I've got the front valve cover gasket off, as I'm replacing all of those seals, though I cannot for the life of me get those damn spark plug tube seals out. I've tried pulling and prodding, to no avail. Any ideas? I've spent 30 minutes trying to get one out, and I pulled the whole valve cover in less than 20 minutes .... erggg...

 

figures, as soon as I go back out there, I figure it out.


What I did: I took the nail pulling end of a hammer, gently wedged it underneath, and pop, they all came right up. I took a picture and I'll post it here later tonight. Worked really well, though you'll need a fairly small hammer.


Now my next question, how deep should the new seals go in? Rest on the lip, or pushed all the way down? Thanks!

 

Screw Driver, put it inside the seal and Pry them out ! ! ! !

If that doesnt seem to work, needlenose plyers, grab onto them and pull

-matt

 

I rested it right on the lip, just out a bit...However the old seals were, I just copied how NIssan put them in

-matt

 

Hello all!

Despite much effort, I cannot remove the spark plug tube seals from my front valve cover. I have only succeeded in removing pieces of one.

I have tried wedging a screwdriver between the underneath of the valve cover and the top of the seal and then twisting. Other than leaving some dents in the metal - nothing.

I could see how a hammer might work, but I can't find one small enough. I have tried liquid wrench, pliers, even burning it with a blowtorch. Still nothing... Perhaps I am missing something.

What's the secret?

 

Pick yourself up a seal puller at a local auto parts store, should only run a few bucks. Easiest way to do it, and you'll get another tool that'll come in handy in the future.

Ex:


FWIW I just used a screwdriver and a hammer, popped them all out in a minute or two

 

i used a hammer and worked for me. Although i do have different size hammers. Funny thing was that i found this thread just last week and was able to get the seals off. I spent 30 minutes outside trying to pry it off and nothing worked. Searched and BAM, took them all off in less than 5 minutes.

 

Here's what I did: With the valve cover rightside up (like it is when on the car), put a screwdriver or small chisel through the tube hole so that it rests on the flat part of the seal. Make sure it's as close to vertical as possible, so that you hit only the seal and not the valve cover. Then give the screwdriver a sharp blow with the palm of your hand and the seal will pop out.

Or use a seal puller.

 

Thanks for the replies! In the end, after liberal use of silicon lubricant spray, I could yank it out bit by bit with a hammer.

It was almost as difficult putting the new seal back in. I had to hit it with a hammer through a block of wood for about five minutes!