5.4 3v f350 - oil leak at filter
 

Damn rust... Went to start the truck to finish bleeding out the right rear brake which had rusted up to the point of not releasing. When the truck started I noticed a growing pool of oil on the ground under the filter.

Figured another filter hd rusted out after last years plowing - the filter itself was rusted pretty bad. Put the new filter on and... it still leaked. After a bunch of cleaning and watching and leaking some more, I am pretty sure there's a pin hole or two in the exposed area of the round metal plate that the filter gasket seals against. It is NOT leaking between the housing and the block.

The questions: Can I pull that round plate out without breaking the seal to the coolant section?

Is that round plate available, or will I end up buying the whole freakin' adapter?

TIA...

OK, it didn't come apart the way I thought it would. After more disassembly, this is what I need. it has a Ford part number (4C3E-6A642-AA) but I haven't been able to locate one. Except from China, minimum order of 50, lol.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...08fd6cf034.jpg

Any ideas? If not, I'll see if the local Ford parts counter is open on Saturdays

Ok, did some cross reference work, and.. Amazon Prime, baby!

Follow up on this, in case anyone is actually listening, lol.

Still waiting for the new oil cooler. It should be here today, so with a little luck I'll be back up and running by evening.

A detailed photo of the problem. You can see the corrosion around the edge of the area where the oil filter gasket mates to the cooler. In the red circled area the pits were deep enough to allow a leak to form. This is an aluminum piece, which, while it will resist corrosion better than plain old steel, is not totally immune to corrosion. Welcome to life in the salt-belt!

ps. while under the truck and listening to the tick-tick-tick of an exhaust leak, I see the super crusty exhaust manifold studs and nuts. Looks like I'll be doing that job soon. Lucky me!


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...58f64d4258.jpg

Thanks for the Info, I'm sure will help some more Ford Truck Enthusiast !

What holds the cooler to the block? I attempted to change the hoses on my 2001 5.4 but the clamps were on such a way the cooler has to be removed. I put it off till Spring and now its Spring.

With the oil filter removed, you look at the threaded portion the oil filter spins on to. Inside that you'll see a hex "socket", which takes IIRC a 14mm hex driver. That part is a tube with a shoulder, the tube passes through the cooler and threads into what looks like a bracket coming off the block. Remove that threaded tube and the cooler comes loose. There's a gasket much like an oil filer gasket which seals the cooler to the bracket.

If you look a the link I posted above you can see the tube I'm referring to. It's a much easier job than I expected when I was first lying under the truck staring up at it!

Here's the link again: