Coolant leaking out of intake manifold?

Question

How much is it to replace the gasket? I have a 1997 ford crown victoria. The coolant leak is external. Is this a big deal to get fixed? It doesn't leak that much.

Answer 1

You say leak is external, before you start tearing into taking the intake off make sure its not something simple like the thermostat cover, or a hose for your heater core. Very rare for an intake itself to leak, it would have to be cracked.  If the gaskets were damaged you'd be leaking oil not water.  

Answer 2

you will probably need an intake also. parts and labor should be around 5 bills. if you own a telephone you can call a couple shops and get a ballpark price

Answer 3

Is it actually just the plenum gasket or is it the manifold that is leaking.  These manifolds are notorious for leaking, particularly in the coolant passage that runs along the front of the manifold.  Dorman makes a replacement part #615-178 where that coolant passage is aluminum instead of plastic and eliminates this problem.

If it is just a plenum gasket the job books for 4.4 hours at whatever your local labor rate is (at $100/hr your lookint at $440 for example) and the part is $15-20.  If it is the manifold the Dorman replacement lists for $375 but you can find it cheaper if you shop and the labor time is 5.2 hours.  

Answer 4

it might not be the gasket. there,s a few things on the intake that can leak, like the thermostat housing.

Answer 5

Intake gasket needs to be replaced. Cost of the gasket is about $10, but the labor is around $400.

Answer 6

Correct fix is to reseal the intake manifold. If your in a pinch, a temp fix is a container of alumi-seal or Barr's Leak. It's your choice, if you plan to keep the vehicle, have it resealed. Price around for a good deal and look for the ASE emblem at the shop you select.

Answer 7

It's probably under $20. I recently took my engine apart from the valve covers up and cleaned it and replaced all of those gaskets with a silicone gasket tube for $9 and it stopped my valve covers oil seep as far as I can tell.

Answer 8

If you have a plastic intake manifold it may be cracked.  This is a known problem with the Ford 4.6L engines of that vintage.