My 1988 4runner has an 22re intake manifold leak. I was running very lean, so I took my intake apart and found it was warped. I took it in and had it machined. After reinstalling it I am now leaking coolant down the side of the engine from somewhere between the head and intake. I took it apart and put some liquid gasket between the gasket and the head then put the intake back on. After putting it all back together I still have a leak its just less than it was before. I let the liquid gasket set for 24 hours before starting the engine. I was wondering if I need to let it sit longer, or did I screw up by not putting liquid gasket on both sides of the regular gasket?

Does anyone have any other tips here? I need to figure out why I'm leaking now and it wasn't before. This is really irritating because before I was leaking in air and no coolant leak now the air is sealed and I'm leaking coolant. Any information that could help me with this is greatly appreciated.

 

did you take anything off the lower intake after removing it, like any sensors or anything?

maybe one of those isn't tight or isn't seated properly?

I'd use some thermostat sealant type stuff on anything that threads into the manifold


ALSO, check the pipe that runs into the bottom of the manifold that's held on with 2 bolts, just between intake runners 2 and 3 if I'm not mistaken. There's an O-ring that needs to go there, and I also put that sealant on there too

 

I put a new O ring on the bottom pipe so I don't think its that. I id have the take everything off the intake to get it machined so I'll look into getting some sealant on the threads. Thanks for the tip on that

 

Yeah you did well with the O ring but that pipe is a PITA. What I usually do is get that gasket making material and make my own for that pipe. Then put silicone where the gasket you made goes and it should bolt up nice and tight.

Give it a shot and see if it works.

I had my intake out last week and did this with no leaks so far!

Good luck

 

I use Hylomar on all intake gaskets, on both sides, as well as oil pan and other non-exhaust type gaskets, and haven't had an issue with it as of yet. It sets up almost immediately and doesn't harden like RTV or other form-in-place-gasket sealants. It's expensive though.

You should put sealant on both sides of the gasket regardless of what type of sealant it is or even if the gasket has a 'built-in sealant'.

Regardless of what type of sealant you use, you should install and torque things, then return a while later and re-torque. Some of the sealant will get trapped and won't flow out fast enough, causing the first torquing to end up under-torqued when it does flow out. Hope that makes sense.