Oil leak
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Oil leak
My engine seems to be leaking oil from the lower rear head bolt. New intake and valve cover gaskets and they are dry above the bolts. There is oil dripping at the bottom of the bell.
What are the thoughts here?
John
What are the thoughts here?
John
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Mddl A MexCans
oil coming out between the head and block seam ? Are you positive it's not traveling from elsewhere ? Oil at the bottom of the bell and coming off one head sounds like the rear intake seal IMO but. Get it squeaky clean and watch. Only other things back there are the cam plug, oil gallery plugs, and main seal IIRC
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Just resealed the intake, all of that area above is dry. It looked like from under the truck that it was not dry around the bolts.
I know that while it can, the rear main seal is not a big culprit on the FE.
John
I know that while it can, the rear main seal is not a big culprit on the FE.
John
FTE Leadership Emeritus
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From: Long Island USA
Driver's side? Isn't that where the oil feed hole is for the rocker shaft, right near the rearmost bottom head bolt on the driver's side?
(Passenger side is towards the front of the block)
On edit, probably not, it's near the #7 cylinder, not #8.
(Passenger side is towards the front of the block)
On edit, probably not, it's near the #7 cylinder, not #8.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
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From: Ohio
I have the same basic leak on my blower motor. Drivers side just leaks, period. Had intake off, a couple different sets of valve cover gaskets. It leaks, still. It's damp around the head gasket area, though I know that's not the problem. Too hard to see back there in the car.
Of course it leaks down onto the cast iron headers, so it smokes for a few minutes everytime it sits in the garage overnite. During the day, driving, it's fine.
Of course it leaks down onto the cast iron headers, so it smokes for a few minutes everytime it sits in the garage overnite. During the day, driving, it's fine.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
You say it's not leaking around the valve covers, but this is typical of these engines to leak there.
Since there are only 5 valve cover bolts per side, and PO's tighten the bolts down to "hope" the covers stop leaking, that causes the covers to dish out (develop high spots) around the bolt holes.
Take one a those covers off, lay it on a flat surface, you can usually see that the cover is resting on those 5 high spots, with daylight visible everyplace else.
The rear mains leak too, cuz they use that rope-a-dope type seal that's two pieces. Usually, it's the upper rope seal that leaks, the lower seal is EZ to change, the upper ain't!
Since there are only 5 valve cover bolts per side, and PO's tighten the bolts down to "hope" the covers stop leaking, that causes the covers to dish out (develop high spots) around the bolt holes.
Take one a those covers off, lay it on a flat surface, you can usually see that the cover is resting on those 5 high spots, with daylight visible everyplace else.
The rear mains leak too, cuz they use that rope-a-dope type seal that's two pieces. Usually, it's the upper rope seal that leaks, the lower seal is EZ to change, the upper ain't!
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Logistics Pro
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From: Mddl A MexCans
None of us can see your truck John. All we can do is suggest and hope not to be shot down 
Since I have never seen one with a gallery leak to date I'll Axe that one. Since the oil is on the head I'd guesstimate the main seal if leaking isn't the total source based on scientific evaluation. Just because the intake gasket is new does not mean it's sealing properly. I'd clean it up, start the truck and let it warm in hopes of finding the source. Maybe a spotlight and a extend a mirror would come in handy based on the location.
Side note: does this truck have heads with the thermo plug atop the exhaust ports, with plugs inserted in them as they are no longer functional ? This and/or a loose spark plug can often release a oily film as combustion mixtures find there way out of the chamber.
Since I have never seen one with a gallery leak to date I'll Axe that one. Since the oil is on the head I'd guesstimate the main seal if leaking isn't the total source based on scientific evaluation. Just because the intake gasket is new does not mean it's sealing properly. I'd clean it up, start the truck and let it warm in hopes of finding the source. Maybe a spotlight and a extend a mirror would come in handy based on the location.Side note: does this truck have heads with the thermo plug atop the exhaust ports, with plugs inserted in them as they are no longer functional ? This and/or a loose spark plug can often release a oily film as combustion mixtures find there way out of the chamber.
Last edited by Redmanbob; Sep 26, 2008 at 09:41 AM. Reason: thermo plugs
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Bobby, Go back to the top, new gaskets above the heads, and all dry. 
Had the truck up on a lift with a light and the highest place to find anything wet was the lower rear head bolts on both sides. Heads are CAE8-H.
John
Had the truck up on a lift with a light and the highest place to find anything wet was the lower rear head bolts on both sides. Heads are CAE8-H.
John
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
C8AE-H = 1968/72 360/390.
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: CT
I'll throw this out there.....Any chance the 2 rear intake bolts are bottoming out before they are tightened to spec? Is this a aftermarket or factory aluminum intake? What are you torquing them to? Even tho the bolts feel like they are pulling down and snugging the can just bottom out and sometimes give the same feel. Just a WAG. If not Bill has a good point on the VC's being smushed.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
Yeah, pull those bolts, clean them up, clean up the holes with solvent, put sealant on them and reinstall.
It's VERY weird to get both rear bottom head bolts leaking oil.
I'm willing to bet it's NOT leaking from the bolts, but from the valve cover, running down the seam between the intake and head somehow and you can't see it.
Use that dye that you use a blacklight with. See where it's really coming from.
The bottom rear bolt holes are no wheres near the oil feed for the rocker shafts (especially if it's BOTH sides) and I just checked and the hole in the block is blind. So if you're really getting oil out of those bolt holes, something is REALLY REALLY WRONG with your block or the head or the gasket.
Again, I suspect the oil is coming from the valve covers.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Mddl A MexCans
Yeah, pull those bolts, clean them up, clean up the holes with solvent, put sealant on them and reinstall.
It's VERY weird to get both rear bottom head bolts leaking oil.
I'm willing to bet it's NOT leaking from the bolts, but from the valve cover, running down the seam between the intake and head somehow and you can't see it.
Use that dye that you use a blacklight with. See where it's really coming from.
The bottom rear bolt holes are no wheres near the oil feed for the rocker shafts (especially if it's BOTH sides) and I just checked and the hole in the block is blind. So if you're really getting oil out of those bolt holes, something is REALLY REALLY WRONG with your block or the head or the gasket.
Again, I suspect the oil is coming from the valve covers.
It's VERY weird to get both rear bottom head bolts leaking oil.
I'm willing to bet it's NOT leaking from the bolts, but from the valve cover, running down the seam between the intake and head somehow and you can't see it.
Use that dye that you use a blacklight with. See where it's really coming from.
The bottom rear bolt holes are no wheres near the oil feed for the rocker shafts (especially if it's BOTH sides) and I just checked and the hole in the block is blind. So if you're really getting oil out of those bolt holes, something is REALLY REALLY WRONG with your block or the head or the gasket.
Again, I suspect the oil is coming from the valve covers.
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