I have a small antifreeze leak behind the water pump on a 3.0 V6.
From what I have been reading on the forum, this is probably the
timing chain cover gasket. I called a local Ford dealership and they
asked me if I had coil springs or a torsion bar front end. I told them
it's a torsion bar. They said the engine would have to be removed
for repairs since it's a torsion bar front in. Their estimate started at
$1000! Is this really true? Hell for that much money I'll drive it till
it locks up and buy another!

 

i really doubt that has any affect on the repair since torsion bars stop at the control arm which is behind the area where the cover is located. However the shop manual does say drop the oil pan so they will do it exactly by the book find a mom and pop shop they will probably do it without going through all that I'm about to do mine and I'm not taking the pan completely out just letting it drop down enough to get the cover off.

 

Thanks pearlkid! That's the answer I'm getting from my mechanic friends. I want to
make sure it's not the water pump first but my luck....lol. I love the truck and with
only 108,000 miles it would be nice to keep it longer. It's used as a work truck and
still looks sharp. When did they stop making them?

 

Well it could be the water pump however after removing the water pump your only take a handful more bolts to get the timing cover off its only like $30 i believe for the gasket set so since your right there might as well do it since its pretty common leak. Might save you some labor a little while down the road but thats just my two cents. And 2010 i believe was the last year a consumer could buy one but i think they were still fulfilling fleet orders in 2011 Orkin got the last one ever made but the 2011 were just rebranded 2010's no changes were made. And i love mine I've got 145,000 miles and it honestly still runs like a new one other than a few leaks but no biggie I love my truck to its a daily driver and i tow with it a good bit all in all a very reliable truck and very low maintenance for the most part I'm a very happy owner.

 

Why does the oil pan have to be removed or dropped a little to get timing
cover off? I saw a video on youtube and they didn't remove the oil pan.

 

i believe the two front most bolts on the pan actually go into the timing cover at least thats what it looks like i haven't done mine yet but thats the way it appears. The seal on the pan is reusable its rubber not paper at least on mine it is.

 

Ok I think you are correct. So if I can reach and remove those two bolts, I should be able
to remove timing cover without removing oil pan? Yes, if the pan gasket is rubber it should be easier. otherwise you risk tearing a paper oil pan gasket.
Mine only drips a few drops on some days and none on others. It's cold here now so hoping
to last until Spring unless the leak gets worse.

 

If not you are supposed to use some rtv where the cover meets the pan anyway which would probably seal it well anyway. But yeah I'm at the same point it doesn't run hot and it only leaks when it wants to. So I'm not braving the cold to fix it till it gets serious. But i went ahead and got all the parts ready just in case and depending on mileage may as well do the $30 timing chain set I'm sure mine has some slop in it with 150,000 miles.

 

Winter has definitely set in here now and too cold for me to start the replacement.
But some good news, I contacted an old mechanic friend of mine that I haven't seen
in years. He has a garage to work in now and has done this job before. He quoted me
a price of $300 for parts and labor which includes the water pump. He also advised
me to replace timing chain for $70 more. Even though mine is like yours not leaking
that bad, I think this sounds very reasonable.

 

The timing chain had a one inch play and only has 108K miles!
Glad I'm having it repaired now.