can someone identify the part # for the rear cover and gasket. I would just like to change the rear one which has the issue. TIA.

 

The rear valve cover will have the PCV valve on it, where the front valve cover will not. Also the front valve cover will have the oil cap cutout.

-Edit, you're probably better replacing both valve covers and gaskets. This only helps later on down the road which is why I went crazy and got both valve covers myself.

-Edit 2, Have a look on http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-...2670_2674.html

13264 is the rear valve cover and 13264+A is the front valve cover.

 

i am trying to understand a little bit better with oil in the spark plug tube seals

If there is any oil in these areas is it no doubt a valve cover leak and only that?
Or is it only when certain tubes like #5 have oil that it is a valve cover leak? (im guessing that just lets you know the location of the leak)
Thanks.

unlike others I am paying a friend to do this work and I need to be informed on this so I dont just request to change the Valve covers for nothing.

 

You can not just purchase the spark plug seals seperately. They are part of the valve cover, so it doesn't matter either way. If you have oil in the opening, replacing valve cover is only route.

 

Thanks nismopc. .. the question was more or less... was there anything else that could cause oil to be in those areas.

 

I just picked up my new rear VC yesterday, along with a new VC gasket. I pulled the front coils a couple days ago, and all those wells were clean as a whistle. I also spot checked one of the plugs, and it is really worn down after 119K miles. Replacing them with NGK Iridium IX plugs. In addition to the plenum gasket, I also picked up the gasket for between the plenum and elbow, and the one for between the TB and elbow. This is just in case I need them. I can return those 2 if not needed. Gonna do the job tomorrow at a buddy's house. He recently changed plugs on an Altima 3.5.

 

^^ Nice,


usually just the rear is the one that's leaking, but i went ahead and done both.

 

Is it okay to use a 2002 gasket when installing a 2004 rear valve cover?

 

try reading FFS

 

Wow, that was a lot of help, thanks. Care to tell me what "FFS" means?

 

Sorry to bump this older thread, but great info. Will be doing this with my plug change real soon.

Thanks!

 

2004 valve covers need the 2004 gaskets. Call DaveB.

 

I know, bumping an old thread, but is it right for one valve cover to be bigger than another? Someone let me know before I go ham.

 

Don't really know what you mean. Just order & install the 6th gen valve cover & gasket and...you're covered.

 

I mean what I said, was your covers one bigger than another?

 

Didn't notice, to be honest. I just installed the 6th gen cover and gasket. It fit without any difficulty.

 

Oh, you only did the rear?

 

good news about the covers I have a leaking one in the rear and it was expensive but now I will go get it thank you

 

Yes. Right bank or firewall side. The left or rad side isn't leaking.

 

Do you mean comparing the front and rear to each other? or 5.5 gen and 6th gen?

The front cover is a little wider

5.5 and 6th gen VC are the same.







here u can see the front one is a little "wider"

 

Yea, that's it, so it is a little wider, just making to make sure because the boxes also came in different sizes.

 

When you guys replaced the front valve cover gasket does it require a sealant?

 

Yes. Apply it at the front corners near the camshaft bracket. See EM-50.

 

Thanks man

 

Both valve covers require the liquid gasket. Pickup some 10 minute stuff from Autozone if you hate waiting.

 

So when replacing the front AKA as left only, do you guys recommend replacing just the gasket itself or going with the 04+ valve cover and gasket?

 

04 Valve Cover and gasket. Why are you only replacing the 'front'?

 

I just did my rear valve cover, wasn't that bad since I already knew how to take the Mani off, letting the car sit over night so the sealer can dry, although I do think 86 inch lbs is kind of soft for the bolts, but that's what the manual says.

 

Back one not leaking yet, when it does I will have to make real time to tackle that.

 

If and when you do/did your spark plugs, you should change the rear cover/gasket. I was told to do so, and I didn't listen and now I had to take of the intake manifold again and do it, was only a year ago I did the sparks.

 

Does this solve the VQ35 oil burning issues? Sorry about this shot in the dark question, I really have no clue.

 

It might...it might not. It helped on mine because I could see where the oil was leaking out onto the rear header...but I was only going through a quart every 5k, if that.


(for oil LOSS, as SurraTT explains below)

 

It wont help oil burning, but it might help oil loss. As the oil will stay in the motor rather then leaking out.

 

Is the oil consuming issue just on the 02-03 Maxima VQ35DEs or is that ALL VQ35DE and HR engines?? And has there been any reports of oil burning on the new VQ37VHR engines? Those engines are beasty!!!

 

Its complicated, but 02 03 FWD def have it. 04-08 i think its more hit and miss. 09+ seem to be just fine

RWD- DE's mixed up some bad some none

Rev ups- i think are the worst

HR's and newer seem to be fine

 

If you do some searching, you can find the thread where someone tore down an oil burning VQ. The final analysis was the piston rings allowed oil blow by which is burned during combustion. Not sure if dropping in better quality piston rings would totally solve the oil burning problem. I for one would love to compare the piston rings from the VQ with the HR engine series.

-I was bored. Link is http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ront-bank.html

 

Man, I'll just live with the quart of oil I have to put in every once in a while. Rebuilding an engine is expensive!

 

You could cut the costs down by farming out the one thing you want done. "I only need new piston rings, nothing more." Then see which places offer the best quotes. I would think the most difficult part of that job is physically hoisting the engine out of the vehicle.

After that, given the forums you can walk your way through the piston ring replacement on your own!

 

Hey Surratt what kind of torque wrench you use to torque the VCs down? In the FSM it says its in-lbs or something like that not the standard ft-lbs that you see in the stores. I believe it said 80 in-lbs.....can't remember.

 

You use a inch lb torque wrench, these are usually 3/8 drive instead of the bigger 1/2 drive ft tq wrenches.


Its good to have both of these torque wrenches!