Hey y'all, so it looks like my nice new intake manifold gasket has a vacuum leak. Question is, is there an easy way to remove the manifold? Trying to remove it is like taking a trip to the underworld, if you know what I mean. Lol This is on the F23A1 engine. Thanks in advance!

 

Where is the gasket leaking? Where the cylinder head/intake meet? Upper lower intake meet? How did you verify you have a leak?

 

Our mechanic sprayed oil all along the top of where the intake meets the head (at least I assume so, as my wife was the one who took it to him and that's what she told me), and she said that when he did that, the whole car shuddered and almost stalled. Once I get it up and going again I'll try it myself to confirm that it actually happens.

 

Update: I sprayed some WD -40 along the top of the intake manifold, one little section at a time. The idle dropped three times, and each instance was between mounting studs. Nuts possibly a little too tight?

 

It could be the torque on the bolts/studs. Just tighten them to the torque spec. Its pretty simple to try, so try that first if you have a torque wrench.

Did you replace the intake manifold gasket, or your mechanic? If you did the work, did you check for old gasket material left behind or try to clean?

 

How can I get a torque wrench in there, particularly on the bottom nuts? There is next to no room for even a regular combination wrench. I did clean both surfaces. I ensured that every last bit of old gasket was removed, then I went over them with brake cleaner.

 

What did you use to clean both surfaces?

I was thinking that you could get the top bolts with a torque wrench. If the bottom bolts aren't accessible, then use some muscle memory to get them torqued.

 

I used a gasket scraper. I was extra careful and didn't nick or gouge the surfaces that I can remember.

 

Update: I loosened the nuts and retightened them in a crisscross pattern, but the issue is still there. Looks like I get to remove it and inspect the surfaces. Ugh, I hate this car sometimes.

 

Should I use a sealer of any kind along with the gasket? I ask because considering that the car ran fine before I did the head gasket job, I'm led to believe that the guys at the shop might have messed up the manifold gasket surface when they were taking it through the milling process.

Or should I just try tightening the nuts a little more than just snug (12 ft-lbs)? Could the gasket just not be compressed tightly enough?