Hi, this is my first post on this site. I've been browsing and decided to join since there seem to be more conversations here than on other Ford truck forums. I'm not new to the Ford brand. We have two old Ford tractors, 69 F350, 92 F150, my dad has a 06 F150, and I have a 2000 F150 Supercab Lariat 4x4 with the 5.4. I have over 235,000 miles on it, and I bought it brand new in August 2000. This has no doubt been the best truck I've ever seen. The biggest thing that I've done to it is replace the intake manifold gaskets last month. I changed valve cover gaskets while I was in that deep. Last year I replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets.

I have a question about head gaskets. I've read about the oil leaks and problems with burrs from manufacturing causing them not to seal. So far I haven't noticed any drips. The drivers side looks like it's maybe seeped at some time and dust has covered over the seep. The passenger side is nearly seep free but when I was crawling around under it checking my valve cover replacements for leaks, I saw one congealed drop of oil that was covered in dust at the head to block joint. When I reached up and touched it, it left a grimy smear.

My question is, do head gaskets on these engines have a tendency to seep if they don't truly leak with drips?

 

I know what your referring to as far as seep around the gasket surfaces. Actually, it's not that, the gaskets haven't leaked at all. It' s just dirt that accumulates/collects there that sort of makes it look like carbon or black black dirt. It's normal.

As you know by now, head gaskets will last on these motors, should never need changing. The same goes for valve cover gaskets, but I see you hit those anyway out of iduno, fear ? No, I realize the thought behind that as well, it just wasn't needed.

There was a head problem back in 97/98. Robotic programming error that left a burr in the head (passenger side) that worked it's way into the gasket causing a leak that became evident towards the back of the passenger side head.

Other than that, the only way for these gasket to go bad is if the engine was over filled with oil (easy to do since the top notch on Ford truck dipsticks for this gen is actually over-filled) and run that way or if the engine has overheated in the over heated in the past. They can't take much heat, one little mishap towards that and they will warp to some degree.

So your good, you must have kept it at 6 quarts or little lower and kept the cooling system in good shape. The intake gaskets don't last as you found out. They tend to wear out at the front water jackets giving them a smashed look by the time they need replacing. However once replaced correctly with only Ford revised gaskets, specially for your model, they will last a good long time as long as they are changed properly.

 

Thanks for the great info. That makes me feel more at ease. Overfilling with oil could have been possible if I added too much at some point. I have always changed my own and keep watch over it, and maybe I've added to much if it was low on the stick. I've always figured the upper hole in these dip sticks is too much. 6 quarts seems to put the level about 3/4 way between holes.

I changed the valve cover gaskets because I was seeing some oil around the top of the head where the intake seals. Maybe it was just seepage through the pcv system and the intake gasket would have taken care of it. With the intake off, I decided to tackle the valve covers too because I didn't want to go back in.

Since I changed them I've read where I should have used Motorcraft instead of Felpro Permadry. I don't know...time will tell. I've got a 1200 mile round trip planned in a few weeks, so ill put my truck to the test.

 

Besides only being in 97 and 98, the infamous burr was only the 4.6 Romeo engines. It did not affect any 5.4 engines. The leak is also only evident on the passenger side. The drivers side does leak, but it leaks into the timing chain cover so it never hits the ground or is seen.

This is what the leak looks like when it is doing its thing. Brand new trans is getting the business here.

 

Actually the 5four Windsors got it too, just the 97/98 AFAIK. Wierd huh. Where did you hear it was just the Romeos? Luckily mine was fixed under warranty.

 

Seepage after that many miles is to be expected.
I know the burr problem was is '99. Depended on when the engine was built not the truck. 01-12-2 is the tsb in my toolbox. Included all 4.6-5.4 Windsor built engines. Econoline, Expedition, F-150/F-250 LD, Super-duty and Navigator.
I was a Master tech at a ford dealer from '96-'09. Our dealer did a lot of these. I remember all '99 style trucks being worked on. '97-'98, don't remember seeing any under warranty. I did hundreds of these. Engineer told me it happened because they had to speed the engine plant up. Super-duty and 4 door e/cab F150/250 orders skyrocketed late '98 into '99.

 

But it still has the stain at the back outside of the head.

 

No problem

 

I guess my years are off.... but this is the TSB I have that said Romeo only.

 

Yea I can see why you thought that. The one including the 5four, -

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/949...les/022207.pdf