Does anyone recognize this part?

[getdealtwith]

Got my 2004 Expy 5.4 back for the shop to have the intake manifold replaced.

Today, I went over the engine to chase down and fix some remaining vacuum hose leaks and found this washer sitting on top of my driver side valve cover in a bolt indentation.

Does anyone recognize it and knows where it's supposed to go?

 

[Hamfisted]

Are you the original owner? Do you know if the valve covers were removed during the work ? It looks like one of those washers that go into the valve cover gasket around each bolt hole. They sit in the gasket at the bolt hole though, not outside. It might've just been left over, or was lost, then found after the work was done, and they'll get to it next time.

 

[getdealtwith]

I don't think they took the valve covers off. There's no sign of it, like marks on the covered in dirt bolts. The washer is clean, took. They replace the intake manifold, thermostat & gasket, had the cross-over pipe out and everything else that needs to come out to get to the manifold though.

 

[Plati]

Is it possible it's the bottom of the thermostat?
Hopefully the one that was replaced.
$50?



https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...AxAhqqSuOit2hqyPIBIaAvTzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[getdealtwith]

I had them replace the thermostat, but I don't believe the bottom part of those thermostats is removable. It holds the spring in place. But maybe the washer is added?

I hope others might have seen this part before and can confirm or know where else this would go.

Truck runs fine but potentially missing a part someplace is not exactly my idea of piece of min, lol.

 

[Hamfisted]

I take it you're not the original owner?
The mechanic working on the intake manifold probably found it in the block valley under the intake manifold and recognized it as one of the valve cover washers (grommet), that's why he stuck it back on a valve cover bolt. So any future mechanic that might be removing a valve cover would see it there and be able to use it in any valve cover bolt missing a washer from it's gasket. You either have one missing and somebody overlooked it during re-installation of a valve cover. Or they knocked it off during disassembly and just found another one to take it's place rather than wasting shop time hunting under the intake manifold for it. If you're not having valve cover oil leaks right now I wouldn't worry about it. But if you ever have the valve covers off for any reason, you might put that washer back on one of the easily visible bolts so a future mechanic can easily see it and use it if need be. Otherwise they're about $5 each to replace. It's actually a 2 piece grommet and that it the top cap to it. I don't have one handy but I believe that piece fits into the little sleeve and it works as an isolator for the valve cover. That's my best guess. You can take a bright flashlight and look around all your valve cover bolts and see if you see any missing, but like I said they might've just found a replacement to use.

Ford
2C2Z-6C518-AA

 

[getdealtwith]

I found it. Drumroll... it belongs into one of the 2 rubber grommets on the driver side of the engine cover. These can separate from the rubber when the glue gets old.