Leaking manifold gasket - 5.4L Triton
Last year, I had the lower manifold gasket (I'm pretty sure it was referred to as a lower) replaced on my 2005 F150 5.4L SuperCrew. In about October 2013, I started hearing a similar clicking noise, usually when pulling my TT, but even when I wasn't. I had my brother-in-law, a Ford mechanic, look into it. He found that the manifold gasket on the other side (driver's side I believe) has developed a leak...he said it's not enough to not pass inspection, yet.
He said that pulling my TT will certainly put the engine under additional stress, which will expedite the leak in becoming greater, eventually not passing inspection.
I am certainly within my tow weight limits of our Featherweight TT, but do you feel that these manifold leaks support the fact that the 5.4L Triton engine is simply not heavy duty enough to pull the weight that I have in my TT (5500# dry, probably 7500# loaded worst case, TV is rated for 8200#)? I usually put very little in the pickup bed when pulling....we really are minimalists when camping. My only argument against this thought is that I know the F250 and F350 models also use the 5.4L Triton engine, but maybe there are more heavy duty parts built into this particular engine on the HD trucks.
Any information/thoughts on this would be appreciated. If I eventually want to upgrade my truck to an HD for longer hauls (we usually stay within a few hours of our home), I would like to know if the 5.4L in an HD truck is an option for us. I have no plans to upgrade our Featherweight TT (i.e. go heavier) as we absolutly love what we have.
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2011 Jayco 29L w/Outside Kitchen
Reese Straight-Line WDH
2001 F250 Lariat 6.8L Crew w/Long Bed
Honda EU2000i Generator
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