EA vs EB,ED - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 09-06-2002, 02:30

I have been told time and time again that EB's and ED's dont blow head gaskets as often as EA's

First of all is this true?

if so why?

I thought it could be the fact that the later EA's EB's and ED's had a more efficient cooling system...therefore the eninges didnt run as hot. less heat, less tendency to warp etc etc

can anyone explain it?

also I think its about time we try and put our heads together and come up with a way to prevent or at least delay the blowing of the EA's head gasket

maybe a retorque every 75000km's
or a new set of head bolts every 75000km's
maybe fit an EB cooling system etc etc

any ideas or opinions?

Martin · 09-06-2002, 07:55

I think youll find that 90% of all Alloy headed Falcons the gasket will blow between 100k-150k kms. 5% will be before, and the other 5% after.

My ED had it replaced at 120k kms

Unfortuanatly its not just one thing that causes it, overheating, corrosion of the gasket, not the highest quality alloy, broken/stretched head bolts, the fact that alloy and cast iron heat and cool at different rates, all contribute to it......

YOOT · 09-09-2002, 00:51

Once the gasket has blown and its been replaced, how long before it goes again? another 120,000kms roughly?

old_mate · 09-09-2002, 06:19

Just on changing the head bolts at 75000k's, it would be wise to change the gasket if you were going to change the head bolts anyway, cos i think that when u released all the tension on the head it would ruin the seal on the gasket.......and if it didnt, i still dont think it would do it any favours.....imagine replacing head bolts, then blowing a gasket 5000k's later, and having to do it ALL again

The best way to prevent it is to keep your cooling system in top condition. U can never stop it, being from the fact its an alloy head as opposed to a cast iron block.......im going to be interested to see how the whole shebang holds up when i hang a T04 turbo from the side of it.....it will have lower compression and a copper head gasket.....trying to stay away from O ringing the block......hmmmmm

Tickford6 · 09-09-2002, 17:58

EAIIs had the EB radiator (bigger) so there is some improvement there, but they still go. It is an inevitable fact of owning an alloy head on iron block engine. Anyone have any theories on why its usually arund the #6 cylinder that blows? Is heat trapped at the back of the engine or is this part of the engine the coolest (due to bonnet ventilation)?
Stretched head bolts still occur on EFs and ELs, so it will be interesting to see if the BA has these dramas in a couple of years.

YOOT · 09-09-2002, 18:22

What about the AU? Is the INTEC 6 have gasket probs too? I thought AU was the best mechanical Falcon yet.:oo1:

YOOT · 09-09-2002, 18:37

I think the BA will rid us of gasket probs...

from autospeed.com.au

"Ford worked hard to develop uniform coolant flow around the cylinder head without hot spots. A feature of the water jackets is they run under the exhaust ports and around the spark plugs - in this way, Ford claims, it has achieved very uniform metal temperatures, something that is especially important in the new high-output turbo version. Differential temperatures lead to varied expansion rates that can take its toll on - especially - head gaskets. With attention to block deck stiffness and the new head casting (it is 50 percent stiffer than the previous SOHC head), clamping strength is more uniform and reliable, so the head gasket is a now a steel shim component."

tickford5400i · 09-19-2002, 20:29

My 4/94 ED 4.0 litre has 303000kms and has not had any head problems, yet.....

However, It does tend to run hot in the summer, starving it of performance, so I bought an EL radiator, and replaced the tanks on either side of the radiator with my ED tanks, once they were cleaned properly.

EL radiator has finer cores and is quite thicker.

By the way, mine is dual fuel, oil is changed every 5000kms, coolant is changed once a year.

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 09-19-2002, 20:50

So did the EL radiaotr fix your problems?
Also does anyone know if an ED v8 radiator would fit into an EA?