Spark plug tube seals
03-02-2011, 09:50 PM
#1
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Location: Mesa, AZ
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Spark plug tube seals
In the process of replacing the rear valve cover gasket. I bought the Felpro kit from autozone which came with the spark plug tube seals as well. I just had a few questions about this.
After I removed the RVC and popped out the spark plug tube seals I thought I put the new ones in the same way but when I tried to put RVC back on I could not get the spark plug tubes to fit inside the seal. So I took one of the seals out and it turns out it seems to only fit over the spark plug tube one way which is the opposite of what I had. Now it would fit the way I had it if I stretched it out but I struggled for an hour trying to get the RVC back on and could not do it so I flipped the seals around and it went on within a few minutes. When I tested the old seals they seemed to fit on either right side up or upside down. Does anyone have a picture of the correct way it should go or since it really seemed to only fit one way do you think thats the correct way? I was almost certain I put them in the same way the old ones were but I could not get the RVC back on for the life of me.
Second question is regarding the RTV. I basically run a thin line around the RVC gap and installed the gasket. Then I put some on the head in those 2 sharp corners as I read thats where it leaks from. I did not run a thin line all the way around the head. I dont have a torque wrench so I just hand tightened them with a nut driver in the correct sequence shown in the FSM. Did I do this correctly?
Thanks for the help !
After I removed the RVC and popped out the spark plug tube seals I thought I put the new ones in the same way but when I tried to put RVC back on I could not get the spark plug tubes to fit inside the seal. So I took one of the seals out and it turns out it seems to only fit over the spark plug tube one way which is the opposite of what I had. Now it would fit the way I had it if I stretched it out but I struggled for an hour trying to get the RVC back on and could not do it so I flipped the seals around and it went on within a few minutes. When I tested the old seals they seemed to fit on either right side up or upside down. Does anyone have a picture of the correct way it should go or since it really seemed to only fit one way do you think thats the correct way? I was almost certain I put them in the same way the old ones were but I could not get the RVC back on for the life of me.
Second question is regarding the RTV. I basically run a thin line around the RVC gap and installed the gasket. Then I put some on the head in those 2 sharp corners as I read thats where it leaks from. I did not run a thin line all the way around the head. I dont have a torque wrench so I just hand tightened them with a nut driver in the correct sequence shown in the FSM. Did I do this correctly?
Thanks for the help !
03-03-2011, 04:05 AM
#5
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I couldnt get it to go on flatside down. Even with the SPTS out of the VC I tried to see if it would fit on the tube and I have to stretch it with my fingers to get it to fit over the SPT. I don't see any way that its gonna fit on while the SPTS are on the VC. Is it ok to take it back off and reuse the VC gasket still? And any tricks on removing those SPTS's? When I initially installed the SPTS I didn't get them completely flush with the VC. It was kinda pushed in a little too far on one side. Would that cause this issue of not being able to get the VC back on?
Last edited by metalgod3082; 03-03-2011 at 06:51 AM.
03-03-2011, 09:16 AM
#6
Your old seals are hardened in the stretched out position, thats why the old one will fit either way. The lip forms a funnel, and easily sips over the tube one way, and wont the other. I dont remeber whether it was flat up or down but the body of the seal isnt important, its the orientation of the lip that matters.
03-03-2011, 09:21 AM
#7
RTV is to be used WITH the gasket the rtv is to ensure that gasket does not move or leak at all
you could use the felpro alone but you might leak sooner than you would have with rtv and felpro.
I always use both Valve cover gaskets and RTV to seal the VC so they dont come back with a customer complaining about an oil leak.
03-03-2011, 10:37 AM
#9
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tried to post on this from my phone last night but failed.
RTV is to be used WITH the gasket the rtv is to ensure that gasket does not move or leak at all
you could use the felpro alone but you might leak sooner than you would have with rtv and felpro.
I always use both Valve cover gaskets and RTV to seal the VC so they dont come back with a customer complaining about an oil leak.
RTV is to be used WITH the gasket the rtv is to ensure that gasket does not move or leak at all
you could use the felpro alone but you might leak sooner than you would have with rtv and felpro.
I always use both Valve cover gaskets and RTV to seal the VC so they dont come back with a customer complaining about an oil leak.
A lil RTV never hurts for seals.
The new seals should only go on one way.
03-03-2011, 02:58 PM
#12
03-03-2011, 03:03 PM
#13
03-03-2011, 05:17 PM
#14
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Ok flipped them around and was able to get them on with the flat side facing down. I had to stick my finger into the spark plug hole and just kinda push on the edges of the seal and it went on fine! Also I didnt have a torque wrench for the VC so i just used a nut driver and hand tightened pretty tight with my hand, you think that will be sufficient?
UGH, now I just saw this thread
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...direction.html
And I think it says to do the opposite of what I did. Let me ask you this, when you put the plug into the VC are you hammering on the flat side or the side with the raised middle?
UGH, now I just saw this thread
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...direction.html
And I think it says to do the opposite of what I did. Let me ask you this, when you put the plug into the VC are you hammering on the flat side or the side with the raised middle?
Last edited by metalgod3082; 03-03-2011 at 05:26 PM.
03-03-2011, 05:41 PM
#15
tried to post on this from my phone last night but failed.
RTV is to be used WITH the gasket the rtv is to ensure that gasket does not move or leak at all
you could use the felpro alone but you might leak sooner than you would have with rtv and felpro.
I always use both Valve cover gaskets and RTV to seal the VC so they dont come back with a customer complaining about an oil leak.
RTV is to be used WITH the gasket the rtv is to ensure that gasket does not move or leak at all
you could use the felpro alone but you might leak sooner than you would have with rtv and felpro.
I always use both Valve cover gaskets and RTV to seal the VC so they dont come back with a customer complaining about an oil leak.
Listen to this man.
03-04-2011, 08:20 AM
#17
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Thx but I've already removed the old ones and put the new ones in. Just want to make sure I put them in correctly. One side of the seal is pretty flat with the middle pushed in a little. The otherside the middle sticks out a little. When installing the seals onto the valve cover will I be hammering on the flat side or the side where the middle is sticking out some? Can someone verify this with me as I've been reading conflicting answers and want to make sure its in correctly before putting it back together. Would really like to get my car back together for this weekend. Thanks again
03-04-2011, 09:56 AM
#19
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Sorry for my ignorance but I don't know what a bevel is. Can u tell me if the flat side or the side with the middle sticking out should be facing me when pushing into the vc? If u look at the pics in my previous post you'll know what I'm talking about. Thx for help and sorry about my noobness 
03-04-2011, 11:14 AM
#21
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Ok so we now have some conflicting answers now. 2 people said the flat side should be facing down (toward the cylinder head). If I do it ur way the raised side would be facing the cylinder head. Can we get a definite answer on this? Just want to make sure as it took me a long time taking everything off
03-04-2011, 11:35 AM
#22
OMFG its a taper!!!
it goes like this on the head | / \ |.
While installing, it presses in like this | \ / |.
What else is there to understand?
"flat side should be facing down ... raised side would be facing the cylinder head"
These kind of descriptions just confuse the topic. The outer shell has an open side and a flat side. "raised" has no accurate meaning here and should not be used.
This would be the proper orientation as installed with the valve cover on the motor. While installing, looking at the bottom side of the valve cover you would flip the seal over and press this side in FIRST.
it goes like this on the head | / \ |.
While installing, it presses in like this | \ / |.
What else is there to understand?
"flat side should be facing down ... raised side would be facing the cylinder head"
These kind of descriptions just confuse the topic. The outer shell has an open side and a flat side. "raised" has no accurate meaning here and should not be used.
This would be the proper orientation as installed with the valve cover on the motor. While installing, looking at the bottom side of the valve cover you would flip the seal over and press this side in FIRST.
Last edited by asand1; 03-04-2011 at 11:52 AM.
06-07-2011, 08:17 PM
#26
When installing the tube seal into the flipped over valve cover, does the flat side get pressed into the valve cover? If so then the bevel cut side will be hit with the rubber mallet.
The bevel cut side is on the left while the flat side is on the right.
The bevel cut side is on the left while the flat side is on the right.
06-08-2011, 09:46 AM
#27
With the VC flipped upside down, the seal on the left in your pic will be the correct orientation. Flat side/open side is not important and may differ between manufacturer. The funnel shape needs to be larger at the top and smaller at the bottom as viewed while pressing in.
06-08-2011, 11:26 AM
#28
I finally get it. When the installation is done the rounded side on the left will be facing the spark plug while the flat side on the right will be towards the coil head.
When I get home I'll bang in those seals.
Thanks for your help
When I get home I'll bang in those seals.
Thanks for your help
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