You could power scrub the back of the engine then use a mirror and a flash light to decide if the valley pan or head gasket is the problem, might even pressure test it to verify.

 

Just so I know Im not dumb ...........the "valley pan" (as you guys call it) IS the intake manifold gasket.......I think you guys confuse yourselves sometimes with the "odd" names you give stuff.

 

Spike - we cool, I got that when I saw it sorry I didn't mention it, the ones for 04' don't come with bolts though, but yeah I understood.

Urban - thats a great pic (also informative), is it from the Rave manual?

I'm going (hopefully get to) clean the engine tomorrow - its one of those weekends - then look at the backside - I may get lazy and just have it pressure tested - I'll get back with what I find


Thanks

 

yes thats from the RAVE manual.

 

BTW, if you need the valley pan gasket, it's about a $10-$12 Felpro gasket.

 

Yeah, that is an intake gasket. I always called the other one Mike was refering to as the plenum gasket. But seeing how it does cover the valley of the engine, I can see why it and the plenum gaskets get easily confused when refering to them.

 

Sorry it took awhile but to close this thread out. I found that my lower Rad hose was weeping - tightened hose, no more loss of fluid. Sometimes it really is the simple things that get us/me off track...

Thanks to everyone that responded

Robert

 

ALWAYS remember to...
K eep
I t
S imple
S tupid