Plastic (cracked) Valve Covers…Really Ford?

[BlakeMAX2019]

Took our 2019 MAX in for a couple recalls. Upon inspection, They notified me that we had cracked valve covers and another seal was bad. I’m beside myself that a car with 57kmi has cracked valve covers!? Really Ford…Really? I know many cars have plastic valve covers but this ridiculous….planned obsolescence…doesn’t matter if the 3.5 Ecoboost is strong engine that’ll last 200kmi…the cheap cooling lines, plastic parts everywhere, it’ll bankrupt you to keep it running to 200k. They want $2300 to do it. What is interesting is we had the oil/filter change in January and they never mentioned it?

 

[Bmac1955]

Yes, poor decision on Ford cutting costs. If you have had since new and have not had the cam phasers done you will likely run into having that done at some point. I would seriously look into an extended warranty through Ford. It may be a costly item to purchase but Phasers and Trans repair might be the next item for you which are big ticket items. Fords design for parts are just set to failure at some point of vehicle lifetime. They save money with parts and yet fail after warranty period always leave owners with remorse.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Took our 2019 MAX in for a couple recalls. Upon inspection, They notified me that we had cracked valve covers and another seal was bad. I’m beside myself that a car with 57kmi has cracked valve covers!? Really Ford…Really? I know many cars have plastic valve covers but this ridiculous….planned obsolescence…doesn’t matter if the 3.5 Ecoboost is strong engine that’ll last 200kmi…the cheap cooling lines, plastic parts everywhere, it’ll bankrupt you to keep it running to 200k. They want $2300 to do it. What is interesting is we had the oil/filter change in January and they never mentioned it?

The valve covers estimate and a seal estimate was $2,300? That seems like a very high estimate. What was the breakdown of parts and labor?

Being a cynic - I’d bet the valve covers were cracked before the power train warranty expired, and now the dealer can hose you on the repairs.

 

[JamaicaJoe]

Took our 2019 MAX in for a couple recalls. Upon inspection, They notified me that we had cracked valve covers and another seal was bad. I’m beside myself that a car with 57kmi has cracked valve covers!? Really Ford…Really? I know many cars have plastic valve covers but this ridiculous….planned obsolescence…doesn’t matter if the 3.5 Ecoboost is strong engine that’ll last 200kmi…the cheap cooling lines, plastic parts everywhere, it’ll bankrupt you to keep it running to 200k. They want $2300 to do it. What is interesting is we had the oil/filter change in January and they never mentioned it?

Dealers everywhere, regardless of make, will puff up out of warranty repairs needed when doing recalls. Are you leaking any significant oil? Any oil smoking on the exhaust manifolds? Does the recall require them to open the valve covers?

 

[SyndicateZ]

My passenger side valve cover was cracked too. Its actually common issue . I only had 77,000 miles

 

[Calidad]

I wonder if dealers over torque them to crack them and fleece owners?

 

[SyndicateZ]

I wonder if dealers over torque them to crack them and fleece owners?

Seems to be the case. Of all the covers I have heard of being cracked they all had previous cam phaser replacements including mine

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Yes, poor decision on Ford cutting costs. If you have had since new and have not had the cam phasers done you will likely run into having that done at some point. I would seriously look into an extended warranty through Ford. It may be a costly item to purchase but Phasers and Trans repair might be the next item for you which are big ticket items. Fords design for parts are just set to failure at some point of vehicle lifetime. They save money with parts and yet fail after warranty period always leave owners with remorse.

Thanks for the comment, yes had since new, cam phasers and tranny were done at 30k or so. Looking back, should’ve got the extended warranty!

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Seems to be the case. Of all the covers I have heard of being cracked they all had previous cam phaser replacements including mine

Yep we had cam phasers done at 30k or so.

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

My passenger side valve cover was cracked too. Its actually common issue . I only had 77,000 miles

Seems to be the case, I wonder if all car companies these days use plastic valve covers? I’m sure a bunch do

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Dealers everywhere, regardless of make, will puff up out of warranty repairs needed when doing recalls. Are you leaking any significant oil? Any oil smoking on the exhaust manifolds? Does the recall require them to open the valve covers?

Agreed. Unfortunately This is not under warranty, we’ve owned since new. The recalls were unrelated to the valve covers, they just found it during their inspection. I check the oil and visual look over my cars weekly. I haven’t noticed any oil around the valve covers, smoking, but I haven’t really dove deep on looking either. I’ll check it out this morning in more depth to see what I come up with.

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

The valve covers estimate and a seal estimate was $2,300? That seems like a very high estimate. What was the breakdown of parts and labor?

Being a cynic - I’d bet the valve covers were cracked before the power train warranty expired, and now the dealer can hose you on the repairs.

The $2300 is about right for the job I think, at least here in CA, most of it is labor according to the dealer.

Yeah, I often wonder the timing on these discoveries of repairs needed. I try to do weekly inspections on our cars so that I catch things that needs attention especially when they are still under warranty.

I just had the oil changed at the dealer 5 months ago and they didn’t mention any valve cover leaks, who knows if they actually did the inspection at that time. It wouldn’t have been under warranty at that time but still.

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

I wonder if dealers over torque them to crack them and fleece owners?

I’d hate to think that stuff still goes on these days? Especially with social media, bad business practices can go viral but who knows.

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Seems to be the case. Of all the covers I have heard of being cracked they all had previous cam phaser replacements including mine

You’d hate to think that but man what a pain.

 

[19platty]

Master ford technician here. I would ask your dealer to contact Ford for financial assistance. Since you are barely out of powertrain it is very likely they will assist. Also, this is a very common issue with the left hand valve cover leaking around the pcv connection. I have seen them leak without ever being removed. So it has nothing to do with over torquing or removing the valve cover. The reason there seems to be a correlation is because so many of them leak, and so many of them need phasers. One didn’t cause the other. With that being said, IF it’s the VCT solenoid seals leaking on the valve cover, it is possible if they didn’t replace them, they could be leaking from removal.

 

[bb37]

Plastic valve covers? Say it ain't so!

An old friend used to work for a supplier to Cummins. They started using plastic valve covers, and plastic oil pans, on Cummins Diesel engines over 20 years ago.

Ford Tech Makuloco has talked about the plastic valve covers on the Ecoboost V6 engines failing, but I couldn't find a specific video where he covered it. I did find his "$6,000 Tune Up" video where he mentions the valve covers among all the parts he recommends replacing once your Ford engine gets up in miles.

Ford 2nd Gen 3.5L EcoBoost Common Failures Every Owner Needs to Know About!

In this video we show you everything I look for when going in for a timing job on the 2nd gen Ford 3.5L EcoBoost engine. You must inspect these items very cl...

www.youtube.com

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Master ford technician here. I would ask your dealer to contact Ford for financial assistance. Since you are barely out of powertrain it is very likely they will assist. Also, this is a very common issue with the left hand valve cover leaking around the pcv connection. I have seen them leak without ever being removed. So it has nothing to do with over torquing or removing the valve cover. The reason there seems to be a correlation is because so many of them leak, and so many of them need phasers. One didn’t cause the other. With that being said, IF it’s the VCT solenoid seals leaking on the valve cover, it is possible if they didn’t replace them, they could be leaking from removal.

Thanks for that insight. Yes it is the VCT seal on passenger side is leaking and the drivers side valve cover is cracked was the exact diagnosis. I appreciate the advice to contact Ford however it’s over a year after the powertrain warranty expired but the mileage is under 60k so maybe that would sway them to help? I take it to the dealer exclusively for all service and maintenance so this is the first time this issue came up, had an oil change 5 months ago and they didn’t mention it but maybe they didn’t do the inspection?

I trust the dealers but I do check their work. On the cam phaser fix, they under filled the oil by 1qt and on the Y-connect heater hose replacement they under filled the coolant, the reservoir was empty upon pick up.

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Plastic valve covers? Say it ain't so!

An old friend used to work for a supplier to Cummins. They started using plastic valve covers, and plastic oil pans, on Cummins Diesel engines over 20 years ago.

Ford Tech Makuloco has talked about the plastic valve covers on the Ecoboost V6 engines failing, but I couldn't find a specific video where he covered it. I did find his "$6,000 Tune Up" video where he mentions the valve covers among all the parts he recommends replacing once your Ford engine gets up in miles.

Ford 2nd Gen 3.5L EcoBoost Common Failures Every Owner Needs to Know About!

In this video we show you everything I look for when going in for a timing job on the 2nd gen Ford 3.5L EcoBoost engine. You must inspect these items very cl...

www.youtube.com

IKR! I figured most companies have plastic everywhere these days. I guess I compare everything to my 20yr Toyota with 245kmi and no issues.

I’ll have to check out that video

 

[BlakeMAX2019]

Master ford technician here. I would ask your dealer to contact Ford for financial assistance. Since you are barely out of powertrain it is very likely they will assist. Also, this is a very common issue with the left hand valve cover leaking around the pcv connection. I have seen them leak without ever being removed. So it has nothing to do with over torquing or removing the valve cover. The reason there seems to be a correlation is because so many of them leak, and so many of them need phasers. One didn’t cause the other. With that being said, IF it’s the VCT solenoid seals leaking on the valve cover, it is possible if they didn’t replace them, they could be leaking from removal.

If I look at it today to see how bad it’s leaking, any specific spots on the valve cover area I should focus on?

 

[19platty]

Thanks for that insight. Yes it is the VCT seal on passenger side is leaking and the drivers side valve cover is cracked was the exact diagnosis. I appreciate the advice to contact Ford however it’s over a year after the powertrain warranty expired but the mileage is under 60k so maybe that would sway them to help? I take it to the dealer exclusively for all service and maintenance so this is the first time this issue came up, had an oil change 5 months ago and they didn’t mention it but maybe they didn’t do the inspection?

I trust the dealers but I do check their work. On the cam phaser fix, they under filled the oil by 1qt and on the Y-connect heater hose replacement they under filled the coolant, the reservoir was empty upon pick up.

If you have always serviced at ford there is a very good chance they may assist. I would definitely ask, you could also contact them directly if the dealer isn’t wanting to. I would ask about the vct seals being covered under service part warranty. Some of us take extreme pride in our work, but unfortunately some do not I would be embarrassed to perform a repair like some of the quality that I have seen from other techs.