ENGINE
Valve Covers
The covers on top of each cylinder head that keep oil in and dirt out.
Identification & Position
- Part name
- Valve Covers
- System
- Engine
- Location
- On top of each cylinder head.
- What it does
- Seals the valve train area and usually carries the crankcase vent connection.
- What it connects to
- • Cylinder heads
- • PCV / crankcase vent hoses
- • Wiring and plug wire brackets
- What is above it
- Verification Required
- What is below it
- Verification Required
- What is in front of it
- Verification Required
- What is behind it
- Verification Required
- Must be removed to access it
- Verification Required
Show me how to take this apart
Dependency path — the order things must come off
Reveals the order of everything that has to be disconnected or removed to reach this part.
Symptoms & Testing
- Common failure symptoms
- • Oil seepage down the side of the engine
- • Burning oil smell
- • Oil in the plug wells
- How to test it
- 1. Clean and inspect the sealing line.
- 2. Check the vent system for restriction, which raises crankcase pressure.
Symptoms narrow the list of possibilities. They never confirm a diagnosis on their own — test before replacing anything.
Part Numbers
Enter the Ford part number for your exact configuration.
Enter the aftermarket cross-reference you intend to use.
Part numbers vary by engine, drive type and build date. Nothing is guessed here — enter yours from a verified source on the admin page so it stays with this component.
Difficulty & Time
Safety Warnings
- Cover bolt torque is low and easy to over-tighten — verify the specification.
Tools Needed
- Socket set (metric and imperial)Almost every fastener on the truck
- Torque wrenchAny fastener with a specification — mandatory for engine work
- Gasket scraperCleaning sealing surfaces without gouging them
- Pick and hook setO-rings, connector locks and gaskets
Related Parts
Real photos online
Opens photos of "Valve Covers" on other sites
- Google ImagesWidest mix of real owner and shop photos.
- Bing ImagesOften turns up different photos than Google.
- Owner forumsPhotos with the story of the repair attached.
- Parts catalogue photosClean studio shots of the part on its own.
- Video walkthroughsSee it in place while someone works on it.
These open other people's websites in a new tab. Photos there belong to whoever took them, so they are shown on their own site rather than copied into this app — and they may be a different year, engine or trim, so always compare against your own truck.