Valve cover spark plug tube seals
Valve cover spark plug tube seals
I bought some spark plug tube seals from some random cars. I have some valve covers coming soon and I want to try these seals on to see if any of them fit. Some are Acura/Honda, Lexus/Toyota, Nissan and some other makes I think Merc ones also. Paid about $65 shipped for all of them. Maybe one fits and works. 
I also noticed that Nissan are not the only ones that don't have replaceable seals. But I have no idea if other valve covers from other car makers leak inside the tubes.
I also noticed that Nissan are not the only ones that don't have replaceable seals. But I have no idea if other valve covers from other car makers leak inside the tubes.
The valve covers from the 1995 to 1999 VQ30 Maxima/i30 have the same bolt pattern as the the VQ35 ones but the coil packs are different and they use 2 bolts instead of just 1 like the VQ35 covers. There is also a problem with some of the coil packs from 1995 - 1999 where they cause misfires. So changing the valve covers works but then the coil packs that fit might become a problem. - http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ion-coils.html
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...oils-last.html
http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?searchid=1088568
Pics.
VQ35 coil plugged into the VQ30 harness.
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...oils-last.html
http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?searchid=1088568
Pics.
VQ35 coil plugged into the VQ30 harness.
Last edited by Andrei; Apr 10, 2010 at 03:06 PM.
I cant take them out of the valve covers I have since I will use them. I will try when I get the ones off my car that already leak.
More pics.
Tried using the VQ35 coil in the VQ30 valve cover but it doesn't fit at all.
So the only way to make it all work is to use VQ30 coils and valve covers but the coil might not be good and go bad after a while.
VQ30 coil
VQ35 coil
More pics.
Tried using the VQ35 coil in the VQ30 valve cover but it doesn't fit at all.
So the only way to make it all work is to use VQ30 coils and valve covers but the coil might not be good and go bad after a while. VQ30 coil
VQ35 coil
Last edited by Andrei; Apr 10, 2010 at 11:58 PM.
This is what happens when the seal was forced out on the VQ35 cover. All those seals I bought was for nothing. Also for anyone interested there is the Pathfinder QX4 valve covers from 2001 that have replaceable seals. Check http://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-d...e-gaskets.html
It was garbage anyway since it was leaking.
All those seals I bought was for nothing. Also for anyone interested there is the Pathfinder QX4 valve covers from 2001 that have replaceable seals. Check http://my350z.com/forum/engine-and-d...e-gaskets.htmlIt was garbage anyway since it was leaking.
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Found the QX4/Pathfinder valve cover for the driver side only for now. I only had the passenger side VQ35 cover to match not the driver side bc the online inventory said the junkyard had both. I traced the outline of the QX4 one and went back to the shop and it matches the driver side VQ35 one. The coil packs also use 1 bolt each like the VQ35 one. The junk yard only had the driver side and said they would call me back when they have both.
yeah I was looking into local junkyards. haven't had much luck yet but i have just started searching. I found a few that i can order from other junkyards so thats a possibility
It's very rare JDM part 
since it was only in production for less than 2 years and it's high quality/very heavy duty aluminium part. Same reason there's a tuner in the UK that has some sets that he wont sell for money or vagina.
since it was only in production for less than 2 years and it's high quality/very heavy duty aluminium part. Same reason there's a tuner in the UK that has some sets that he wont sell for money or vagina.
I have both covers now but the passenger side cover has one hole that doesn't work with the coils from my car. The Pathfinder/QX4 coils are different than the ones from newer VQs. Only way to make it work is to use 1 01-02 coil. I read there are problems with them though.
Gasket fits perfect.
Gasket fits perfect.
Last edited by Andrei; Apr 21, 2010 at 03:31 AM.
Went to the dealer and as I suspected only 1 coil is different then the rest in length. I paid $127 which is really high compared to online prices of 89+shipping which no more than 10-15 for all 6.
This should work now. But wont know for sure until install time.
This should work now. But wont know for sure until install time.
Detailed updates are on my350z. These DO NOT work unless they are heavily modified.
UPDATE
The valve covers DO NOT work. The car misfires so I guess the coils do not reach far enough to the spark plugs with these covers. When I pull off the coils it doesn't seem that it reaches all the way down on the spark plugs. I don't get that pop sound.
Since there are too many issues with this mod it's not worth it. The hood does not clear the oil snorkel. The breather nipple on the driver side hardly clears the TB. None of the coils reach down far enough I guess without filling down the mounting surface and the coils also do not seal on the surface of the covers. I wasted 2 days on this and more time to come putting on the original covers and a lot of money for nothing.
I also found out that none of the spark seals were leaking on my car even at 100k miles now(could be because I used Mobil 1 with Lucas synthetic oil stabilizer $60 per oil change). But somehow the motor had oil in the lower and upper plenum.
Pics.
The valve covers DO NOT work. The car misfires so I guess the coils do not reach far enough to the spark plugs with these covers. When I pull off the coils it doesn't seem that it reaches all the way down on the spark plugs. I don't get that pop sound.
Since there are too many issues with this mod it's not worth it. The hood does not clear the oil snorkel. The breather nipple on the driver side hardly clears the TB. None of the coils reach down far enough I guess without filling down the mounting surface and the coils also do not seal on the surface of the covers. I wasted 2 days on this and more time to come putting on the original covers and a lot of money for nothing.
I also found out that none of the spark seals were leaking on my car even at 100k miles now(could be because I used Mobil 1 with Lucas synthetic oil stabilizer $60 per oil change).
But somehow the motor had oil in the lower and upper plenum. Pics.
Last edited by Andrei; Jun 17, 2010 at 11:36 AM.
If you want to ensure that your valve covers don't leak...then just use RTV in addition to the stock gaskets. People have used RTV as a fix for leaking tubes with success.