On 3.5L engines, have the air conditioning system discharged by an automotive air conditioning technician. Relieve the fuel system pressure. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal. Loosen the right front wheel lug nuts, raise the front of the vehicle, support it securely on jackstands, and then remove the wheel. For 2013 and later models, remove the engine lower splash shield and skid plate, if equipped. Remove the air filter housing inlet hose. Remove the drivebelt and drivebelt tensioner, and take off the two idler pulleys from the front cover. On 3.5L engines, remove the EVAP canister purge valve and disconnect, then cap or plug, the air conditioning lines to and from the receiver-drier and evaporator. Remove the valve covers and the alternator along with the alternator mounting bracket; for 2013 and later models, also remove the alternator mounting stud from the timing cover. Remove the crankshaft pulley and the front crankshaft oil seal, ensuring the seal is removed to create enough clearance for the cover. Remove the power steering pump and fluid lines, including the mounting brackets, if equipped. Disconnect the Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor and remove the Camshaft Position (CMP) sensors in front of each cylinder head. Support the engine from above with a hoist or engine support fixture, using chains fastened to the engine lift brackets. Disconnect the electrical connectors at the air conditioning compressor, loosen the compressor mounting bolts, and move the compressor aside for access to the engine cover. Remove the compressor bracket from the front cover, then take off the right side engine mount and disconnect any remaining wires, hoses, clamps, or brackets that will interfere with engine cover removal. For 2013 and later models, lower the engine to remove bolt #23 without letting the compressor hit the subframe, then raise it to remove bolts #24 and #25. For 3.0L engines, loosen the timing cover fasteners gradually and evenly, starting with the oil pan-to-cover bolts, then remove the fasteners and the timing cover. For 3.5L engines, remove the cover bolts, install six of them into the threaded holes in the cover, and tighten them evenly to push the cover from the engine without damage, ensuring all timing cover bolts are removed before attempting to take off the cover. Remove and discard the cover-to-cylinder block gaskets. Inspect and clean all sealing surfaces of the timing cover and the block, being careful when scraping on aluminum engine parts. Replace the crankshaft seal, using Motorcraft High Performance Engine RTV Silicone to prevent engine oil from foaming. Apply a bead of RTV sealant around the sealing edges of the timing cover and to the areas where the oil pan and cylinder heads meet at the engine block. Install new front cover gaskets into the grooves on the cover, and for 3.5L engines, install two dowel pins into the engine block. The manufacturer requires that specific bolts be installed within a set time after the timing has contacted the engine block, followed by the installation of the remaining bolts. Install the timing cover and cover fasteners, ensuring they are in their original locations, and tighten them by hand until the cover contacts the block and cylinder heads. For the 3.0L engine, tighten the cover bolts in sequence to the specified torque, and for the 3.5L engine, install bolts 17 through 20, remove the locating pins, and install the rest of the bolts in sequence to the specified torque before installing the engine mount. Install the drivebelt and tensioner, tightening the tensioner pulley bolt to the specified torque. Install the crankshaft pulley, connect the wiring harness connectors to the CMP and CKP sensors, and install the power steering pump and hoses if equipped. The remainder of the installation is the reverse of removal. Reconnect the battery, then start the engine and check for leaks.
