I have a 1997 F150 with a 4.6L in it and I have oil that is dripping down the backside of the engine on the passenger side. It doesn't seem like it is the valve cover as the oil does not go up that high. It is either the intake manifold or the head gasket most likely. I have not worked on things like this before very much, however I would like to tackle this project. What am I going to need to accomplish this? What gaskets should be replaced while I go ahead and tear it apart. Is it worth doing both sides or just the one that’s leaking? It has 95,000 miles on it. What major components have to be removed in order to do this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The first thing is to determine where the leak is coming from. Use engine cleaner to clean off the general area where the leak is coming from. After it is clean you will be able to spot exactly where it is coming from. Drive around for a day or to and look again. Some part stors have a dye you can put in the oil that will help to locate the leak. Once you know where it is coming form it will make it easier to know how involved fixing it is. Repalcing a cylinder head gasket is quite a bit of work. A valve cover gasket is a walk in the park compared to it.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

it looks like it is leaking from the head gasket. Is this typical for a 97 with 95,000 miles?

 

My 2000 4.6 leaked but not my 97. If it is indeed leaking from there the only cure is to replace the head gasket. You will have to inspect the block surface as well as the head’s.

JMC

 

i take it that it leaked at the head gasket?

 

My 2000 did indeed leak at the head gasket. It was replaced under warranty.

JMC

 

how much have people paid to get the 2 head gaskets replaced?