Exhaust Manifold Replacement?

PCAVINEE

MEMBER
2010 FORD F-150
4.6L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
156,000 MILES

Hello,

I have a leak in my passenger side exhaust manifold and am thinking about replacing both of them, either myself or a local mechanic. The quarter panels on my truck are pretty much rusted through.
So, in your mechanical opinion, when do you say no to repairs? This has been a very good truck, in fact I actually pull my 31-foot RV with it, to the amazement of people who don't understand how it will pull it, lol.
Manifolds, quarter panels. Truck value for a trade in $3,500. Thank you

Sunday, May 4th, 2025 AT 8:39 AM

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
15,233 POSTS

With a truck I look at the frame first, especially with that generation Ford (GM as well) They have a bad habit of rotting from the inside out. Next, I look at the engine and transmission. Is it using oil, leaking fluids, general condition. Same with the transmission, does it shift properly, has it been serviced? Body rot is very common on trucks, the cab corners and mounts as well as the box wheel arches, and fender arches up front. That is because of the poor rust protection or foam they shoot in there to make the tin foil they build them out of seem stronger. If all that passes, then they get whatever the repairs are. 99% of the time the repairs on a vehicle you own are cheaper than the payments on the newer vehicles and they have far less headaches. If you have the typical cracked manifold that is leaking, the Dorman ones seem to hold up a bit better than the Ford OEM parts.

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Sunday, May 4th, 2025 AT 7:59 PM

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FORD F-150