VQ35DE Valve Cover and Gasket Replacement How-to
#1
VQ35DE Valve Cover and Gasket Replacement How-to
Well, finally got this done last weekend. First noticed oil in my spark plug chamber, #5, closest one to the driver's side, rear. Was fairly straight-forward, just use common sense.
I used this write-up for the IM removal, Greg's How-To. I have added a write-up from this point forward.
I realize once you pull off the IM that the valve cover removal is pretty easy, but I hadn't seen a write-up for the valve cover change and thought I would make one up for people who are a little more apprehensive about their first time or just simply want a guide.
Valve Cover and Valve Cover Gasket Replacement
I have hi-res pics available for anyone that wants more detail. Just let me know.
All products were purchased from Dave B. No problems and great service. FYI, the new valve cover comes with a PCV valve.
Additionally, I did order the 2004 valve cover and gasket, much cheaper.
I used this write-up for the IM removal, Greg's How-To. I have added a write-up from this point forward.
I realize once you pull off the IM that the valve cover removal is pretty easy, but I hadn't seen a write-up for the valve cover change and thought I would make one up for people who are a little more apprehensive about their first time or just simply want a guide.
Valve Cover and Valve Cover Gasket Replacement
I have hi-res pics available for anyone that wants more detail. Just let me know.
All products were purchased from Dave B. No problems and great service. FYI, the new valve cover comes with a PCV valve.
Additionally, I did order the 2004 valve cover and gasket, much cheaper.
#5
Damm i thought i was the only ona that had this.
I got the same thing on the cylinder closest to the firewall and the throttle body.
Plan to do it sometime this month. Am I causing more damage by putting it off?
I got the same thing on the cylinder closest to the firewall and the throttle body.
Plan to do it sometime this month. Am I causing more damage by putting it off?
#6
Originally Posted by maxspeed96CT
Damm i thought i was the only ona that had this.
I got the same thing on the cylinder closest to the firewall and the throttle body.
Plan to do it sometime this month. Am I causing more damage by putting it off?
I got the same thing on the cylinder closest to the firewall and the throttle body.
Plan to do it sometime this month. Am I causing more damage by putting it off?
I don't think anyone has a firm idea if putting it off will do more damage. I put mine off for a year after I changed the plugs. Who knows how long it was going on before then.
#10
Originally Posted by inspiredbykev
Great write up.
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
#11
Originally Posted by inspiredbykev
Great write up.
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
#14
Originally Posted by inspiredbykev
Great write up.
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
I was looking into getting the parts but on the website theres the right and left. Which one did you get? Part #?
Also did you do the rear or just the front?
#17
Bump because I noticed this about 2 months ago but never had a chance to do anything:
Pretty sure that is oil buildup under my front valve cover. Seems that most of you are having issues with the rear valve cover. Anyway, new valve covers will be ordered shortly from Dave B. I need to clean that engine bay up at some point I guess, lol.
Pretty sure that is oil buildup under my front valve cover. Seems that most of you are having issues with the rear valve cover. Anyway, new valve covers will be ordered shortly from Dave B. I need to clean that engine bay up at some point I guess, lol.
#18
It's probably time for me to do something too. I haven't touched it except to change to 1 step colder plugs. How many miles do you currently have now, Joel? I'm sitting at 103,xxx. blah.....
#19
#20
so puppetmaster, since that oil buildup on the front of your engine is probably coming from your front valve cover, will those of us whose rear valve cover is leaking notice a buildup on the rear of the engine?
1 more question... the rear valve cover refers to the cover over the rear bank of cylinders, and the front valve cover is over the front bank of cylinders right?
1 more question... the rear valve cover refers to the cover over the rear bank of cylinders, and the front valve cover is over the front bank of cylinders right?
#23
i have no idea, but i'm gonna replace both... i noticed the same buildup in the front as puppetmaster has in his pics.. i couldn't see if there was any buildup in the rear, but i'm gonna replace that anyway
#24
#25
I have the same issue. When I pulled the IM to do the spacers and plugs, the right, rear spark plug chamber was full of oil. I suspected the valve cover but didn't replace it.
Looks like I need to pull the IM again.
Looks like I need to pull the IM again.
#29
Just did my rear valve cover last year. One note, there is no need to use a bead of sealer on the head. The new valve cover comes with a rubber gasket that should be seated directly on the head.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
#30
Just did my rear valve cover last year. One note, there is no need to use a bead of sealer on the head. The new valve cover comes with a rubber gasket that should be seated directly on the head.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
#31
Just did my rear valve cover last year. One note, there is no need to use a bead of sealer on the head. The new valve cover comes with a rubber gasket that should be seated directly on the head.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
The only place you will need sealer will be on the passenger side, on either side of the crank. There is a sharp corner that requires a pea sized drop of gasket sealer in both corners.
Not that hard, just a little scary knowing if you drop anything in the intake manifold the engine could be toast. it took me the better part of a day but I wasn't in a rush and also did the intake spacers. I also did a little cleaning and polishing of the IM while I could get at everything
Side note - why are epacy's internal's a different color than mine?
Eppacy's
Mine
Shiny new valve cover
#35
#36
My internals look just like yours (even down to the two discolored rings). I've been using synthetic (Mobil and GC) since 10k miles. Epacy's are due to varnish from dino oil.
Last edited by 2002 Maxima SE; 05-03-2008 at 07:18 AM.
#38
#40
i apologize for the bump, but i ran into a small issue while replacing my valve covers... i over-torqued one of the bolts on the rear valve cover, and it separated.. is it terrible that the one bolt is missing? and how do i fix it? can i just drill a hole into the broken off bolt to make some new threads, then put a new bolt in there?
Last edited by wyche89; 02-21-2009 at 03:44 PM.