customer that they're willing to pay for replacement, or if they're damaged on removal.
JL

Aug 6, 2009 | 12:22 PM

thomastl

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Yes, it is reusable. But obviously it was damaged when they removed or reinstalled it during the original work. It would not just start leaking this soon otherwise. I would want to see the gasket. My guess - it is obvious that it is messed up and should have been changed originally.

Aug 6, 2009 | 02:10 PM

grey5.0beast

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I am a service writer at a dealership(not ford) and I would never reuse a gasket. There are more potential problems and I would simply sell the new gasket to the customer on his dime, if they came to you and you declined, its your fault. On the flipside it would have been dumb for them to not offer to sell the gasket and make a little more money from you. If they did not offer it I would definitely get a manager involved, be firm but polite. Trust me, if you're a ***** they'll send you packing to the next dealership over and you'll pay anyway. A compromise that will probably happen is you pay for the gasket and maybe half the labor since it COULD have been done before and should have.