Upper intake plenum gasket replacement (2004 Ford Escape 3.0L 6 cylinder)

Replacing the gaskets on a 2004 Ford Escape 3.0L 6 cylinder engine. Leaking gaskets cause the engine to run lean, throwing a P0171 or P0174 codes, depending on which bank the leak is located. Also applies to Mazda Tributes and Mercury Mariners.

[@vegatyme1]

Best car repair video I've seen yet. Even better, because it led me to the real issue, which was super easy to fix! While watching the disassembly, I was reminded that a couple of months ago, I was screwing around with something, and had to remove the air cleaner lid and intake hose.....that's when the P171/174 code started....I did the spray bottle thing....chacked my hoses....couldn't figure it out...then it turned into a P0300 with flashing check engine light!.....so I'm watching and thinking....I was screwing with the air cleaner.....went out there, and sure enough, I am an idiot! Air cleaner cover was slightly misaligned and not fully clamped down. Saved me lots of time and money. Codes went away, and check engine light is silent. Thanks for showing me my brain fart!

[@Richard-vf7wc]

Awesome video. Took me 2.5 hours to complete the work and your instructions were clear and precise. Well done thank you.

[@gailliardander]

Just completed the whole job watching this video. Beautiful

[@richardhill5192]

Thanks for the first time doing this. Your video made me look like a pro in front of my girlfriend and her friend

[@GreaseMonkeyFever]

Glad the vid helped, Richard. The reason for doing these is to help people save money by doing repairs themselves...and to ensure domestic tranquility 😆 Thanks for watching!

[@vincentiarocci5451]

To Brian I am NOT a mechanic by any stretch but I am an owner of a 2003 Escape v6 4wd. I got it last February when the Mazda 626 I had finally died after 18 years (tranny went). I got a great deal on the Escape as I bought it off of a coworker but it needed some TLC which I've been learning and giving it for the last year or so. Rear wheel bearing, Front Struts, Stab Links, Brake Hoses in the front, wheel cylinder etc...I happened to notice your post and I had the same issue last summer. I live in Northeastern Ohio so right now rain and humidity aren't really a problem ;) but I was getting the terrible misses when wet or even when it was really humid. I brought it to autozone and scanned it and it said missfire on #6. I already had the new coils and plugs that I had purchased when I was going to do a tune-up that I never got around to. So I decided to replace the front ones (4, 5, 6) with the new cops and plugs. Well that fifteen minute job turned into a week long nightmare...long story short #6 was replaced in a matter of minutes, plug was old and dry as a bone, and old coil was cracked and corroded. I should've stopped there. Well I managed to snap the hold down bolts on 4, and 5, that secure the COPS on the Valve Cover. Needless to say I spent a lot of time drilling...swearing...sweating etc...I believe who ever replaced the cops last torqued the bolts too much and I was stupid too so yea. Point is...once i got everything secured, this seems to have (knock on wood) solved my problem with the missing and CEL coming on. I did however find a lot of oil on the COP and Plug for #5. This of course means I have bad o-ring gaskets on the Valve Cover. I have the set of gaskets to do everything, spark plug o-rings, valve covers, grommits, Throttle Body, IAC...good set. In fact, I'm getting ready to do the gasket/tuneup in a few weeks...soon as it warms up a bit. I am planning on just buying a whole new front valve cover seeing as how the screw holes are all jacked up now due to my mistakes. I came here because Grease Monkey's videos are some of the best on youtube and the Escape he works on is exactly like mine although I believe it's an 04. The point of this entire post, besides hoping it helps you Brian, is to ask Grease Monkey if he would do a video on replacing the front valve cover gaskets. It seems pretty straight forward but I know there are a few tricks involved. One is how to get to all the screws out in sequence. two is how to proceed on the screws if they are all pretty rusty...3 is how to remove the bolt on the engine bracket on the right to get it out...and if that can be done from the top...or if there is any other easier method of removing it...finally any tips when doing this job. I just feel totally confident with your videos as tutorials and wish you would do one on the front valve if you had the time... :) Anyways...I subscribed today because your vids are awesome... Thanks for all you've shown/taught me and to Brian good luck if you haven't already corrected that issue.

[@AULIGAofBLEED]

Well done thank you! This helped me a lot

[@shanec4441]

Just a suggestion - place rags or plastic over the lower intake manifold openings to keep tools, dirt and debris out

[@GreaseMonkeyFever]

Thanks, Shane! You know, I have the shots of covering the lower intake with shop rags (from the video on changing the back spark plugs). For some stupid reason, I forgot to add them! I can't believe I didn't catch that. I usually double and triple check vids before publishing them...mostly to catch spelling errors. You're right...it would be wise to do that. Again, thanks for watching!

[@smokinjoewilson]

Best Video Ever...

[@skipdog77]

Great video! Have you an opinion on the problem with these Escapes where when it rains heavy, the engine misses badly? Various antidotes for the fix. Currently I have a misfire on #5 cylinder. Moved the coil to #6 and the problem followed. Ordered new coils. Would like to solve the issue where water is causing issues! Thanks for the videos!

[@LetricShave]

Great video. Your application didn’t require doing any removal of coolant hoses? My service manual mentions this for the 2005 model year.

[@ricardorivera7854]

Super profesional

[@uwopimp]

Hi Grease Monkey Fever, I'm hoping you can help me out. I bought one of those Haynes manuals to help me do some repair on my car. Well when I got to the step at 25:10 the Haynes manual says to tighten the bolts to 159 inch-lbs (18 Nm) which was obviously way too much because the bolts made a big loud crack and are now loose and won't tighten. I've obviously stripped them but I don't know where in the bolting mechanism it happened. Do you know what my issue likely is and how to fix it? I also took off the lower manifold and when i tightened those bolts I did it to the same spec, now I'm afraid that they might be too tight as well. Thanks in advance!

[@smokendice5396]

9:01 do you know the name and part number for the tube and braket that holds the EGR valve?

[@Shannon-]

I need to change my coils and spark plugs. I have to remove the manifold correct? Thanks for the video.

[@GreaseMonkeyFever]

Yes, for the back 3 plugs and coils...if you have a 6 cylinder. It's not bad...just take your time. I have a video for changing spark plugs on a 6 cylinder. Thanks for watching, Shannon!

[@Shannon-]

@@GreaseMonkeyFever Thanks so much! Yes I have a 6 cylinder. I'm going to checkout your video. Thank you!

[@CadenMcMullen]

I have a 2004 Ford Escape XLT and I'm receiving error codes for a misfiring cylinders do to bad coils. With 6 cylinders, it is saying 1 and 3 are miss firing, but I can't seem to find anywhere which of the 6 are 1 and 3, any help?

[@unitedwestand5602]

What about to lower intake gaskets? The gaskets I ordered came with upper and lower?