[RedDR]

Mine are leaking to the point where I can smell burnt oil that's dripped onto the exhaust manifolds, in the cab.

Dealer says this is a $600+ job. I'll let it leak for that. But if I tackle this myself how bad is it (given that doing pretty much anything on the VG33 shoehorned into this truck is damned near impossible)?

 

[JoshCampbell]

Not hard at all. I did it with no experience and only took two hours.

Disconnect battery
Disconnect all electrical connectors
Disconnect rubber hoses
Disconnect spark plug wires
Remove intake plenium (silver thing)
Remove valve covers
Clean and apply new seals
Reassemble in reverse order.

No need to drain fluids. Replace the manifold gasket, spark plugs, and air filter while you're at it.

Take pictures of everything so you know how it all goes back together.

 

[Hertz]

The passenger side is no problem, 60 minute job tops. You simply take the valve cover off, clean everything and replace the gasket and put it back on.

The drivers side is basically the same thing, except you have to take the upper intake (plenum) off so you can have access to and remove the valve cover. Removing that also is no big deal with the exception of two small coolant hoses attached to the back of it. They can be quite challenging to remove because it’s hard to even see them. I just cut them and replaced them. One of them has a 90 degree bend though so you’ll have to get a hose that has a 90 molded into it.

 

[smj999smj]

If you do it, make sure you get a full kit that comes with all the grommets along with the gaskets.

 

[luke9511]

its been a few months since i finally did my drivers side which is the one that will take the longest, i suggest while you have all the stuff removed to do it, you replace all the plugs and wires as you will have easy access to them

 

[twinsig]

Mine was a real PIA! Just sayin. But if someone would pay you $600 would YOU do it? That's the question I always ask myself.

 

[kevinjohnson3216]

Mine was a real PIA! Just sayin. But if someone would pay you $600 would YOU do it? That's the question I always ask myself.

Definitely, no doubt about it

 

[JoshCampbell]

Need to apologize for my last post. I keep forgetting that most folks still have the EGR and everything attached to their Intake Manifold. Mine came with block-off plates. Much simpler to remove.