well of course my 02 valve covers leak at the sparkplug tube seals.


so i went to the dealer and picked up some fresh 04 3.5 maxima valve covers


the part numbers for 04 valve covers are:

13264-7Y000
13264-7Y010

i got them for $35 each

compared to the 02 VC for like $130 each!!!!!!

you will need to buy valve cover gaskets also,

13270-EA20A
13270-EA21A

the gaskets where around $8 each

also the new vc comes with a pcv valve so save ur $8, unlike i did order one. so i got a bran new spare now!!!





UPDATE:

Ive had these for a longggg time now, with NO Problems AT ALL!!!!

Here are most of the pics

 

are those both front and rear valve covers? I heard its the rear that usually cracks and spits oil out. But for that price you may as well get the front one too...So the 04 one will fit on a 5.5 no problem? take some pics during the install if you can

 

i didnt know they fit. let us know how the install goes.

 

I couldn't understand the difference in $ and couldn't see how the valve cover could be different between 02 - 06. But, I believe the 02 - 03 are aluminum and the 04 - 06 are plastic - but should otherwise fit. I'll stay tuned to see how the replacement goes.

 

keep us updatd, i think im getting oil in the cylinder on the drivers side , closest to the firewall, i though it was just the gasket, its the entire cover??

 

If you could replace the spark plug tube grommets separately it would be just gaskets. But, the grommets are built into the valve cover, so ... new valve cover.

 

I see, i have been procrastinating on fixing mine for a while now. Keep us updtaed on the fitment and etc...

 

Nope, both are made of the same grade plastic, and are essentially the same thing.

The only notable difference between the 5th gen and 6th gen valve covers is that the gaskets that surround the spark plug chambers are a bit more rubberized on the 6th gens which allows it to fit snug and not slide up the chamber like ours do (which are made up of a harder, more plastic-like material).

I think the difference in price is due to part availability. They probably don't make the ones that came stock on the 5.5 gens anymore. I'm willing to bet that they just raised the price to rape people because they knew there was a problem, yet they use the same part as the 6th gens when the dealer replaces it. That's nissan for you.

 

why not get them powder coated

 

its the same engine

 

i know that, i thought they'd make it a lil different so that we HAVE to get 03 valve covers. but i guess not.

 

no but its not the same valve cover , the 04-06 have a diffrent shape where the air intake tube goes in.also the valve cover gaskets are no the same. so if you guys replace the valve cover make sure u guys get the matching gasket .

 

the upper half of the engine (where the covers meet) is exactly the same. of course it will fit. you can change the cover...the ENGINE is still the same

 

arent the gaskets built into the valve cover? in which case "get the matching gasket" would be a given?

 

i think the main reason the 02 03 vc are soo expensive is that nissan knows that their is a problem so they jack up the price. im going to deeply compare my 02 to the 04 and see if there is any difference


im thinking if there is any difference its not going to matter at all.


only thing is im doing it on saterday. so thats a lil ways away.



i can wait though

 

Did anybody read my post? There is no physical difference in the 02-03 VCs vs. the 6th gen VCs besides the spark plug gaskets. Everything is the same. The heads are the same, the gasket is the same, (which, BTW is not built into the VC, only the small round gaskets that go around the spark plug chamber are), and it still functions exactly like your stock VC. How it's this hard to comprehend I'll never know.

 

Yes baking plastic at high temperatures would be a marvel idea.

 

im agreeing...same engine same VC

 

hurry up bro, your holding me back on fixing my leak....

I might just cross my fingers and buy the 04 valve covers tomoro and install them saterday too!!

dnt see why they woulnt fit so....

 

They do...E55 and I put an 04 cover on my 02 with no issues at all.

 

What is E55?

 

What problem will this fix by replacing these?

 

another member

 

E55AMG2 = 5th Gen Moderator.

 

I put an 05 cover on mine..... .


FSM tells you to scrape off and put a new dab of silicone on the corner if I recall. Can't remember which one. You'll see it when you pull it off.

 

I just put some silicone around the grommets and re-installed mine. haven't leaked since.

 

Anybody know if there is or ever was a TSB for the Valve Covers / Gaskets on a 5.5 gen???

gr

 

I don't remember is this was clearly answered or not:
Does the replacement GASKET come WITH the new (04) valve cover(s)??

thks,
gr

 

I think you have to buy the gasket separate but the spark plug tube gaskets are made into the valve cover therefore you have to replace the cover.

 

no gaskets come with the valve covers.


so yes buy the gaskets.

 

thanks for clarifying.

gr

 

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0835Medium.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0836Medium.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0840Medium.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0845Medium.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...0847Medium.jpg


update!!!!

finally adding the pics


hahah better late then never!!

 

the front one seems pretty straight forward.. correct me if i'm wrong, but with the front one, you just bolt it off after you take off the engine cover and remove the spark plugs right? and for the rear one, you just take off the IM, take out the spark plugs, and the valve cover just bolts off from there right?

 

hmmm...

 

front is very easy ,

remove engine conver. remove coils, un attatch harnesses, unbolt vc

rear is , remove intake upper intake system, remove coils, unattatch harnesses, then undolt vc

might work but i would rather just replace the vc's

 

Even the parts guy at Don Davis Nissan in Arlington said whenever I need to replace the valve covers to get the '04 ones. Nice to know there are parts guys who let you know what your options are.

 

So let me ask this ... if I told you I removed the intake manifold last month to do a tune-up, would you think I could replace the valve covers and gaskets in my driveway with some help? Or is this to big a job for me?

 

front one is cake - rear one, is a little more difficult

 

Maybe I should try just replacing the front one first, and see if I've stopped the leak?

 

You haven't.

It's still there, waiting for you...

Just resolve yourself that the engine is going to lose oil, keep dumping it in periodically....and you'll sleep better at night.

I look at it, like I'm EXTENDING my OCI's by a few thousand miles -- adding 1.5 qts between changes!!!

gr

**btw - Check your sparkplug TUBES first before you yank the front cover...if it's dry, I'd say leave it alone.
Are you losing any oil at the front of the engine?? WHere the Valve cover and block meet?? If not, also -- leave it alone.
My front VC was fine, but my rear was leaking into the tubes -- very common for us!