Leaking Intake Manifold???

orlowted · 05-12-2004, 05:34 PM

Help...I have a new engine (289) that I have put about 200 miles on in the last year. I noticed a few weeks back that there was oil leacking from one of the bolts that holds the intake manifold in place. I have a Edelbrock performer aluminum manifold installed. It has about 6 bolts on the left and 6 on the right holding it down to the engine. the 2nd bolt from the front on the drivers side is oozing oil out and it is pooling on the manifold. It is not a ton of oil or a real mess (yet), but I have taken the bolt out and tried to seal it...OK for a day and then the leak is back. I used Blue RTV sealer. All the other bolts are not leaking and are completely dry. Any thoughts on this one before I go to a mechanic...
Thanks!!!

Rev · 05-16-2004, 04:54 PM

Try the orange high temp sealer instead of the blue and see what happens. My experience is that the blue stuff never really sets up very well. Let the orange high temp sealer set for an hour before you fire it up. With any luck, it won't leak. Let me know if it works.

Rev

orlowted · 05-16-2004, 06:18 PM

Thanks Rev...I will give that a try. Is leaking oil from the Manifold bolt normal or is it a sign of a deeper problem?
TJ

Rev · 05-18-2004, 07:13 PM

That bolt should be going into a blind threaded hole in the head. Are you sure it's oil that's leaking? It could be coolant from the water jacket connection between the head and the intake manifold. Did you put RTV arround the water jacket holes on the intake gasket when you did the installation?

Just wondering if it could be a coolant leak.

Rev

orlowted · 05-19-2004, 06:50 AM

Nope - it's not coolant....It is definetly oil...that is why I was thinking that the gasket might need replaced. I did seal around all the holes when I installed it last year and followed the instructions for installation. I tried a different sealer and it is not leaking any more, but I am wondering if I should remove the manifold and put new gaskets in? I really don't want to fo that, but if this could lead to a bigger problem then I want to get it corrected before I end up with a serious and expensive problem.
Thoughts???

orlowted · 05-21-2004, 06:19 PM

Just an FYI for those of you following this post...I took the car to the Engine Builder today and before I could even get to the problem...he knew the reason for the visit...Aluminum intakes on a cast block tend to not react as well to the heat. He told me that it was a commom problem with Ford intake manifolds leaking at the fastner bolts and that a little plumbing wrap and sealer on the bolt shaft would cure it...He was right. I feel much better and now it does not leak. I trust this guy - he has to pay any warranty damage on the engine for another 800 miles....
TJ

05-12-2004, 05:34 PM	#1
orlowted Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fleetwood, PA Posts: 177	Leaking Intake Manifold??? Help...I have a new engine (289) that I have put about 200 miles on in the last year. I noticed a few weeks back that there was oil leacking from one of the bolts that holds the intake manifold in place. I have a Edelbrock performer aluminum manifold installed. It has about 6 bolts on the left and 6 on the right holding it down to the engine. the 2nd bolt from the front on the drivers side is oozing oil out and it is pooling on the manifold. It is not a ton of oil or a real mess (yet), but I have taken the bolt out and tried to seal it...OK for a day and then the leak is back. I used Blue RTV sealer. All the other bolts are not leaking and are completely dry. Any thoughts on this one before I go to a mechanic... Thanks!!!

05-16-2004, 04:54 PM	#2
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	orange RTV sealer? Try the orange high temp sealer instead of the blue and see what happens. My experience is that the blue stuff never really sets up very well. Let the orange high temp sealer set for an hour before you fire it up. With any luck, it won't leak. Let me know if it works. Rev __________________ '66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe

05-16-2004, 06:18 PM	#3
orlowted Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fleetwood, PA Posts: 177	Thanks for the advise.... Thanks Rev...I will give that a try. Is leaking oil from the Manifold bolt normal or is it a sign of a deeper problem? TJ

05-18-2004, 07:13 PM	#4
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Just thinking? That bolt should be going into a blind threaded hole in the head. Are you sure it's oil that's leaking? It could be coolant from the water jacket connection between the head and the intake manifold. Did you put RTV arround the water jacket holes on the intake gasket when you did the installation? Just wondering if it could be a coolant leak. Rev __________________ '66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe

05-19-2004, 06:50 AM	#5
orlowted Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fleetwood, PA Posts: 177	It's oil Nope - it's not coolant....It is definetly oil...that is why I was thinking that the gasket might need replaced. I did seal around all the holes when I installed it last year and followed the instructions for installation. I tried a different sealer and it is not leaking any more, but I am wondering if I should remove the manifold and put new gaskets in? I really don't want to fo that, but if this could lead to a bigger problem then I want to get it corrected before I end up with a serious and expensive problem. Thoughts???

05-21-2004, 06:19 PM	#6
orlowted Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Fleetwood, PA Posts: 177	I found the answer Just an FYI for those of you following this post...I took the car to the Engine Builder today and before I could even get to the problem...he knew the reason for the visit...Aluminum intakes on a cast block tend to not react as well to the heat. He told me that it was a commom problem with Ford intake manifolds leaking at the fastner bolts and that a little plumbing wrap and sealer on the bolt shaft would cure it...He was right. I feel much better and now it does not leak. I trust this guy - he has to pay any warranty damage on the engine for another 800 miles.... TJ

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