FORD 1474064 VALVE COVER

The Ford 1474064 (also known as 1502887 / 4M5G-6K272-HE) is a Cylinder Head Cover (Valve Cover) for the Ford Duratec HE / Mazda L-Series LF / Volvo B-Series shared 1.8L and 2.0L 16V petrol engine family. The cover bolts to the top of the aluminium cylinder head and encloses the DOHC valve train — twin overhead camshafts, hydraulic bucket tappets, and valve springs — while housing the integrated PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) oil separator with internal labyrinth baffles, the four spark plug tube bores, and the camshaft cap mounting interfaces. Used across the Ford-Mazda-Volvo joint engine programme on the C1 / Focus II / Mazda 3 platform.

The cover encloses the upper valve train within an oil-tight cavity above the cylinder head, retaining the oil mist generated by the camshaft journals and bucket tappets that lubricates the cam lobes and tappet bores. The cover is sealed to the head with a formed-rubber perimeter gasket and four individual rubber spark plug tube seals. On this Duratec HE / Mazda LF / Volvo B-series cover, the gasket and tube seals are not supplied with the cover and must be ordered separately — always replace the gasket set when fitting a new cover.

The integrated PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) oil separator is the most critical functional element of this cover. Engine blowby gases — combustion products that escape past the piston rings into the crankcase — flow upward through the cylinder head oil drain passages into the cover cavity. Inside the cover, a labyrinth of internal baffles and a calibrated PCV outlet port progressively de-oil the blowby vapour, returning the separated oil to the head and routing the de-oiled gas to the intake manifold for combustion. The PCV baffle is integral to the cover casting and is not serviceable separately — if the labyrinth becomes blocked with sludge from extended oil change intervals, the entire cover must be replaced.

The four spark plug tube bores in the cover seal against the cylinder head spark plug recesses via individual rubber tube seals. The tube seals are a frequent failure point on this engine family — aged seals allow oil to migrate down the tube to the spark plug, fouling the plug and producing misfires. Always inspect the tube seal condition during plug service.

Cylinder head valve covers as parts suitable solely or principally with spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines are typically classified under HS 8409.99 (other parts suitable for use solely or principally with the engines of heading 8407 or 8408). Confirm the exact 10-digit subheading and applicable duty rates with your customs broker, particularly for European / Russian / CIS market shipments where the Ford Focus II / C-Max / Mondeo / Volvo C30 / S40 / V50 / Mazda 3 / Mazda 5 / Mazda 6 fleet population is densest. Commercial invoice description: cylinder head cover (valve cover) for passenger vehicle, polymer body with integrated PCV system.

Does NOT fit: Ford 2.5L Duratec ST 5-cylinder (Focus ST / RS, Volvo T5) — uses different cover; Ford 1.6L Sigma / Zetec-SE — different engine family; Ford 2.3L Duratec MZR turbo (Mazda 3 MPS / Mazda 6 MPS) — uses turbo-specific cover; Ford 2.0L EcoBoost (later turbo direct-injection family) — completely different engine; Ford 2.0L Duratorq diesel TDCi — diesel engine, completely different cover; Mazda 2.0L L8 / L3-VE / Skyactiv — different production years / variants may use different reference; Volvo 2.4L / 2.5L 5-cylinder — different engine; Ford Focus Mk3 (2010+) — uses later cover variant. Always confirm by VIN AND by OEM number stamped on the existing cover.

Difficulty: Moderate. Estimated time: 90–150 minutes including parts cleanup. Always replace the perimeter gasket and all four spark plug tube seals as a complete kit when fitting a new cover — gaskets are NOT supplied with the cover.

1. 1
   Allow the engine to cool fully before starting. The aluminium cylinder head and polymer cover retain heat for 1–2 hours after shutdown. Working on a hot engine risks stripping the bolt threads in the cylinder head and prevents correct gasket compression set.
2. 2
   Disconnect the negative battery terminal and remove the engine top cover (if fitted). Remove the four ignition coils after disconnecting the wiring connectors — coils typically pull straight up. Inspect the spark plug recesses for oil pooling.
3. 3
   Remove the spark plugs if oil contamination is found in the recesses. Plugs that show heavy oil fouling should be replaced as part of this service. Cover the open plug holes with clean rags.
4. 4
   Disconnect the PCV hose from the cover, the breather hose to the air filter housing, and any other vacuum / electrical connections to the cover (camshaft position sensors on some variants).
5. 5
   Remove the cover bolts in reverse of the OEM tightening sequence (outer-to-inner spiral). The Duratec HE cover typically has 9 to 11 bolts. Note the position of any spacers or earth straps.
6. 6
   Lift the cover free of the cylinder head. The old gasket and tube seals will typically remain attached to the cover. Carefully lift straight up to avoid disturbing the camshafts.
7. 7
   Clean the cylinder head sealing surface meticulously with a plastic scraper to remove all traces of old gasket residue. Do NOT use a metal scraper — aluminium head surfaces scratch easily, creating leak paths. Finish with a lint-free cloth and brake cleaner. Cover any open passages with rags during cleaning.
8. 8
   Fit the new gasket and tube seals to the new cover before bringing the assembly to the engine. Confirm the perimeter gasket is fully seated in the cover groove around the entire perimeter, including all corners. The four tube seals must be fully seated in their bores.
9. 9
   Apply RTV sealant at the camshaft cap T-junctions — the four points where the front and rear camshaft bearing caps meet the cylinder head sealing surface. These are the only points where additional sealant is needed alongside the formed gasket. Use a small bead (3–4 mm); excessive RTV breaks off and blocks oil drains.
10. 10
    Lower the new cover straight down onto the head, ensuring no gasket pinch. Install all bolts hand-tight first to seat the gasket uniformly. Then torque to the OEM spec in the spiral inner-to-outer sequence: typically 7–10 Nm for the polymer Duratec HE cover. DO NOT EXCEED THIS TORQUE — the polymer flange warps permanently from over-torque, making future re-sealing impossible.
11. 11
    Reinstall the spark plugs (new plugs if old were oil-fouled), torque to OEM spec (typically 12–15 Nm). Reinstall ignition coils and wiring. Reconnect the PCV and breather hoses.
12. 12
    Reconnect the battery, allow any RTV to cure for the OEM-specified time (typically 1 hour minimum), start the engine, and run to operating temperature. Inspect the cover perimeter and disturbed connections for any seepage. Check for misfires — if any persist after the new tube seals are fitted, the affected cylinder may require new spark plugs.