Symptoms
Oil weeping down the heads onto the exhaust manifolds, a burning-oil smell after a drive, an oily engine bay.
The fix, step by step
- The Ranger Station calls Cologne valve-cover leaks messy but not dangerous, apart from rare fires when a lot of oil reaches the exhaust.
- Remove the intake plumbing or wiring that's in the way, unbolt the covers, clean both sealing surfaces completely and fit Fel-Pro rubber or Fel-Pro Blue gaskets.
- If the engine has the improved 1989-on heads, use the later covers with turned-up flanges, because old-style covers leak on the flatter surface.
- Tighten the bolts evenly and only lightly.
Tools & part numbers
- Sockets and extensions
- gasket scraper
- brake cleaner.
Where to buy the parts
Valve cover gaskets, 1988 Bronco II 2.9RockAuto ↗Amazon ↗
Valve cover gaskets, 1985 Bronco II 2.8RockAuto ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Ford Bronco II parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.