oily mess
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Strasburg, Va.
oily mess
about to attempt to change the rear main seal on my 84 f150 4x4 with a 351w this weekend using info I've read hear and a chiltons manual. I believe that year had the 2 peice seal for this engine so I should be able to tackle it myself with some patience. Just wanted to know if there's anything I should be aware of that may not be in a manual other than it being labor intensive. I'm quite certain this isn't the trucks only leak, but I gotta start somewhere. Any advice, info, suggestions from more experienced users would be greatly appreciated. I can't afford to take it to the garage, and probably wouldn't if I could.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
I would make double, triple, quadruple sure the rear main seal is the really the leak. I know it will "look" like it's coming from there, but a leak from a oil sensor behind the intake, the rear seal on the intake, and even one of the valve covers leaking, will look exactly like a rear main seal leak. It's just too difficult a job to do without cleaning the engine off really good and checking to make sure that is the leak.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 93
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Franklin gives good advice. I have to do this job on my 460 but I've confirmed that my valve cover gaskets are also leaking. No sense in fixing one leak while another spills right on top of it.
The job is fairly straightforward. Post questions if you get hung up, guys here will help you out.
The job is fairly straightforward. Post questions if you get hung up, guys here will help you out.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Strasburg, Va.
Thanks for the info and suggestions guys. I was looking over the valve covers and noticed the passenger side on has the bolt broken off. at first I thought it was missing, but after looking closer, realized the bolt is in the hole, but has no head to it. the broken off bolt is the one on the inside towards the rear. is there enough pressure created on that seal for that bolt out to be a critical issue. I have to figure out how I'll get my drill in there with a bolt extractor.
