Ford F-150 Oil Pan Leak Fix Like a Pro

In an earlier article we learned about how today’s expensive models are purposely manufactured with plastic parts that are designed to fail. The crux of the problem is that not only are many repairs prohibitively expensive, but that the engine design so complex (e.g. with crowded components) that repairs or improvements appear to be beyond the DIY mechanic’s skill and tools.

But not always.

Ford F-150 Plastic Oil Pan Leak Problem

One (of several) EcoBoost engine problems you will find in some Ford models is that of a leaking oil pan. While the leak might be an annoyance you would like to have fixed, not only is it a very expensive repair, but the typical fix of replacing the original oil pan with a new one is likely to be only temporary and not a true repair.

The problem lies in that the oil pan is a two-part oil pan with an aluminum top section girdle that bolts directly to the engine block with a lower larger section made of plastic that is the oil reservoir. So, you have two oil pan gaskets rather than one of which the aluminum to plastic interface gasket is prone to leakage. Not a surprising result that design engineers did not take into account…or did they?

Learn How to Work Like a Professional Mechanic

The good news is that if you have a reasonable level of wrenching skills, a good working knowledge of your particular Ford model components, and a desire to up your DIY mechanic skill set, you can learn how to work like a professional mechanic on the oil leak problem with what has to be the best online demonstration by the Ford Tech Makuloco YouTube channel.

In the video posted recently (but recoded months ago), is a step-by-step instruction by the host of the channel that shows how to replace that 2-piece plastic oil pan with a replacement one-piece all metal upgrade.

Related article: Important EcoBoost Engine Upgrade Recommendation Whenever Timing Repairs are Done

The value of this video is that it is like having an experienced mechanic right there with you telling you exactly what you need to do, how to go about doing it, along with tips on techniques, and some irregularities you will find with installing the upgraded oil pan.

Please note: This a part one of a two-part demo of which the host will explain why exactly this is a weekend engine upgrade rather than a do-it-all-at-once task. When part two becomes available, there will be an immediate follow-up article alerting you to the conclusion of this demo.

That said, here is the video posted below that is not just enjoyable but informative as well showing just what it takes to just remove the oil pan from a modern Ford F-150 with the EcoBoost engine in case you decide to hire out a mechanic to do the oil pan upgrade for you.

2017-2018 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost: Fix That Constantly Leaking Plastic Oil Pan for Good Part 1 of 2

For additional articles related to EcoBoost engine repairs, here are a few for your consideration:

• Ford EcoBoost Engine Aftermarket Upgrade Spectacular Failure
• Ford EcoBoost Engine Owners are Getting the Wrong Repair Part Warning
• Ford F-150 EcoBoost Engine Swap Good to Know Info

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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