Check your intake manifold bolts

[Sherman Bird]

This hasn't been talked about for awhile,but check your intake manifold bolts.They call for 108 in-lbs or roughly 9 ft-lbs of torque,and they should be checked at least yearly,as they do loosen up. I've been doing mine at least twice a year on all 3 of of my hemi equipped vehicles.They should be checked and torqued when the engine is cold.I just use my calibrated hand and a 1/4" drive rachet / 6" extension and 5/16's socket and just give them a twist by hand,but if you don't trust your hand,an inch lb torque wrench should be used.There's 10 of them on 5.7's and 6.4's. I've done them enough,i know the torque sequence ,but if you don't know the sequence it's easy enough to look up

GM, having the same plastic intake manifold design, and the bolts pressing against sleeves to prevent damage to the plastic if and when a hamfist overtightens the bolts, uses blue thread locker on new bolts. When I remove an intake of this design, I reuse the bolts with said thread locker. I'd extrapolate that applying thread locker would alleviate the need to retorque... that is unless one just needs an excuse to be busy under the hood!

 

[Wild one]

GM, having the same plastic intake manifold design, and the bolts pressing against sleeves to prevent damage to the plastic if and when a hamfist overtightens the bolts, uses blue thread locker on new bolts. When I remove an intake of this design, I reuse the bolts with said thread locker. I'd extrapolate that applying thread locker would alleviate the need to retorque... that is unless one just needs an excuse to be busy under the hood!

Give it a whirl on a Hemi and report back to us in a few months what you find.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Anyone using these?
If seal compression is the issue of loose screws.

Cometic Intake Manifold Gaskets (O-Ring/Set): Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep 5.7L Hemi 2003 - 2023

Shop Cometic intake manifold gaskets for Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep 5.7L Hemi engines. Supports leak-free sealing and reliable performance.

fasthemis.com

 

[Wild one]

Anyone using these?
If seal compression is the issue of loose screws.

Cometic Intake Manifold Gaskets (O-Ring/Set): Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep 5.7L Hemi 2003 - 2023

Shop Cometic intake manifold gaskets for Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep 5.7L Hemi engines. Supports leak-free sealing and reliable performance.

fasthemis.com

Those look interesting CJ. Somebody needs to try them. I have a couple sets of the Felpro's on hand and not really planning on pulling any of my intakes for awhile,but those do look intriguing.

Amazon.com: FEL-PRO MS 97089 Engine Intake Manifold Gasket Set for Ram 1500 : Automotive

Buy FEL-PRO MS 97089 Engine Intake Manifold Gasket Set for Ram 1500: Intake Manifold - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Sherman Bird]

Give it a whirl on a Hemi and report back to us in a few months what you find.

Give it a whirl on a Hemi and report back to us in a few months what you find.

I'll let you do it!

 

[Wild one]

I'll let you do it!

Probably not,as i don't think it'll actually do much,as the heads run hot enough to keep blue loctite soft.That's your department to experiment on

 

[HEMIMANN]

Only way to see if screws are turning is to mark head of screw & matching mark on intake.

Right, but how could it turn if it is loctited in? Loctite was designed specifially to prevent bolt backing out due to vibration.

Something screwy (pun intended) is going on, here. O-ring seals can be compressed to solid surface, after which there is not more compression.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Right, but how could it turn if it is loctited in? Loctite was designed specifially to prevent bolt backing out due to vibration.

Something screwy (pun intended) is going on, here. O-ring seals can be compressed to solid surface, after which there is not more compression.

Could be wrong but 105 inch pounds not going to do much compression & I'm not sure if polymer intake makes contact with heads..........heat cycles & different materials will compress.
If I had an intake I would check seal depth with depth mics & compare to seal.
Or better yet place seal in groove & check with straight edge & feeler gauge.

Thread locker or not mark tells the story.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Probably not,as i don't think it'll actually do much,as the heads run hot enough to keep blue loctite soft.That's your department to experiment on

Locktite is a registered trademark, and I do not use that particular brand. I use the Permatex clone because heat DOES'T soften it! There! Experiment done!

 

[Wild one]

Locktite is a registered trademark, and I do not use that particular brand. I use the Permatex clone because heat DOES'T soften it! There! Experiment done!

That's assuming the bolts are backing off,but if it's because the manifold or gaskets are changing shape,a thread locker is going to make it tougher to stay on top of re-torquing them. A thread locker will be very deceptive at letting you quickly check them with just a nutdriver to see if they are loose.
So your experiment might not nessecarily be done,lol

 

[crackerjack1957]

Locktite is a registered trademark, and I do not use that particular brand. I use the Permatex clone because heat DOES'T soften it! There! Experiment done!

So I guessing you use the high temp thread locker because the blue Permatex is less heat resistant than the blue Loctite

Loctite Vs. Permatex Threadlocker: Secure Loose Screws On Bicycles, Skateboards, And Snowboards

Loctite Vs. Permatex Threadlocker: I've reviewed their key features, examine their strengths and weaknesses.

www.stickyaides.com

Interesting....high temp......medium strength

Hot-Lock® Extreme High Temperature Threadlocker

www.vibra-tite.com

 

[HEMIMANN]

I used Loctite 567, which is meant for use on engines.

 

[crackerjack1957]

 

[HEMIMANN]

View attachment 533996

Sorry, I should have added I used it on pipe plugs on engines! Oil drains, hydraulic systems, etc.! Yes, there are still many applications that have pipe plugs instead of the more expensive o-ring face seal plugs.

I've not heard of Vibra Tight Brand. Where is this available?

 

[crackerjack1957]

Sorry, I should have added I used it on pipe plugs on engines! Oil drains, hydraulic systems, etc.! Yes, there are still many applications that have pipe plugs instead of the more expensive o-ring face seal plugs.

I've not heard of Vibra Tight Brand. Where is this available?

New to me also, scroll down to bottom of the page on the link, it has a rolling banner with it's distributors.
I recognized a few like MSC, Grainger & Fastenal in my area.

About Us

At Vibra-Tite, we developformulateblendpackagedistribute products that you can rely on Vibra-Tite, the bottled product division of ND Industries, is one of the world’s market leaders in anaerobics, cyanoacrylates, epoxies and ultra-violet technologies. The Vibra-Tite brand has earned a...

www.vibra-tite.com

 

[crackerjack1957]

They even have a marker......LoL

Vibra-Tite 202 - Viz-Torque Tamper Detection Marker

www.vibra-tite.com

 

[kdoublep]

They even have a marker......LoL

Vibra-Tite 202 - Viz-Torque Tamper Detection Marker

www.vibra-tite.com

Cool. It's on Amazon for $7 in red.

 

[Wild one]

You can get a set of these ,that work good for marking bolts.

https://www.amazon.com/Acrylic-Permanent-Painting-Ceramic-Water-based/dp/B07VS69DV7/ref=pd_ci_mcx_pspc_dp_d_1_i_2?pd_rd_w=1MZZh&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc4de2ff-b0aa-42e3-8155-80ce8b46b9f3&pf_rd_p=bc4de2ff-b0aa-42e3-8155-80ce8b46b9f3&pf_rd_r=VSY2QABZHE0TY2HX1AGP&pd_rd_wg=YZoBZ&pd_rd_r=cf583c4e-48e1-4b2d-b46a-3d2a65964774&pd_rd_i=B07VS69DV7

 

[04fxdwgi]

Cool. It's on Amazon for $7 in red.

Yeah, it's called "torque striping". Added after torquing so QC inspector can, at a glance, verify torque is completed during assy. Good for tamper detection and general condition, over time.

Been doing it on BIG power components like xformers, generators, switchgear and UPS' for at least 20 years.

 

[hdog33]

Just a thank you to Wild One for starting this thread. My 2019 Laramie Longhorn bolts were around 25 inch lbs. I used my 1/4" torque wrench to tighten down.

And thanks to all who contribute to this forum! I've owned nothing but Ram trucks going back to '99 and while they all have quirks they all treated me right.