So I'm changing my spark plugs today and everything is going fine. Front bank fine, remove the intake manifold fine...then I get to the rear bank. All three chambers are completely flooded (to the top) with oil The car drives fine and even though I just changed the front three plugs today it pulls like a **** but I'm taking it to the dealer on monday. I'm thinking it's a cracked valve cover as it's a pretty common issue with the VQ35s.

The only problem I've noticed as that my idle is unusually low (~500 rpms) which makes it pretty rough, but I figured 10 seconds hooked up to a consult could fix that...Otherwise the car is fine. It drives great and is very smooth all the way to redline. This is the first engine-related problem I've had and I'm at 60k. It will be covered under warranty since I have it until 100k, but I suggest that everyone change their plugs before your warranty is over in case the same thing happens to you.

EDIT: oh yeah and I forgot to add that my car does not burn a drop of oil. I measured the drained oil two changes ago and it came out to be just a LITTLE under 4 1/4 quarts which is how much I put in

 

our engines do have a problem with cracked valve covers. got my rear one replaced a few weeks ago and going next week for the front one.
but mine is burning oil

 

Yeah actually you were the first person I thought of when I saw that, because I remember you saying that nissan claimed it was the cracked valve cover that made you burn oil. I guess my car disproves that theory...

 

How many miles?

I chnged mine a few months ago. Build date 11/02, 75k miles... clean and clear of oil.

 

reading> j00

and iirc the build date is 2/02

 

... I demand cliffs.

 

Hope you don't mind if I piggy back on your thread...

I changed my plugs a couple weeks ago and one of the rear (of course the rear) spark plug holes was full of oil. I searched so I know the problem and solution, but it might be a while until I get around to fixing it. Can driving around with it like this cause any problems? (Other than the oil you lose)

 

at 40k I pulled my IM and checked my sparks...nothing unusual that I know of...I'm hoping that I'm one of the lucky ones

 

9/1/06 - 104,094 miles - New spark plugs (NGK OEM Platinums)

The spark plugs looked great at 104k! Originals too. No oil burn here, no oil on spark plugs.

 

Thank god I got my little VQ30. I just replaced my plugs for the first time at about 65K miles. They actually didn't look to bad at all.

LAO2,
Be happy you are still under warranty. I'm sure that would have costed ya big bucks to have it fixed.

 

If I weren't under warranty I would fix it myself, and I'd use the A34 valve cover as it's considerably cheaper. It wouldn't be that much to fix but I'd rather have it done for free

I don't think it can cause any permanent damage driving on it for a while, because I have no clue how long mine has been like that and it still pulls like a champ, but I am going to have it fixed monday morning.

 

had my car for two months now and It is definitely burning oil. cylinder 2 came up as a misfire. I am going back in like 2 weeks to get a free oil change, have them fix a weatherstripping on my door which fell off somehow and note the loss of oil. So far in having the car I have added around 2 quarts of oil in a little over 2 thousand miles. oil is going somewhere.

 

Thanks for posting this. I'll check my spark plug chambers this week since I'm nearing the end of my extended warranty. Anyway, I have this problem on my '97 but it still drives like a champ so I haven't gotten around to fix it.

 

With my luck, if I would have went for the 5.5., I would have had to buy mobil stock...

 

I will definately take a look at my plugs before the warranty period is over.

 

I have no warranty and am at 71K, so I think I'll just not even look at it until 100K....

 

I just got the P0300 (Multiple cylinder misfire) code today and was wondering if this was related to what this thread is about?? The guy at Autozone that checked the code said that it was probably something wrong with a plug or wire going to a plug. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Probably, a bad coil can/will effect all cylinders.

 

Is this covered under warranty? I have 53K miles on my Max and have an extended warranty. Thanks.

 

Im sure this has been posted before but just wanted to ask what spark plugs are recommended for the VQ since im over 60K and want to change them? Any links to the plugs and a write-up? Thanks in advance guys!

 

Nissan recommends changing them at 100k since they're platinum plugs, but IMO that's too long, which is why I was changing mine at 60k. You have a DE-K so you don't have to remove your intake manifold when you change yours. All you have to do is remove the coil held on by one bolt and use a spark plug socket to remove the plug and you're done.

EDIT: here is a link: http://www.picshed.com/tanman/

 

That's a tough one. It might be since you are under 60k so call your dealer and ask.

 

I just changed mine at 65K with NGK Iridiums. About $6.30/ea. NGK is the only plug you want to use in our Max.

 

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaSparkPlugs

this is also a very good site that gives all of the part numbers for the NGK plugs for our cars.

 

56k change my rear cover and plugs.

 

Another good site:


Changing out the sparkplugs-

http://www.greghome.com/Greg's%20Gar...eplacement.htm


Home page-

http://www.greghome.com/Greg's%20Gar.../2002MaxSE.htm

 

Thanks for the link I just realized I need to update my car since I don't have the 00 Maxima anymore I want to do this for my 04 Altima thats why I said the VQ sorry about that.

 

So I couldn't get it fixed today. I thought I had a car to drive but that plan is cancelled, so I can't be without a car for a day or two. I'm calling Dave B. tomorrow to see about getting a new valve cover and I'll install it myself. I'll make sure to take some pics, although it's not a very interesting install.

 

doesnt your dealer offer you a loaner car if you get your car repair there which will take longer then an hour?

 

how often should one change spark plugs?

 

I'm 18, so I wouldn't be able to get one, but even so, I've never heard a nissan dealer say that, and this time I even explained why I couldn't bring my car in with no offer so I'm guessing no...

Post #21



Alright, I just wanted to let everyone know that I just bought an A34 valve cover from Dave B. for $36. He said that the A33B valve cover is about $100..

 

I thought i was the only one. i am at 86k, i went to change my spark plugs on Sunday and once i got to the rear, the first plug i pulled had a ton of oil in the chamber. No where to get gaskets on sunday's and i need my car for this weekend so i dropped it off with my mechanic sunday night. he just called and said that the valve cover is cracked and i had oil in 2 out of the 3 rear chambers. he ordered the 2 valve covers from nissan (might as well replace the front one to avoid this problem in the future.) nissan said that the manufacturer has fixed this problem with the new valve covers.

 

hmm.. gonna have to check my plugs also...thanks for the heads up, im at 50k.

 

I'm at 34k on my '03...I may pull the front plugs this weekend just to see if I'm one of the lucky ones. I'll leave the rears alone for now...looks like quite a job.

LAO2MAX - Is the A34 valve cover exactly the same as the A33 cover or is it a different design? Do you use the A33 gaskets or A34 gaskets or are they exactly the same?

 

at 34k, I wouldn't worry about it. Also, oddly enough, it usually happens to be the rear valve cover that cracks...I guess it's because it's the most incovenient to get to

But getting to the rears is not as hard as it looks. I mean, I just went in there and looked at everything that needed to be unplugged for me to be able to remove the upper IM and removed it...the only hard part are the stupid clamps that you have to use pliers or vice grips with to get them off...I freakin hate those things! But the bolts in the back of the IM are a piece of cake...much easier than I anticipated...Then once you get that IM off, you're more than half way done with replacing the valve cover...

EDIT: and you are one lucky SOB to find that car! 6-speed with nav is extremely rare... :jealous:

 

It comes with a new PCV valve as well.

I changed my rear cover this summer. Make sure you clean off the bolts with a wire brush, and torque them evenly and SLOWLY. 9-26 inch pounds isn't that much, and it is VERY easy to break a bolt.

 

Believe me...I know how rare the 6spd w/nav is. Yet even more rare with HLSD and every other option available! I looked for a very long time for this car -- countless calls and a couple trips out of state to see prospects. I only saw one other fully optioned SE w/nav like it during the entire ~2.5 yrs I was looking and it had been sold, sight unseen, within 2 days of being put up for sale, for almost $19k and it was an '02. The long wait was worth it...I still get a big grin just looking at the car and an even bigger grin driving it!

Back on topic -- Do you know if the A34 valve cover is exactly the same as the A33 cover or is it a different design, meaning as MAXI BLUE 03's mechanic said, Nissan actually did improve the design so it might not crack in the future? Hopefully the A34 gaskets are less expensive too...an all around win for us A33 owners! That is, if you are a member of the .org and know about the retrofit!

 

The only difference might be the kind of plastic used. Other than that it looks exactly the same.

The gasket cost me around $5

 

Did you also get the gasket from Dave B? Did you have to use any sealant along with the gasket? This thread is just great!

 

I think that all the new valve covers coming out by nissan (including the A33 ones) are a bit more reinforced than the older ones that were prone to cracking. Otherwise, they are the same exact design and won't change anything.

Dave B told me that it came with a PCV valve as well. I think I'm just going to save it, because I JUST got a new one (~3k miles ago) so I'll just inspect/clean it and save the new one for the future

And thanks for the image Mike, that's a good addition to this thread. I actually looked that up a few days ago in my fsm just to make sure it was as easy as I though it would be