Valve Cover Leak
 

I just found out that the fluid on my bellhousing was not tranny fluid, but oil apparently leaking down the back of my engine from my valve covers. I need to replace the Valve Cover gaskets. The Ford garage wants $300 to do it. I think I could do it myself. How difficult is this job?

If I am correct, I will also need to remove my TB, and will need a new intake manifold to plenum gasket. Is this right?

Will I need anything else?

Quick responses appreciated, TIA

EDIT: It won't hurt anything to drive on it for ~3 weeks until I get home to work on it, correct? (as long as I keep an eye on my engine oil level)

You don't need to remove anything other than the valve covers to change the valve cover gaskets. However, those gaskets are nothing more than a giant rubber bead so check to see if all the cover bolts are torqued to the right specs. It may be leaking because one is loose.

+1

EDIT: It won't hurt anything to drive on it for ~3 weeks until I get home to work on it, correct? (as long as I keep an eye on my engine oil level)

No it wont hurt anything. (as long as the oil is full)

I had the same problem but ford replaced mine under warranty. Mine was the passenger side...good thing I got longtubes because we noticed it during the install. Depending on how bad the leak is you'll be fine driving on it. I drove for 2-3 weeks on mine before it was fixed...plus however long it was leaking before I noticed it. It was a minor leak though so like I said it depends on how bad it is. Just keep an eye on the oil level.

Don't go nuts tightening the valve cover bolts. The torque spec is something like 80-100 inch pounds(that would be 7-9 ft lbs). If you don't have a torque wrench, use a 1/4 inch drive socket wrench and snug them all.

If you are replacing, you have to remove anything thats in the way of getting the valve covers off. I will be putting on some aftermarket valve covers in a few weeks. I just eyeballed it and looks like my strut tower brace will have to be removed and cold air kit. You don't have to remove your throttle body.

Are you sure the V6 isn't different from the GT on this?

Good question...mine is a 99 GT. I don't know what is involved if the car is a 6 cylinder?

I assumed GT but I doubt the TB would be in the way even on the 6. Plus, I'd assume Ford used the same style gasket as the 4.6 or the 5.0, in which the 5.0 I know didn't have reusable gaskets (as far as I know). Valve covers are really the same, no matter the engine. What's different is what's in the way of it (e.g. inlet tubes).

Why is this leaking too?

Thats your PCV valve (pressurized crankcase ventilation) it uses engine vacuum to pull pressure out of the engine and helps the rings seal better to. Its leaking because either the seal on the valve cover is bad or the PVC is cracked/bad. Both are cheap super easy repairs just a matter of pulling them off and installing new.

YA THE GASKETS ON UR VALVE COVERS ARE VERY EASY TO CHANGE MY FRIEND AND I DID THAT TO MY STANG