2.7l Valve Cover - OEM or RockAuto?

Well, I see you went with aftermarket. Just wondering how it's holding up, and where you ordered from?

 

someone overtorqued that bolt at some point. or your engine got hot. you live in a hot climate?

 

The bolt was never touched from mfg to the date of that picture, and out to this June when the cover was finally replaced. Engine never got hot. I bought the truck new in Vermont where it has remained ever since. My understanding is the bolt holes in the plastic cover are sleeved, the sleeves rust, then the pressure of the bolt is enough to put too much pressure on the plastic and thus it cracks.

I ended up having a preferred indy do it for me, and he wouldn't touch any after-market cover. Went with OEM from the local dealer, the indy marked it up a little to $325, but charged me only 1.2 hours for the job and that included putting in some spark plugs a friend gave me for the truck after his was totaled out just after he had bought the plugs for his '06 2.7l truck. Saw OEM for about $250+ that I could have purchased myself, but the indy does good work, is honest, and throws in a few things every time that he finds - like the plugs, but also this time clearing a plugged rear diff breather.