Leaking Valve Cover

Garrett Somero · Apr 27, 2016

I have a 96 B2300 with the 2.3l I4. It leaks from the top of the back of the engine. i believe that it is the valve cover gasket. It does not use oil, so its a slow leak. i cant find any info on this on here. i ordered the gasket, and it came with the needed gasket and also an intake and exhaust gasket. should i replace all of them when i have it apart? any help will be appreciated.

Mazda · Apr 28, 2016

Not really a B-Specific question as your truck mechanically is a Ranger. Yes I would replace all the gaskets. Post this over in General Discussions or one of the 4 bangers forums and you will get a a lot more help.

Garrett Somero · Apr 28, 2016

thanks

tomw · Apr 29, 2016

If the 'exhaust and intake gaskets' are the manifold gaskets, and yours do not leak, I'd leave them on the shelf until needed. The exhaust will likely have rusty bolts, and they break off at the end of the threads many times and then need to be 'worked on'. Removing the intake is a multiple step process, and then you have to clean both the head and manifold surfaces before replacement.
You will have to remove the throttle body from the upper intake most likely to gain access to remove the cam cover. If you have the time, cleaning the cam cover and using glue to attach the gasket to the cover, aligning the bolt holes, will help prevent the gasket from oozing out from under the lip of the cover. Do not tighten too tight as the cam cover will deform where the bolt holes are, and you'll end up with the bolts tight, and the gasket elsewhere barely held in place(in the worst case).
tom

4EyedTurd · Apr 29, 2016

Did you order felpro gaskets? I've never had good luck with the rubber or cork ones. Get a Ford valve cover gasket as the are a molded reinforced one that doesn't blow out and reusable.

Garrett Somero · Apr 29, 2016

tomw said:
If the 'exhaust and intake gaskets' are the manifold gaskets, and yours do not leak, I'd leave them on the shelf until needed. The exhaust will likely have rusty bolts, and they break off at the end of the threads many times and then need to be 'worked on'. Removing the intake is a multiple step process, and then you have to clean both the head and manifold surfaces before replacement.
You will have to remove the throttle body from the upper intake most likely to gain access to remove the cam cover. If you have the time, cleaning the cam cover and using glue to attach the gasket to the cover, aligning the bolt holes, will help prevent the gasket from oozing out from under the lip of the cover. Do not tighten too tight as the cam cover will deform where the bolt holes are, and you'll end up with the bolts tight, and the gasket elsewhere barely held in place(in the worst case).
tom

thank you for the information. my intake and exhaust do not leak, so i will leave them in. but as for the glue, what kind should i use? I have had the throttle body off before when i replaced plugs and wires.

Garrett Somero · Apr 29, 2016

no i did not get felpro gaskets, i got a rubber one. i will check into getting a ford one.

Mark_88 · Apr 29, 2016

The rubber gaskets work fine...if you need to remove them you will find they are slightly stretched but they do go on again with no leaks. I stopped using the cork VC gaskets many years ago and never looked back.

Mazda · Apr 30, 2016

Garrett,

Look into getting one of these when you need to do the spark plugs. Saves you from having to take off the intake. I have had it for 15 years of so and can do mine sp in a half and hour or so.

tomw · May 1, 2016

mark_88: can you name a vendor of rubber gaskets for the 2.3?

mazda: who makes the floppy plug / extension dealy?

tom

Mark_88 · May 1, 2016

tomw said:
mark_88: can you name a vendor of rubber gaskets for the 2.3?

mazda: who makes the floppy plug / extension dealy?

tom

Sure tomw...I can give you a link but I never bought mine on-line...Canadian Tire carried them up until recently when I bought the last one...maybe 4 years ago...

http://www.summitracing.com/int/search/part-type/valve-cover-gaskets/make/ford/engine-size/2-3l-140

They are Fel-Pro on this site but I never bothered to check the ones I bought...may have been the same or just different name on the box...can't remember.

enjr44 · May 1, 2016

tomw said:
mazda: who makes the floppy plug / extension dealy?

tom

Not mazda - http://www.harborfreight.com/9-pc-wobble-socket-extension-set-67971.html

Mazda · May 1, 2016

tomw said:
mark_88: can you name a vendor of rubber gaskets for the 2.3?

mazda: who makes the floppy plug / extension dealy?

tom

TomW

It's a great neck. Bought it at AutoZone years and years ago. Haven't been there in a while to see if they still have it.

http://www.weselltools.com/3-8-drive-5-8-in-spark-plug-socket-11-in-extension-bar-3.html

tomw · May 2, 2016

Mazda... went to the site(thinking the name was Wesell, german?) and found the Great Neck extension & socket combo. ON SALE!! $3 instead of $13.99, such a deal.

I have the HF wobble extensions and have recommended them to anyone needing to get at fasteners that were 'just a little offset, and if I had.. I would not have to remove ___'. They are especially good for removing bell housing bolts without having to reach over the cylinder head, (except maybe to break them loose for the first time since assembly back when) and work on starter motor bolts well also.

I had bought a Rennsler? Goetz? Dietz?, German name anyway, gasket that was supposed to be rubber from Amazon, but it turned out to be, IMO, mostly cork with maybe some rubber mixed into the compound.
tom

Mark_88 · May 2, 2016

The rubber gaskets are over $50 in Canada...I had three of them but they got tossed when I decided to upgrade my engine...someone in the junkyard was happy...

Leaking Valve Cover

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