Hey guys I'm new to the forum, but I'm joining in hopes of getting some real help, all of the local forums and groups are full of immature people who just want to hate on your car/truck. Anyways few days before Christmas my transfer case died on me, so my truck has been sitting (1998 F150 XL 4x4 4.2 V6). Being stupid I hadn't started the truck in a while as I have been busy fixing my other car, so the other day I went to start it and boom my valve cover cracked. I'm assuming it was from being cold and then the heat from starting it, anyways I'm going to pick one up tomorrow and I need some advice on replacing it. What has to been taken off and how large of a job this is. I've replaced them on other vehicles, but it seems much harder of a job in this truck than in my civic. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I have never heard of a valve cover just "cracking" for no reason. Does it run OK ? You didn't have a problem inside the cover, something let go ?

Im more of a V8 guy, but you take off the air cleaner, drain the radiator, removed the intake horn / throttle body/ tube, etc... then remove the intake manifold if necessary. You should be able to get around the fuel lines and other. Top radiator hose and steering pump bracket probably in the way. May have extra wiring / vacuum hoses and vacuum solenoids in the way on one side. Mark everything you take off or take a photo before you start and a few times after that as you disassemble.

 

Its just plastic from what I can tell, I can't really see a whole lot because of how far back under the dash the motor actually goes. But it went from sitting to running so I was assuming maybe it was a shock to the plastic and it cracked, it ran fine, let it run and then when I checked it after shutting it off there was oil everywhere. My first thought was head gasket went but it really didnt make much sense to me as it was driving a1 until the transfer case quit on me. When it was parked the motor was fine, after boosting the battery and then giving it a a shot of gas it started right up no issue.

Side note, I may have pumped the pedal one too many times as it back fired when I started it, don't know if that would have anything to do with it or not.

 

I agree with steve,I think something internal broke the the cover.
Keep us posted please
Good luck

 

I took some photos after disassembling the valve cover, not sure how but I did manage to get it off without taking the intake off, mostly because it turned out to be a royal pain. The entire bottom end of the valve cover was cracked off, hence the leaking oil. There was also a smaller crack along the top, as shown in the picture. I didn't notice that anything let go, or that there was any damage to the head itself, there was not even any marks on the underside of the valve cover from something maybe hitting it. However I also don't really know what I am looking for, any suggestions based on the pictures? As I said in my original post the truck wasn't making any noises and was running fine when I noticed the oil leaking out.









You can see the crack along the top by the upper bolt hole, and the bottom is also cracked all along, thats where it broke right off and was leaking oil from.





Upper crack