I finally managed to do this. Everything went well until i got to the right-most plug on the rear bank (the one closest to the MAF).

The plug came out with some oil on it. The tip didn't have it though (although the picture below shows it has, that's only because it eventually dripped down to it).

Is this normal? I may have introduced oil into the new plug though. After putting everything back together i now have an engine light on.

 

No, it's not good. Usually means worn cylinder walls, bad piston rings, bad PCV or excessive vlave stem guide clearance.

 

Those don't sound good. I guess my next step would be to bring this to the dealer? I never got an engine light prior to changing the plugs, so i don't even know what to tell them.

Can i at least drive the car around for a while? Everything seems fine right now (other than the light), in fact it's idling very smoothly.

 

Before you get all concerned and worried, check your "plastic" valve cover. It's probably cracked and that is the most common location for the crack. Check it out before thinking the worst from above posted thread.

 

Did you hook everything up right? Did you forget to connect a hose? Did the engine run well before changing them?

 

+1 just replaced mine thanks to E55's help...there was def. some oil under that rear valve cover when we took it out.

 

Yep, i hooked everything back up. I only took 4 hoses off and labeled them. In fact, i "dotted" everything i touched with blue tape so i know what to put back.

What is this "plastic" valve cover you guys are referring to? Do any of you have a picture of this by any chance?

Thanks!

 

common problem with 02-03. Dont get to concerned. Gaskets need replacing that's all.....
GO RED SOXS.............................................. ......

 

Honestly, this is a relief. So i am actually hoping that's what's causing it.

Now to figure out why i have an SES light.

Thanks, everyone!

 

Out of curiosity, which gaskets?

 

I think he means the rear valve cover gasket...

 

Just had the same problem wiith my tune up. It is not the valve cover gasket, it is the "down shoot" gasket of that plug of the valve cover which, I was told by Dave B, cannot be replaced. You need a whole new valve cover for $130. Have had no problem since.

 

multiple cylinder misfire as a result of oily azzed plugs. just throwing out a possibility

 

Thanks, i actually figured it out thanks to NmexMAX. It was because i put the car on ACC (inserted key) while the MAF/TB was disconnected. The code i pulled was P0233. I just did an ECU reset and the car is good as gold again

 

Is it ok to let the oil drain down into the cylinder when replacing this plug or do I need to get all the oil out before removing the plug?

 

I just had this same concern last weekend. The board went down so I didnt have help from anyone. I figured out that oil was leaking from the valve cover down into the metal tube that the plug is in. Mine had been there so long that the oil was red and smelt burnt making me think the engine had been filled with ATF.

All is well with my car 1000 miles after the plug change, except I discovered I need a new rear precat as bits of mine were in the main cat. Found that out as I was fitting a test pipe

 

i know i have bad rings and mine looked like this

 

yea IIRC like sooner is saying he had the same problem replace your valve cover and gaskets.

 

I replaced the valve cover and gasket. While I was in there, I also put a bead around the entire manifold.



I looked all over the old valve cover where the ring meets the spark plug hole, but I could find no crack. I'm not sure how oil was getting in there.

 

The valve cover gasket has nothing to do with this problem. The valve cover itself and the oil baffle plate under it have a clearance too large around the tube that the spark plug slides down. Oil leaks through this gap and down into the tube and fills it up. If you have no oil stains or carboned up threads in an area of the thread length, you do not have a ring problem, otherwise all threads on the plug would be dark as the oil on the exterior of the plug would have come from within the combustion chamber.

 

I know that, I replaced the gasket because I replaced the valve cover. Putting RTV around was more about preventative maintenance, rather than keeping oil out of the spark plug hole.

My post stated that I checked the ring around the spark plug hole and could find no crack in it (many people do). I'm not sure how oil got into that spark plug hole but none of the others.

 

from dave b....04-06 (6th gen) rear valve cover- $38.39

i don't know what your smoking thinking its $130+

you need the 04-06 as it is a better cover

 

Whatever you do...don't do this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I was wrong, following the advice of another thread. Further, you'll want to use the grey (import) RTV, not blue. You only need a little, just a dab in the corners where the head has a 90 degree bend. I wound up doing the job twice and I'm glad I did. The RTV all the way around came right off, it wasn't going to seal at all.

Lesson learned.

 

It's fine, it will just burn off.

 

ditto post above..its gaskets

 

Just wanted to say thanks to all you guys for the informative stuff. You really saved me time and money from the..stealer****s...yeah..anyway..God bless..GO MAX.ORG

 

does anybody have a howto with pictures on how to replace the rear valve cover with an 04-06 valve cover?

 

So, help me out here: you have to remove the intake manifold to get at the rear cyl. bank and spark plugs, correct?

Did any of you guys with the "bad valve cover" notice any unusual amounts of oil mysteriously disappearing from your oil res. b4 you replaced the cover??

i'm wondering if an ounce of prevention might be worth my effort on this one....

gr

 

The FSM, follow it anally. Also, 3m auto scuff pads are helpful, and be very careful when removing the old permetex grey from the corners that it doesn't fall into the head, it is perfect size to block the oil return passage on the rear head

 

Correct on removing manifold, however you can pull plug #5 with it still on and check for oil, it seems 3 & 5 are usually the ones that get wet anyways.

The amount of oil lost is miniscule compared to what gets past the cylinder walls or pushed out the pcv on the 3.5

 

Kewl. Thanks.
I'm probably better-off installing the PCV catch-can, and keeping all that muck out of my manifold and catalyst.
Stupid Crappy Nissan Piston Rings!!!!

gr