Just got a quote that seems really high so wanted to see your thoughts. Out of town and my sons told me his truck was smoking, burning off oil from a leak. Had him take it to the shop we always use here locally and they quoted me just over $2 grand to replace both gaskets as the other one is seeping as well. Just over 105K miles so not surprised it needs them changed but that sounds really high. Is the labor that hard and time consuming to get to the damn things?

Ha. My first F150 but I drove an old jeep wrangler for awhile and probably changed them three times in ten years. So just assumed making it this long was pretty good! But at least in the jeep it was an easy job. I just don't see the labor for this being so high?

You're getting robbed. I have the exact same truck and let me run down what's happening.

You're likely seeing the leak on the passenger side on the back of the valve cover. The oil is then dripping down the backside and hitting the exhaust off the turbo and smoldering off.

The parts to do the job are under $200. There is literally know fluid removal needed to do the job. Ours has been doing it for almost a year and I'm just waiting to get time to do it. I'm actually thinking about just smearing some gasket maker on the seam this weekend for a temporary fix until I can get to it.

With all that said, don't mistake it for the brake vacuum pump on the back of the same side of the engine. A little more expensive to do but only maybe $50 more. The easiest way to discover is to go to the auto store and by a can or two of break cleaner. Spray the heck out of the are where he sees the oil leaking and watch it over the next week to see where it's coming from. If the oil is higher up the turbo, it's the valve cover. If it's lower down the turbo, it's the break vacuum pump.

If he notices the oil coming from the driver side, it is definitely the valve cover gasket, and again is only about $200.

Don't change a valve cover gasket if you don't have too.

Oil is about a quart low in between oil changes of about 5-6k.

Spoony, you are correct with the location. So no damage other than a bit of smoke and smell if I have him bring it back from the shop and we have to wait a bit to get to it?

In my experience, it's just annoying with the smell. Smell gets picked up in the AC system as well. You have time to find a cheaper alternative. In my estimation it should take a competent mechanic around 4-5 hours to complete the valve cover swap, and with the hour rate I've seen for mechanics, you should be around $650-$800 if you don't want to do it yourself.

If you can turn a wrench, there are some very good youtube videos that will walk you through the entire process.

The issue is the valve cover warping not just the age of the gasket.

Gonna bring it home. $2K is just stupid. Watched a couple videos already and it is not that big of a job. Jeez. I always liked this place. Not anymore.

Can you tighten the rear cover bolts some (not with a breaker bar) and reduce the leaking?

Tolerances and designs are different now, but used to work old school to buy you a few months/years…wife has a 2016 and would attempt that first

Honestly, never considered the simple solution so I just went and tried. No dice on my truck. The bolt is already tight.

But sometimes the simple solution can work. Thanks.

These valve covers have a history of cracking/warping. I would replace the cover if you pull it. Another option is to run AT205 and tighten the bolts after 500 miles or so

flipper94 said:

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Just got a quote that seems really high so wanted to see your thoughts. Out of town and my sons told me his truck was smoking, burning off oil from a leak. Had him take it to the shop we always use here locally and they quoted me just over $2 grand to replace both gaskets as the other one is seeping as well. Just over 105K miles so not surprised it needs them changed but that sounds really high. Is the labor that hard and time consuming to get to the damn things?

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Make sure the vacuum pump isn't leaking on the back side either.

Pass against the firewall.

Not near as bad to do. Just can't see it.