Common locations for oil leaks? - 6 Cylinder Gasoline - Ranger Engine Tech

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aroundincircles
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So, I don't drive my B4000 much anymore. Its not my DD, but it does get used every other weekend for hauling stuff, or if I go out by myself to run errands. But since I quit driving it daily, I've noticed that it has a burning oil smell when I first drive it. So the leak isn't big, and I haven't noticed drips under it. but it does stink. any tips on where to look first? should have time this weekend to look at it.

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:00 am

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JAMMAN

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Valve cover gaskets no contest. It was leaking the whole time, when it is cold and the gasket had dried it will be worse that's why you noticed it when you stopped driving it daily.

Please do not try to tighten it to stop the leak, you will destroy the sealing surface on the valve cover.

Some people don't believe in silicone sealer but I would spread a thin coat on both sides of the new gasket before install and make sure not to over tighten. While the valve covers are off lay a straight edge on the sealing surface, if the screws were over torqued the holes will appear raised up. If you are careful you can correct this condition before install, but if it is too bad get a new set of valve covers.

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410customs

Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:08 am

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agree 110%

OHV valve covers leak down the back of the block

The oil filter mount also has an O ring where it attaches to the block, these can leak a good amount of oil back there also

Otherwise the only other two real leaky spots on the OHV is the oil pan and the oil pressure sensor port (drivers side under PS pump)

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JAMMAN

Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:24 am

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aroundincircles
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I replaced the valve cover gaskets about two years ago when I replaced the intake plenum gaskets (what a PITA job that was). So the gaskets there should be good. I torqued everything very carefully then, and put about 15k miles on it before i stopped daily driving it.

but i will check for a leak on those, It would suck if it was those that are leaking since I did the work. I'll check the other things as well! thanks!

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:28 am

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It happens! Use Felpro gaskets, forget the cork.
ON the OHV I always use a thin film of ultra grey on both sides of the gasket, this makes up for any imperfections in the gasket/covers and keeps the leaks from coming back

FYI the intake gaskets are only a PITA the first time, gets easier each time after that. Now I actually look forward to doing plenum gaskets on the pushrod V6, much easier then some of the other things we get to fix around here!

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:32 am

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aroundincircles
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410customs wrote:
It happens! Use Felpro gaskets, forget the cork.
ON the OHV I always use a thin film of ultra grey on both sides of the gasket, this makes up for any imperfections in the gasket/covers and keeps the leaks from coming back

FYI the intake gaskets are only a PITA the first time, gets easier each time after that. Now I actually look forward to doing plenum gaskets on the pushrod V6, much easier then some of the other things we get to fix around here!
I hate to admit, it took me like 8 hours total to do... But that was stopping for lunch, and dinner, and watching a bunch of youtube videos over and over. I'm sure this time I could get it done in no more than 7 1/2 hours if I had to do it again. the one thing that got me stuck for no good reason was the pipe that just press fits on, on the driver's side. I couldn't get it off, with what I felt like a reasonable yank, so I spent at least an hour trying to figure out how it was supposed to come off without breaking it, Got angry and yanked it HARD, and it popped off like nothing. I about cried.

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:44 am

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JAMMAN

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It's that EGR tube that seats in the housing, had a huge O ring. Once you are used to where it is it becomes much easier. Yanking is the method I use LOL.

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 10:53 am

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YOu have to hold your mouth just right..... and pull

HAHAHAHAHA
Actuallyif you rotate the whole upper plenum the right way it will pull right off of the EGR tube
You can also unbolt the whole EGR tube a little downstream but that's a PITA
I always replace the large green O ring

I can do the upper intake on a OHV in about 1.5 hours
I can do SOHC V6 in about 2 hours.
But I have special tools, have done it 100 times, and I am used to this.......

Valve cover gaskets on OHV, just remember:
"It can always be worse!"
You could own a SOHC!

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 01:16 pm

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Mike69

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410customs wrote:

Valve cover gaskets on OHV, just remember:
"It can always be worse!"
You could own a SOHC!

We own one of each, I have the OHV in my 2000 Ranger & we have the SOHC in my wife's Explorer Sport.

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 03:11 pm

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I love to see houses that are obvious Ford families, bunch of RBV out front!!

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 03:39 pm

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410customs wrote:
I love to see houses that are obvious Ford families, bunch of RBV out front!!
All Ford family including a 08 Escape, & my 69 Mustang hiding in the garage. BTW, what does RBV mean?.

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Posted: Wed Nov 21st, 2018 04:16 pm

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JAMMAN

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Ranger Based Vehicle

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Posted: Thu Nov 22nd, 2018 02:52 pm

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aroundincircles
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410customs wrote:
YOu have to hold your mouth just right..... and pull

HAHAHAHAHA
Actuallyif you rotate the whole upper plenum the right way it will pull right off of the EGR tube
You can also unbolt the whole EGR tube a little downstream but that's a PITA
I always replace the large green O ring

I can do the upper intake on a OHV in about 1.5 hours
I can do SOHC V6 in about 2 hours.
But I have special tools, have done it 100 times, and I am used to this.......

Valve cover gaskets on OHV, just remember:
"It can always be worse!"
You could own a SOHC!
what makes the SOHV worse? don't they have like 100 more HP?

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Posted: Thu Nov 22nd, 2018 03:09 pm

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JAMMAN

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Yes but they also have like 150 more moving parts to wear out.
Instead of one timing chain they have 3, 2 of them long with a lot more links to stretch. Extra gears to wear out also.

Instead of one tensioner and one guide they have 6.

Implementation of a troublesome plastic thermostat housing.
Many more things to remove before you get to the valve covers.

IMO the gains were not worth what they lost. The OHV design was a tried and proven system using push rods, hydraulic lifters and a roller cam. It was like a miniature 5.0 with 2 cylinders sawed off. Very reliable.

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Posted: Thu Nov 22nd, 2018 10:34 pm

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Bird76Mojo
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Reusable silicone valve cover gaskets are very nice. They're very much worth the extra cost. I buy this type of gasket every chance I get. Especially the Lube Locker 8.8 differential gaskets. Highly recommended.

GB :)

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