| Author | Message | ||
     Newfie_buell  |
This afternoon my 2000 Ford Windstar 3.8l V6 started leaking engine coolant from the steel line that runs from the top of the water pump back to the heater core then splits off to the top of the intake manifold dome. Well when I got the big plastic dome thingy off the intake I noticed that there were two sets of butterfly valves between on the intake manifold. The engine appears to have two sets of runners for each cylinder and only one butterfly for each cylinder. The controller for the butterfly valves is not the throttle but a servo motor. The reason I am asking is that when I took bits apart to repair the steel coolant line the arm conecting the servo motor to the rear cylinder was disconnected but the front one was connected to the valves. Can someone tell me what these butterfly valves do? It appears that if they open they provide more airflow to the engine. | ||
| Whodom  |
Newfie- I'm not up on that particular engine, but this setup is pretty common on various auto engines these days. The intake has two different sets of runners with different lengths. One is tuned for mid-range torque, the other is tuned for high-end horsepower. Pretty much it's the same idea as the exhaust valve on the XB12's. It gives you a broader, flatter power curve. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
So if the rear cylinder bank butterflies were not opening I guess I would have problems with power delivery and or fuel consumption? | ||
| Mr_grumpy  |
If they're on there it's for a reason, so hook it back up & see what happens, then send Colleen out for a test drive.  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I hooked them back up and the van seems to have better power delivery. It can now activate the traction control system on dry pavement. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
You should get better mileage too. | ||
| Whodom |
Newfie, Glad you got it fixed- any clue how the thing got disconnected? | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Not a clue, The arm connects to a small plastic piece that fits into the actuator plate on the cylinder head that turns the plenum/butterfly valves. The little plastic piece was missing all together so the metal arm/rod could not clip in. I had to replace the steel coolant tubes that run from the top of the water pump back to the heater core then onto the middle of the intake manifold. This was discovered while removing part of the intake system. You thought the old tube frame buells had a large volume intake system. The windstar must be tuned to be quiet and I am finally understanding how and why so much engineering goes into these systems now. I actually got the parts off a wrecked van as that was the only place open here that had the parts on a Saturday morning. The olds ones were rusted so bad there were pin holes in the metal. Thats Newfoundland Winters for you and the amount of salt the Government uses for ice control. 100% salt is all thats used on this part of the island. The other thing was that just one little hose overlooked throws the whole engine management system out of whack. I had overlooked one hose and upon first startup it surged and would hardly idle - looked for a missing hose and it went back to idle almost instantly. Oh well - it was an experience in repairing a Ford. | ||
| Iamike  |
Bill, I saw your boys with wrenches one day looking at it while you were preoccupied. I think that you have a couple of mechanics growing there. Just teach them how to put things back together after they take them apart. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Good one Mike, Riley (long haired one) absolutely loves to get his hands dirty, Connor (oldest boy) just loves to ride the bikes and can fix them but would rather have Riley do it. Morgan the youngest is still undecided about bikes in general. How is Drew doing? He still want to come to Newfoundland to attend Memorial University? I am sure he could have shared accodomations with my friend, Mark, who returned to school as well. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Just don't let him ride in Mark's car, I've seen what Newfie winters do to Toyota 4runner chassis, there ain't much of it left! | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Mark's 4-Runner has been put to sleep, he now has a 98 Dodge Full Size Truck thats quite nice. That 4-runner had seen better days!!!!! You should see what Newfoundland Winters did to Ford Engine Coolant Tubes that were only 4 years old. | ||
| Iamike |
Bill, He's settled into school here right now (it also helps that he's also got a girlfriend.) They do one class at a time which works well with his attention span (he takes after me). I did ask him the other day if he might want to switch after this year and he said no, but I bet he forgot about St.John's. I'll mention it next time I talk to him. |
