How To Change/Replace A VVT Solenoid Seal On A 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor - Driver's Side

How To: Change a VVT solenoid seal on the driver’s side of a 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor

15 minute or less fix time

Fel-Pro Valve Cover Grommet ES 71426

This is a seal on the driver and passenger side valve cover of a Ford 6.2 liter V-8. It was leaking oil pretty badly on Friday night. When we looked at it we thought we would need to remove the valve cover gasket to replace it. There are no write-ups or videos on how to do it and apparently, it’s a common failure that people take to the dealer. When we saw that we had a problem Friday night I was worried that it would end our weekend. That night at the hotel I started researching to find out how to do it. We were looking for parts stores that would have the part. If we couldn’t find the part maybe we could find the updated plastic valve covers that include them in it. If we were unable to find the part it would end our weekend. We decided to go to sleep since we couldn’t contact any of the parts stores until in the morning and we had researched everything we could think of to try and find a solution. Saturday morning we woke up and started calling the parts stores to see if we could find the part. We found it about an hour south of us. We towed the Raptor to the parts store just in case we needed other parts while we were there. Once we bought the new parts I looked at it to see which was the seal installed from. The rumors were that it installed from the inside of the valve cover, meaning we would have to remove them to install the seal. The new ones installed from the outside!!! We were in luck!!! We were able to buy a set of picks to remove the old seal. Then we happen to have the right size socket to reinstall the new seal. The cost of a pack of seals is $10. A set of picks was $10 also. We thought this repair would cost us hours and a lot of money but it ended up being a simple fix anyone can do. So, we decided to make a video.

Speaker 1 (00:13):

Okay, what’s going on up here?

AK (00:15):

So, we blew a seal. He has nicely. These trucks have a variable valve timing. This is a 2013 Ford Raptor and for the VVT solenoid, the variable valve timing solenoid there’s a seal that goes around it right down here on the head cover. Last night we were running through the woods and luckily enough, Ryan from Savage Offroad, looked at the ground and saw oil on the ground. He was like, “Wait a minute somebody’s leaking.” Thank you so much, Ryan from Savage Offroad. Looking at it, it’s this seal that’s down here in the valve cover and it’s an easy fix. We just have to fix it. So, we came over here to the Napa in Hamburg, PA, Pennsylvania, and they had the seal that we need. It’s doorman actually, in this case.

Speaker 3 (01:09):

Fel-Pro.

AK (01:09):

F3el-Pro ES 71426, and we got break clean so that we can clean the area around it. We got a custom made seal driver, also an oil pressure sending unit socket that happens to be the exact same diameter as this seal that was hanging on the shelf. We’re going to try to get it out of there with these hooks, although, I think the plastic on this is probably going to fail. So, once we get this in there to pull it out, we’re probably going to end up putting vice grips on there to yank this seal out. You could also do the old trick with a wood screw and pull that out. Maybe I don’t know, we’re going to use the tools that we have available here in the parking lot of wherever we’re at. And we’re going to see if we can replace this seal so that we can go back out and go have fun at Rausch Creek. So, wish us luck.

Speaker 1 (02:02):

So, we thought we would make this video because in our research doesn’t seem like there’s any video up on YouTube that shows how to replace the seal. So, AK is going to walk us through it as we learn how to do it too.

AK (02:21):

So, first off, we’re going to take off this boot right here. And maybe this will come off. That goes over it. There we go. And the way that that comes off is you just push this little clip over. That’ll let it come off of there. And this one plugs in into the valve cover right there. And this is vacuum for your brake lines. So, don’t forget to hook that stuff back up. And then this comes out of the way and where we’re going to… Is this right here? Can you see that from 0.2?

Speaker 1 (03:03):

Yeah. Yep. Can see it, little.

AK (03:08):

So, this seal inside of here is the cause of all of our woose. And this clip, push this clip in, push the connector in towards the valve and then you can pull it back out of there as well. So, the seal and how it goes in, it’s sitting inside of the head like this. If it was sitting in there like this, we would have a problem

because that would mean the seal needs to come in from the other side, in this case, though, we’re going to try to pull it out of there. And then we can hopefully put that socket on there, drive this thing in there straight.

AK (03:44):

When we pull it out, we’re going to make sure and take some oil and lube this up so that we don’t tear the seal. You never want to slide it in dry. And that’s a tip that you can just keep with you for the rest of your life, but we’re going to try to slide this thing in. We got two shot at this. I think these are the only two seals in Pennsylvania that we were able to find and they sell them for both sides. So we’re going to hopefully pull this other one out, slide this one in good to go. Maybe two minutes.

Speaker 1 (04:11):

We’ll see.

AK (04:14):

All right. So, we’re going to hit this with some break clean, Please come out of there easy. You’re not going to get that lucky. Hopefully pride is down fire out up here, which looks like it was the inner seal around the sensor. Go. So, that doesn’t go down inside of there.

Speaker 3 (05:04):

Little hook to get underneath there and just pull up.

Speaker 1 (05:08):

Come on AK.

AK (05:09):

All right. So, we almost got this thing out of here, the hook and or the pick set that we bought. It keeps bending, trying to get this out of there, because it’s a lot of pressure on it, but it’s out. And that’s it right there. All right. And the problem that we had,

Speaker 1 (05:26):

Yeah, let’s recap.

AK (05:27):

This is the angle on this hook kept opening up when we tried to put pressure on it. So what I was doing was bending this back down so I could get enough purchase on the back side of this seal to be able to lift this seal out of there. So, seal is out now and it took us all of about 15 minutes, I think.

Speaker 1 (05:50):

Yep. It wasn’t too bad. Just be patient wear gloves. Don’t bash your hands.

AK (05:56):

You’ll get the point. The seals that I bought or I mean the seals, my hand seals, the latex gloves are real thin. So I’m going to put on a fresh set of gloves, always use protection and put on a fresh set of gloves. And then we’ll do this again.

Speaker 1 (06:10):

Yep.

AK (06:10):

So, we went back and forth on this seal as to whether we’re going to put some gasket maker on it two or do anything to make sure it stays sealed. But in light of… We may have to take this off in the field. Again, we opted just to lube it up with a little bit of clean engine oil. So, open up some engine oil, Lube it up. So, the tricky part now is to try to get that thing to seat evenly. So, it doesn’t go on cockey. We didn’t know if we were going to need a socket or whatever to go in there, but it turns out you can just push it in mostly with your fingers.

AK (07:00):

And then we’ll use this socket 27 millimeter. This is a 27 millimeter Husky. I’m going to move that camera back out of the way. And all we’re going to do is use this to take it down to flush, just tap it in. You can probably use whatever you want, but this is what we have. So, the hose plant on the ground.

Speaker 1 (07:36):

So, when we saw this oil leak, we thought it was of ruin our weekend. If you can find this seal though, it’s super easy to replace and put in.

Speaker 3 (07:46):

$6, good idea just to have one in anyway.

Speaker 1 (07:49):

Yep. Or two, one for your buddy.

AK (07:56):

Man. I think that’s it. We’re there. I’m going to see if I can get it just a little bit deeper.

Speaker 1 (08:02):

See where we’re at right now on this. See that?

AK (08:30):

How can I get in there to this?

Speaker 1 (08:37):

You got to find the right angle to hit atthat.

AK (08:38):

That’s it right there. See? Yep. Let’s plug it in. Let’s go wheel. Let’s go have fun.

Speaker 1 (08:52):

That was easy. Nowhere near as bad as, I thought it was going to be.

AK (08:58):

All right. Just reverse what you did taking it apart. And now it’s probably a good time to clean your intakes too.

Speaker 3 (09:06):

Would’ve been a good

Speaker 1 (09:08):

Okay. So, this is what the seal looks like after our invasive pulling of it, I can’t be able to use that and then you can get this at Napa auto parts. It’s a Fel-Pro ES 71426, come in package of two. Maybe you want to buy four, hang on to some for your wheeling partners.