Head gasket change - tips? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

The Mighty XE · 10-12-2002, 02:46

Hi all,

Blew the head gasket on the XE (4.1L six) yesterday, going to replace it myself with some help from Dad. Just wondering if there was anything I need to watch out for when doing this, in particular:

Should the head bolts be tensioned twice or just once??

Should I just put water in the radiator for a while instead of coolant after the new gasket is installed?

Any other advice would be appreciated.

T3man · 10-12-2002, 03:12

Head studs are tensioned in three stages - you need to do them again after 1000km even if you use a monotorque gasket.

It is a good idea to put straight water in for the first start up in case you do have a leak - you don't want to lose your expensive coolant while you fix it. Just be sure to put sealant around the front driver's side stud - from memory I think it is the one that goes into a water jacket.

ebxr8240 · 10-12-2002, 04:28

Use new cyl. head bolts..
Check tensioner, timing chain etc..
Good time to replace..

xr6wgn · 10-12-2002, 06:29

Because the XE six is a simpler design (don't have the Overhead cam) the head gasket is fairly easy to replace - if you've got a workshop manual follow the steps on removing (and assembling)the pushrods and rockers - you can bend the pushrods fairly easy if you don't have the No 1 cylinder sitting on Top dead Centre (don't quote me on that one but the motor does need to be in that sort of position - the manual will tell you)

Other than that it is possible to remove the head with both exhaust and inlet manifolds attached but if you remove them you can then also replace those gaskets - I don't think it costs too much to recondition the heads these days (If required)

As i said a not so difficult task Have Fun

Paul B
XR6WGN

ebxr8240 · 10-13-2002, 04:50

Ahh XE sorry thinking ohc.It is always agood idea to put engine on tdc but make sure its on compression stroke,air coming out spark plug hole with plug out.T.D.C is not intirely nessessary when pulling head off for the dissy,cam,timming chain is not touched just for head gasget replacement..But again still agood idea..Pays to put pushrods,rockers back in same position as they came from..

Jase_ELXR8 · 10-13-2002, 05:48

dont torque the front right bolt to the third stage or will more than likely crack the block.

creature3 · 10-13-2002, 18:17

an easy job, did mine in 1/2 a day. Only hassle was getting the old gasket off the alloy head. Torqued all bolts down as normal, but did last stage twice (at same tension setting).