engine smoking...

[86VickyLX]

I have no clue how hi it's revving. all I know is the OD band was likely burned due to TV CABLE as it goes into nuetral instead of OD.

I guess technically the car would go faster than 55 if I put the pedal to the floor i am just afraid to do that. Is it ok to drive the car faster than 50/55 with out OD on the highway for long periods of time?????

Also, just want to ask regarding coolant pressure test- if my freeze plugs or valve covers were damaged and leaking- would a pressure test with car off make oil or stuff leak from there so I can tell which one it is.??????

Valve covers are for oil, and if burning that would make blue smoke!!!!! Core plugs deal with coolant which would make white smoke!!!!!! Two completely different things. Pressurize the cooling system to 16 psi when the car is cold, with the system full to the top with coolant. If it doesn't hold 16psi, start looking for leaks. You can drive the car in regular (D) and just see a drop in gas mileage, that's about it.

[famcrown]

Sorry for keep asking same questions.

I rechecked car and found that the bolts or that hold down the valve covers were extremely loose. I tightened all the bolts on the outsides. (I guess I would call it the lower part of cover -as its on an angle).. are there more bolts on the inner part (-Higher part of the cover--)

[91grandmarquis]

Yeah but the passenger side will have to have the upper intake removed to access the "inner ones" I believe.

[famcrown]

I was looking on this site but could not find a set of direction to remove the upper plenum.

What would be necessary things to remove.

I looked on autozone and their repair info was way to complicated and was geared for 4.6 cars.

[86VickyLX]

Basically, all electrical connections should be unplugged from the upper intake. EGR, TPS, IAC. Remove all vacuum lines from the intake, that is if you can see them. Take caution because some of the lines are plastic and are very brittle due to old age. There are two coolant hoses on the back of the EGR spacer near the throttle body, which reminds me the throttle linkage must be disconnected from the throttle body. After that's all done. There's a torx or allen key needed to remove the name plate. When that's done, there's 6 bolts to undo for the upper plenum. size 13mm. 2 on each end, and 2 in the middle.

[gadget73]

if you tightened the valve cover gasket bolts, I'm gonna bet it will leak even worse. When they become loose, its because the gasket underneath has shrunk up, and usually is hard as a rock. When you crank the bolts down, it cracks that hard as rock gasket and the oil just pours out. The only real solution for it is to replace the valve cover gaskets. I want to say there are 6 bolts, 3 on each edge of the valve cover, but my memory could be lying to me and there are actually 8. I just don't remember right now. Either way, if you're removing the upper plenum, there is no reason not to just replace the valve cover gaskets. Pulling the plenum is half the battle. Its not that hard, its just awkward.

[johnunit]

if you've overtightened the valve cover bolts, you may want to put the valve cover flanges up against a straight edge before putting them back on with new gaskets. If they're not flat, carefully hammer them as flat as possible

[famcrown]

Well, I guess I would do the work my self, but the bolts are all rusted stuck as if someone cemented them in.

I sprayed tons of PB blaster a few weeks ago and again yesterday and let it sit for couple of hours.....NOTHING DOING. also, the screws for the cover of upper manifold r too tight & they got that weird shape in the screw so my head just ate up the hole-shape inside of the screw.

[gadget73]

Torx bit, T20 I believe. Set the bit in there, smack it with a hammer, then try and remove them. They won't come out otherwise, and if you try and use the wrong type of driver you will destroy the screws. If they're already beyond the point where you can remove them, the only thing you can do is drill the heads off and lift the plate off.

[91grandmarquis]

Yeah I broke my torx bit mine were so rusted in, even after I lubed them up with some wd40 and let em set over night. If the heads are stripped, use some screw outs, they drill into the head in reverse and "bite" them so you can pull the whole thing out. They are one of those things I wish I had.

[famcrown]

I think I am just going to go to a local mechanic. I got quoted 200 for labor to change the valve cover gaskets. I assume that is good considering the torx heads are damaged and the bolts on the manifold cover are rusted shut.

[famcrown]

regarding the radiator and cooling system. a few weeks ago, i noticed my rad. was leaking from the sides. I drained system and replaced radiator and coolant lost with 50/50.

i only drove car about 10 miles since radiator was changed and I noticed temp. gague still goes past 1/2 mark. after car on more than 20 minutes and I accelerate or go up a hill BUT when i go downhill the needle falls back down.

I played around with rad cap off , and started car and squeezed rad hoses to let air bubbles out, but that doesn't seem to have worked.

Before, Raditator leaked, the temp gauge was fine. any ideas.....

[85MercPark]

Moving to Tech...

This forum is for work for Scott only

[famcrown]

i noticed that when idling or going slowly the temp would rise past half mark and when steped on gas it would go down slightly.

I ask and was informed it is likely the fan clutch.