So i have coen to the conclusion that my valve covers are leaking due to cleaning and finding oil and coils also having oil. I know people say to get 6th gen covers so im wondering where people buy them? Courtesy? Autozone/autoparts? Or do we have an org member? Any help is appreciated!

 

The rear cover on the 02/03 cars is prone to cracking. That one should be replaced with an 04 cover. The front should be fine. I would just replace the tube seals in the front cover.

While you're at it, now it the time to do a change the plugs since that requires removing the intake plenum.

 

I replaced the sparks not too long ago so im fine... so the back i should get from courtesy nissan and the front from anywhere?

 

Get the rear cover off RockAuto or something.

 

the thing is both rockauto, autozone and advance show the same part number for both generations, so it doesnt make sense why people say the 04 one are better unless dealers sell different one

 

It could be that the part was updated. It's been a while since I did it. Sometimes the factory discontinues a bad part for a better one. That may be the case here.

 

I've got some 6th gen valve covers for sale. 30 a piece. Shoot me a pm if interested

 

Valve seals on them good?

 

Any way to tell if they are the good design? Knowing what the difference between 6th gen and 5th gen would help

 

It does look like Nissan replaced the old one with the new one. Courtesy has one VC for the 5.5 and 6th gen and says it replaces a previous part#. The aftermarket generally follows what the factory does.
http://www.courtesyparts.com/?year=2...&search_in=all

The old 5.5 gen VC looked different from the 6th gen part but I wouldn't be able to tell now without seeing them side by side. My guess is that any new part you get now, that lists for both gens, will be the updated style.

 

Isn't the general concencus to stay oem for the valve covers or is it just more important to have the oem gasket? I am thinking about getting this one but they give a year warranty if it leaks so i think it should be good.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...iglink20459-20

 

Just did this a few days ago on my '02 GLE. Got the rear valve cover from Nissan Parts Deal for $94. Rock Auto had a couple different ones ranging from $105 to $140 + shipping, so I decided to go OEM. If you go OEM, it comes with the gasket. When it comes to ordering parts for jobs that you don''t want to ever do over again, use OEM or better parts! ie (spark plugs, ignition coils, valve covers, ect...)

 

That link is for a front cover, not the rear. I think the rears are usually cheaper.
You can always tell them apart because the rear lacks the oil filler hole.

I don't think it's important to use factory parts for most things unless you just want to spend more money. FelPro and other companies make great gaskets and I haven't heard of any problems with aftermarket VCs.

Overall there are very few parts I would go to the dealer for.

 

$94 for oem! You said nissan parts deal? Is that dealership or what?

 

Well i honestly should of done valve cover when i did my new engine but i only did gaskets.... i just dont want to buy new valve covers and have them not work... im going to be pricing them out tomorrow at the usual places i ger discounts because of the shop i work at but the 94$ he mentioned above sounds really good!

 

$94 is great. The $179 for the front is crazy and is the reason I postpone the job lol. There must be cheaper front covers that work.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Valve-Cover-Gasket-DRIVER-LEFT-for-04-06-Nissan-Altima-Maxima-Quest-3-5-/232061356071?nav=SEARCH
Wonder if anyone has tried this.

 

Yeha he needs to let us know where to get the $94 dollar ones! Yeah i saw the ones on ebay but idk im skeptical plus the whole you get what you paid for thing makes me doubt it... i saw a post earlier from wayyyy agooo that show people used to buy oem for $42 😳

 

yeah shoot me a pm if interested

 

Once the dealership realized we knew about the valve covers from 6th gen they boosted prices.

http://www.nissanpartsdeal.com/parts...%3DSES;5%3DAT)

Above is OEM rear valve cover for $94.xx

 

Yeah, Ni$$an does that every time we find a good part. The 6th gen VC was cheap. They used to sell a clutch for a 350ZHR that was a nice upgrade to the stock Maxima clutch . It was CHEAP compared to a stage 1 aftermarket clutch with the same specs. Now they've raised the price to where it's not worth it any more. As much as I love these cars, Ni$$an keeps pissing me off with their support.

 

Sorry, just bought the tube seals today so won't need a new cover.

 

arent the tube seals built into the cover on the 5.5?

 

Yeah, but you can drill into the baffle underneath so that you can pop out the old seals.

 

honestly that just seems too sketchy for me lol

 

You are the best ever!! thank you

 

Sounded like it to me too, but then I read the write-up and it seems very easy. All you have to do is cut through enough material to where you can get the seal out. It's maybe like 3/16" of plastic you need to cut. Paying $16 for new valve seals beats paying over $100 for a whole new cover.

 

btw the front cover is way more expensive! its okay ill try the other places since the front can be replaced and checked easily

 

as long as you know what you're getting into

 

What is there to mess up? You drill carefully until you hit the old seal. Then get rid of the plastic you drilled and pop out the old seal.

 

Idk seems sketchy to me personally but why not try it if it doesnt work you go get valve covers

 

Just bought new valve covers for my 5.5 gen, aluminum, only cost $65 for the pair including gaskets. I would really appreciate any tips, advice, warnings about doing this job. I know about the bolt sequence, torque specs, and need to put silicone around the lower corners that are prone to leaking. ANYTHING ELSE???

 

02-present with Plastic V/C's have the spark plug tube seal built in you can't replace them on a 02-present just 95-01 with the Aluminum V/C's.

 

This is what I purchased: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-Valve-Cover-Kit-for-02-09-NISSAN-Altima-Maxima-Murano-Quest-I35-3-5L/353292062282?hash=item5241d90e4a:gRgAAOSwq69fvf~ T
Looks like tube seals are pre-installed. Am I missing something???

 

Are you? First of all I haven't seen any Aluminum V/C for VQ35DE and the cards we were dealt from OEM to Aftermarket were plastic V/C with a built in seal for the spark tube that you couldn't replace w/o changing the entire V/C assembly as one! On (4 yr Old post) Reply #2 stated he changed just the seals and that's damn near impossible unless you cut the plastic to remove and replace the seals and plastic weld that back together which is labor intensive! So do I think you are missing something! I realize the seals are part of the assembly! You Clear?

 

I'm sure they're not Aluminum unless your 5th gen is a 2000-01 (VQ30DE-K) or earlier....The entire post is regarding the VQ35DE 02-present plastic V/C's.....

 

Installed Front VC I bought on ebay biz: MitZone, perfect fit, well made gasket, no leaks, no problems, ... so far. Oh. AND YES IT IS ALUMINUM. Very sturdy / solid vs. the crap plastic stuff. Highly recommend. Installing rear VC next weekend.

FRONT VC Installed, Aluminum.

 

Looks good!

 

OMG. Looks amazing. Why didn't I see these when I swapped my covers? Crap!

I bet you got at least 100HP from that mod. At least.

 

Nice, red just like a VG30!

Oh it also looks like the baffle is removable so the seals can be replaced!!!!!

 

Wow, I think you're right. I still have to do my front cover. Maybe I'll try these.