Valve and Timing Covers

[ThreeSixT]

My 2018 with 76k miles is at the dealer for regular oil change and some other minor stuff. Inspection revealed oil all over the engine bay due to a cracked valve cover and cracked timing cover. Service tech says this is a known issue on the 3.5 due to heat stress over time. Had no indications of oil loss via alerts or dripping where parked. Anyone else had this issue?

Also fought Ford for two days to get phasers replaced, after previous dealer refused to cover it twice during the campaign two years ago saying symptoms “weren’t bad enough” after the PCM update. Phaser rattle now getting worse by the day, so Ford finally agreed to cover it even though no longer under warranty.

 

[letsgetthisdone]

Cracked valve cover is very common, cracked timing cover is not. I would make sure they do a proper oil leak diag which is to clean the engine, then put dye in the oil to find the source of any leak(s).

 

[BoostedToy]

Timing cover is an expensive job with the labor cost involved. If it’s a seal issue with the timing cover and the oil leak is small (are you losing measurable oil when checking oil level?), you may want to just ride it out if it’s a nuisance issue versus something that potentially would cause mechanical damage. Once you open it up, you may as well do the phasers as well. You’re probably looking at $4-5k on that job.

 

[ThreeSixT]

Thankfully my service advisor worked it to where the valve and timing cover would be replaced as part of the phaser work, and got Ford to replace all of it.

Since I’m in CA I also referenced the emissions warranty that’s supposedly good for 8 years and 80k under this TSB https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10236037-0001.pdf

 

[Badgertits]

My 2020 was getting spark plugs replaced & noticed oil pooled up on valve cover small crack drivers side (I think) @ 82k miles just replaced it outta pocket since I was already putting $$$ into refreshing the suspension

Independent shop charged me just under $1k for it which I didn’t think was terrible