straycat59
Virginia
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My 1989 fleetwood flair with 460 ford engine was diagnosed the other day. They told me my intake valves front and back are leaking. To keep oil in it if I have to drive it until I can get it fixed. But now it doesn't even want to start or at least not final turn. The job will cost 800-900 dollars. Does anyone know if this is worth taking to a ford dealer or let jethro do it for half price? Thanks
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MitchF150
Washington, the State
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Not a whole lot of info, but it sounds like "Jethro" is talking about doing a valve job.
The valves can 'leak' in a couple of different ways. The valve stem guide can leak oil into the cylinders and that causes fouled plugs and blue smoke out the tail pipe. The engine should essentially still run okay.
Or, the valves are 'burnt', which means they won't hold any compression in the cylinder and you have no combustion..
If the valve job is done right, both of those things will be addressed.. But, if it's burnt valves, you will also need to find out why that happened.. Usually, it's from running the engine too lean (not enough fuel) and the heat kills the valve material.
Being that it's a 1989, it should have fuel injection, so a computer controls all of the fuel management systems. Lots of sensors and such involved that also control all of this...
A dealer may or may not try to diagnose the cause in order to not have it happen again.. A good one will, and a bad one won't.. Same with a "Jethro" mechanic.. A good one will also fix the cause, or just fix the immediate issue and send you on your way after you pay him.
Lots of miles could also be the cause.. But, MH's don't usually have the same kind of miles a daily driver has.. How many miles does your MH have?
Tough call either way... 
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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Jethro has had lots of time working on the age old 460. No need for a dealer IMHO.
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straycat59
Virginia
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Well, it states on odometer 42,000 but Auto check at mvd said 140,000 miles. Ford did the diagnostics on it and told me it was leaky valves. I posted this cause sometimes mechanics just tell you the problem but not so much the cause. I have been running it lean on gas because I've been staying put for awhile and just run into town and back to RV park where I'm a host.
But, I believe Arctic dodge might be on que about jethro more exp. W/460. Thanks, for the input.
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crankshop1000
se michigan
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Leaking as in losing compression or burning oil?
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wildmanbaker
Kennewick, Washington
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If it is the intake valve oil seals, they could be gone. The biggest problem that causes them to fail is heat and age. The rubber oil seals keep oil from running down the valve stem, and forming carbon on the back side of the intake valve, until they will not close completely. The seals can be replaced without removing the heads, but if there is carbon build-up, the heads must be removed to remove the carbon. Sorry, But good luck.
Wildman 
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restorodder
Pinckney Michigan
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Intake valves usually don't burn. The 460 Fords had some problems with valve seals not working even while on warranty. At 14 years of age the seals are most likely shot.
2008 Newmar Canyon Star - 2007 Dodge Dakota Toad - Ready Brute tow bar & brake system - one cat - Sassy 14
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straycat59
Virginia
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Wow, I was leaking oil not burning it. I hope it's just the seals then not the head gaskets. They said it would have to be in shop all day. Thanks for the info. I came cross country in it and sometimes I felt that the engine was running hot. I don't know anything about compression.
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rvrepairnut
bc
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straycat59 wrote:My 1989 fleetwood flair with 460 ford engine was diagnosed the other day. They told me my intake valves front and back are leaking. To keep oil in it if I have to drive it until I can get it fixed. But now it doesn't even want to start or at least not final turn. The job will cost 800-900 dollars. Does anyone know if this is worth taking to a ford dealer or let jethro do it for half price? Thanks
There are no such things as front and back Intake Valves.I will suggest to you the INTAKE MANIFOLD gasket has blown and thats what the oil leak is as in front and back.I have changed a few of these on 460 as they were also bad for intakerunner leaks(same gasket) different problem
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straycat59
Virginia
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Well, it dawned on me to look at inspection sheet from ford man. It says-intake manifold gaskets leaking. I'm such a flake.
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