429CJ-3X2
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- November 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,642
- Reaction score
- 396
- City, State
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '01,'02, '04 Sport Tracs,
2001 Sport Trac Job 2 4.0 SOHC - Driver's side valve cover has been leaking oil for a long time (years). It's gotten so bad I've pretty much stopped driving the truck. Went to change the gasket today, and everything came apart without trouble except the upper rear valve cover bolt. Again, driver's side, not the one on the passenger side everyone has trouble with. I've cleaned the recess around the bolt, and can get the socket on it. Socket feels snug, but slips off when I try to turn it. I've tried 3 different sockets. The other bolts were pretty snug, but once they broke loose, they turned easy. I just can't get this one broken loose. Any ideas, or am I going to have to break the valve cover and deal with this bolt with the cover out of the way and get another cover from the salvage yard?
The gasket is so bad that with 5 bolts out, I can wiggle the whole valve cover - including the upper corner where this one bolt is still tight. Oil is caked on the exhaust manifold, so no question where the leak is.
I don't need to have the truck running immediately, but I don't want it parked where it is any longer than necessary. Might have jury duty later this week or next, so I want to get this fixed!
Interesting note - there are several differences between my '01 and '02 Sport Tracs regarding the stuff that has to come off to access the valve cover. Some things are routed differently, and some parts and connectors are different. Both Job 2 engines.
The gasket is so bad that with 5 bolts out, I can wiggle the whole valve cover - including the upper corner where this one bolt is still tight. Oil is caked on the exhaust manifold, so no question where the leak is.
I don't need to have the truck running immediately, but I don't want it parked where it is any longer than necessary. Might have jury duty later this week or next, so I want to get this fixed!
Interesting note - there are several differences between my '01 and '02 Sport Tracs regarding the stuff that has to come off to access the valve cover. Some things are routed differently, and some parts and connectors are different. Both Job 2 engines.