yeh I was looking at Autozone and Advanced auto and they only sell in-lb torque wrenches.....WACK!! Maybe I'll try Sears or Home Depot or something.

 

weeeeeeeery nice looking.

 

Dont mean to bump an old thread but Just got the covers and gaskets for an 04 or baisically the same part number listed in the first post and they were about $65 apiece. inflation or the stealership being d bags idk, but I walked out of there for $174 after tax for both covers and gaskets....now for another $66 at the vatozone for some spark plugs.

 

13264-7Y000 - $44.48
http://www.courtesyparts.com/cover-assy-p-250175.html
13264-7Y010 - $42.35
http://www.courtesyparts.com/cover-assy-p-250176.html
13270-EA20A - $7.80
http://www.courtesyparts.com/gasket-roc-p-250354.html
13270-EA21A - $8.40
http://www.courtesyparts.com/gasket-roc-p-250355.html

All of the above + Shipping = $124.63

and NGK Coppers are ~2.50/each x6 = $15+tax

 

+1

Don't buy oem nissan parts without checking sources out first!

 

After re-reading his post....looks like he bought the stock $100/each valve covers

 

It was 64 for each cover and like 12 for each gasket, didn't really feel like ordering it, just went ahead and got it because its hard to find time between work and all the other random crap and the only source I checked was this page haha, plus the max couldn't really wait that long to do it 180k stock gaskets and covers and im about 90% sure that when the previous owner changed the plugs they just got some ghetto or off brand plugs so...its really whatever.

 

I got mine from west Covina Nissan for 120 with the gaskets.

 

Well, wish I would of seen this thread last week

$184 (tax included), I've replaced ONE valve cover...

 

Actually, I believe that the fouled plugs will allow unburned gas to eat the filter in your pre-cat. That's what happened to mine. Reduced the filer to hunk of charcoal rattling around in it's housing.

Two O2 sensors and a 6 spark plugs later I found the the cooked plug well seals. Didn't know about the cheaper gen 6 replacement then so have to replace it again today- this time with an 06!

They rock! Got the rear cover (6 gen) and gasket for $47.71 including $10 for local ground shipping! The 5.5 gen was $175 just for the cover.

 

Man reading this thread has me pretty pumped to go out n pick up a set of fresh valve covers, Mine are old as heck and I been contemplating Replacing before i knew i could just get the 04 ones , Saw the price on the 2003's and said screw it if its gonna run me 300$. I also have the ever so slight oil leak at the front pass side corner on my front vc. Super Excited since i havnt had any new car parts to play with for a while

 

Hey guys,

I have an oil burner as well and it burns quite a bit. I've noticed that every time I open the hood to check on the oil level, I see black residue on my engine cover. Is this oil? Does that mean I need to replace my valve covers?

If it helps, there is also this black residue all over my alternator and random parts beside the engine. Any suggestions?

 

Replace your valve cover GASKETS. Then clean your engine. Check for leaks.

 

it looks like a brand new engine in there! no orangish varnish like my engine had.

I replaced my rear valve cover with a 2006 maxima cover. its been perfect since

 

haha, that motor had 191k i think.

 

I mad. $35 for 6gen valve covers? I recently had to replace my bank 1 valve cover on the g35, $210 shipped with discounts and gasket. $260 from dealer + $20 for gasket. You maxima guys have it easy.

 

Yeah, seriously. How did you manage that?

 

No, I'm pretty sure you just got ripped off.

 

I had some 6gen covers left over from my old engine swap. I tried them and they did not fit, they would not seat down all the way.

 

Okay so I should replace the gaskets and then check for leaks. If there are leaks I should then replace the valve covers?

Thanks for your help

 

Replacing the gaskets fixes any leaks around the bottom edge. Replacing the covers will fix leakage past the tube seals into the spark plug wells. I wouldn't do anything until you've checked to see if you have oil in any of the spark plug wells and if you do, replace the valve covers.

 

Oh okay that seems like something I could check right now.

The spark plugs are in the holes of the of valve cover right? And that hole on the top left is for putting in oil?

Sorry I don't know anything about this stuff

 

You can check the front three very easily by just removing the front three coil packs. When you pull the coil pack off you will see oil in the hole (and dripping off of the boot on the bottom of the coil pack for that matter).Unfortunately the most common issue is with the rear cover. In order to reach them you will have to remove the upper intake manifold. It's not terribly difficult but can be a bit overwhelming for the novice.

 

Just confirming. An 04 valve cover on the 02 max .the 04 spark plug gasket will fit with no issues? Does rtv sealant have to be applied on valve cover?

 

Yes. 04 valve cover will fit on 02. And the RTV goes on the head, not on the valve cover.

 

YES. Had mine done few weeks ago.

 

I put the rtv all over the gasket that goes on the valve cover

 

Hey guys, I have read through this thread and all this info made me think, perhaps too much.

I have a 3.0L early 5th-gen, with no measurable oil consumption (no need to add oil over 7000k miles), car has 122k miles and sparks were last replaced at 90K.

My question is: Do I have to worry about my valve gaskets and oil seeping on plugs? Do I have to worry about pre-cat damage dues to fouled plugs/other?

I think that the answer to both questions is NO, but I wonder if I missed anything and would like to be sure ....

 

^
Aren't the 3.0 L bullet proof? Bet they are fine!

 

That's what I wanted to hear - thanks!

 

For the RTV, check in the FSM for the exact location the RTV is needed. I learned the hard way.

 

Beautiful Thread, Thank you

 

Sorry to bump old thread. Wonderful information. The 2004 valve covers have for sure gone up since the start of this thread. 7x each now.

 

^Where at? The above courtesy parts links are 90 and 175 when you click them.

 

I think that's where mine are priced at right now which even with 20% off list is still ridiculous. Just wish they'd release the spark plug tube seals separate from the valve cover since 9/10 times that's all that's leaking.

It's funny to look at the price differences from 10 years ago though. The valve covers have gone up but the valve cover gaskets have gone down to only $5.03 and $6.43.

 

Just found them for 81 $ a piece plus gaskets. anyone got a better price on them on tap?


Also, is it just as fine to get the '04 covers used with new gaskets??? I imagine that market is going to climb next

 

That might not be a bad idea if the VC's are from an 04+ and in good shape. Maybe I'll do that.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-Right-Engine-Valve-Cover-Gasket-Seals-For-04-06-Maxima-Altima-V6-3-5L-/251835238334?fits=Year%3A2004%7CModel%3AMaxima&hash=item3aa28cc7be&vxp=mtr
is this legit quality? or stick to nissan factory?

a few members have asked me where i saw the oe ones for $81 posted few posts up...i have to refind it

 

I can't speak to this specific part but overall there have been posts by members complaining about bad fitment with non-nissan parts (autozone, etc) so you'll have to decide if it's worth the time to re-do the valve cover swap should something go wrong.

 

So, 145K and time to do the rear plugs - I knew what i would find. driver side rear plug with oil (not has bad as I expected). As I understand it, left /right is relative looking at the engine from the driver side (rear to front of engine). So, left valve cover is closest to the front. Right?

So far:

local Nissan dealership ($245 / 123)
Courtesy ($184 / 92)
Nissan Parts.cc (higher than local)
West Covina - waiting for their email.

local parts store (non oem) - almost as much as oem. Why bother?

I'm not going to worry about the front cover. It's not leaking at all, so why mess with it. For the rear, I need my wheels back, so I'll swap the plugs for now and get some parts on order. Then I'll go back in, because I like doing things twice.