Lastly, doesn't anyone have a diagram to point out the head bolts? I can check them and relighted. Are they under the plastic cover? This plastic piece I'm speaking of is only on 2005+ trucks if you're wondering.

 

The best thing to do is buy a Haynes or Chiltons manual (if they make them for these trucks) and read the section on valve cover bolts and head bolts. There is a sequence and torque specs. If the head bolts need to be tightened then you have a problem. Not all too familiar with these engines but if aluminum and/or plastic is involved you better be careful and follow all specs.

 

probably the water from the ac hitting the ypipe.

Probably can wait another 10 yrs till it actually is worth the time and effort to put new gaskets in it.

 

Good thing I listened to you guys. I got a second option by a really good mechanic / family friend. He said the oil was leaking from the intake gasket and just following the head gaskets down. He said there is no way it's the heads as it's definitely coming from above.

He's going to replace the intake gasket for $200.

 

XL,

I put 30K at least a year on my truck. Even though I am not the greatest fan of the 4.2 (think I got a bad egg, 04 Heritage turned into a money pit at 114K), these trucks are solid and a ton of folks here have good advice. Glad you figured out your issue, keep your truck. It's immaculate lol

 

I'd just fix it & run that truck, you like it!

 

Thanks again guys. All fixed up, and it ended up costing only $150. Going to change the coolant, ps fluid, brake fluid, tranny fluid, rear diff fluid and change the fuel and air filters and call it a day for now. A new truck always seems great, but this one is perfect.

Had it been the head gaskets, I may have actually gotten rid of it. Glad the ford dealer was wrong though.

 

That would have really sucked if you paid that dealer for a head gasket job & that it was not needed. I hope you told them the real cause of the leak!

 

Yep, I told them. New intake gasket installed (with new oil, filter and coolant) cost me exactly $180. Not bad. The guy who did it also cleaned the block. I've checked with in the last 1000 miles and it's definitely not leaking anymore.

 

I am glad you got it sorted out. I was scratching my head to figure out what they dealer meant by the head gasket weeping... I have heard of many leaking head gaskets, but not the way you describe... And at that mileage, not without seriously overheating the engine and potentially warping / cracking the heads or the block...

 

Here's what happened:

When I brought it to the guy who ended up fixing it for a second opinion, he started tracing the oil back up and noticed oil all over a harness that was above the head gasket. He eventually traced it to the intake gasket and found that the oil was in fact leaking above and just following the head gaskets down. He saved the old intake gasket and showed me how it was leaking. He also said the bolts back there were so lose that he removed them with his fingers. The ford dealer is the only one who's ever touched my engine so that's there mistake as well. Apparently the ford dealer isn't so great at tracing oil leaks, or they found a good way to charge me a lot more haha.

 

Everybody is after your wallet!

 

Thought that sounded weird. The manifolds bolt to the heads which are ABOVE the head gaskets. It would be a hell of a trick for oil to leak out and flow up-hill to fry on the manifolds