Sooner or later (depending on the material), your oil pan gasket will wear out & the pan will start leaking oil. Talking about the materials, there are mainly two types of gasket types available in the market – Rubber Made Gasket & Cork Made Gasket.
Pro Tips: The rubber made gasket is more durable than any other form of gasket. Use or purchase that type of gasket if you need to replace it.
In this article, I’ll show you how you can replace a 4.9L oil pan gasket step-by-step. Let’s look over the symptoms of a bad or damaged oil pan gasket before getting started with the DIY tutorial.
Symptoms Of A Damaged Oil Pan Gasket
There’s no specific time limit on how often you should replace your oil pan gasket. All you can do is monitor the symptoms to determine if your oil pan gasket is damaged & needs a replacement.
Here are the symptoms of a damaged oil pan gasket:
- Low Oil Warning Light
- Black Smoke From The Engine
- Overheated Engine & Less Mileage
- Oxygen Sensor Along With Other Sensors Are Damaged
- Spotting Oil Under The Car Just Above The Oil Pan
You don’t need to wait for all the symptoms to appear. If you get two or more symptoms, do a quick check of your oil pan & gasket. If you find the gasket replacement is necessary, follow the rest of this article.
How To Replace Ford 4.9 Oil Pan Gasket: Easy 6 Steps Guide
Replacing the gasket is a DIY job, even if you’re not very technically informed. Ford 4.9L (also known as Model F-150) oil pan gasket replacement will take approximately one to two hours.
Things You Will Need:
- Wrench Socket
- Screw Driver
- 6 Quarts Oil Holder/ Small Container
- Oil Pan Cleaning Equipment
- New Oil Pan Gasket: Fel-Pro Rubber Oil Pan Gasket
- Jack For Lifting Engine (Borrow It From Shop)
After getting everything in place, you can start following the steps mentioned below:
Step 1: Get Your Owner’s Manual First
From 1975 to the present, Ford has launched several variants of the F-150. Get your owner manuals from down below to see the types of bolts in there.
- If your vehicle was made from 1975 to 7/5/2021, Owner’s Manual (Vehicles Built Up To: 7/5/2021) (HTML)View
- If your vehicle was made from 7/6/2021 to the present, Owner’s Manual (Vehicles Built From: 7/6/2021) (HTML)View
After getting & checking your manual, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Remove The Existing Oil From The Oil Pan
You’ll notice a bolt attached to the oil pan under the car. Unbolting it will free all the available oil & it will create a mess. That’s why before unbolting it, place a small container that can hold 6 quarts of oil.
After placing the container in the right place, gently unbolt the bolt attached to the pan. Make sure all the oil is removed from the oil pan to keep your workplace clean afterward.
Step 3: Unbolt/Unscrew The Bolts Keeping The Oil Pan In Place
Yes, it’s an oil pan gasket replacement tutorial. But you’ll need to reach & remove the oil pan first to detach the gasket from it. To do so, remove the bolts attached to the oil pan.
You can use the socket wrench to unscrew the “hard to reach” bolts. After some trial and error, you’ll eventually unscrew all the bolts protecting the oil pan from falling apart.
Step 4: Lift The Engine By 4 to 5 Inches With a Jack
Even after unscrewing every bolt, you’ll find the oil pan is not detaching completely. If you try real hard – you may harm the inner component & that won’t be a wise thing to do.
The alternative & relatively easier work is lifting the engine by 4 to 5 inches with a jack. You may not have a jack that can lift the engine; you can borrow one if that’s the case.
Caution: Don’t Forget To Unbolt Two Bolts Holding The Engine From Down First. It Will Lead To Serious Damages If You Forget To Do So.
Step 5: Clean Your Oil Pan Thoroughly & Replace The Gasket
You’ll see your oil pan (along with the gasket) has freed completely just by lifting the engine. Take that oil pan & examine it thoroughly. Watch for rubber molds & clean them well.
You may notice dirt & unwanted residue as well. Clean everything off so the new pan gasket can do its job flawlessly. Later on, gently put the new Fel-Pro gasket in place.
Pro Tips: You can glue the gasket to the oil pan & leave it for 30 minutes, and it will keep the gasket in place while reassembling it.
Step 6: Reassemble Everything & You’re Good To Go
After all the hard work, it’s time for the last step. Gently put all the components, bolts & most importantly – the oil pan in the right place/s.
That’s how you can replace your Ford 4.9L oil pan gasket within six steps in under one to two hours.
Estimated Price For The 4.9 Gasket Replacement
If you do all the labor jobs, the labor cost will be zero. Otherwise, expect to pay $100 to $120 to the auto shop or individual professional.
Additionally, you’ll need to purchase a new gasket which will cost you around $30. I recommend getting the Fel-Pro Oil Pan Gasket as it costs less & the building material is rubber.
Additional Comments To Consider Regarding Gasket Replacement
Having a damaged oil pan gasket isn’t a severe issue by itself. You don’t need to cancel your trip because of this issue. Take your time & replace your damaged oil pan gasket whenever you’re free.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
There’s no specific time period for replacing the oil pan gasket. However, you may need to replace the oil pan gasket of 4.9 after 5 to 20 years – depending on your usage & the gasket material.
The oil pan gasket is cheap, costing around $30 to $50. You’ll need to spend real money on labor if this work is done by any professional, and they will charge you around $100 to $120 for this work.
In some models, you may successfully replace your oil pan gasket without lifting the engine. Truth be said, it’s near impossible to SAFELY replace the oil pan gasket without lifting the engine in most Ford 4.9.
Conclusion
I hope this guide article was helpful enough, showing how you can easily replace the Ford 4.9L oil pan gasket. Follow the steps mentioned above & you should be good.
Though it’s not a hard job, if you feel pressure doing so – feel free to contact your nearby auto shop. They will handle this pressure in exchange for money.
