DIY valve cover replacement. Again
#1
DIY valve cover replacement. Again
This is the 6th time I did this. Last time, which was in April or May of 2010, I was trying on the Pathfinder and QX4 valve covers that are aluminum which didn't work and they are in the pics. I got lazy after the 5th time in one day and didn't clean the RTV off the heads and broke a valve cover bolt because changing valve covers should only really happen twice max for the life of the car/motor so I took off the covers and bolts 5 times or more. After that the car had a vacuum leak off and on which could of been because I didn't clean the RTV off well enough or because I broke a bolt and it didn't seal in that area, even though it did not leak oil. It had a SES/Check Engine for the wideband sensors after that, even thought it did turn off and the car ran great for a whole day.
This time I had the right tools to clean the heads of all RTV. This took me from 10AM until about 3PM. I still have a valve cover bolt that I'm not using since half of it is stuck in the cylinder head and the the only way to get it out is to drill it out and tap for a 1 size larger bolt and I can only do that with the cylinder head out of the car. I am very sorry that bolt broke. In total I broke 3 bolts since I got the car, 1 for the valve cover, 2 for the upper plenum which are still stuck in the lower plenum, and I stripped one bolt hole for the thermostat. Also broke a Taiwan ratchet today.
I installed new gaskets at $15 each and I bought brand new valve cover bolts which was $80+ for 18 of them. 20 total. I bought 2 before.
So far no SES light and the car seems to be ready to pass emissions. Will try that Tuesday or Wednesday just in case the light comes back on before registration is due in March. Hopefully this same time next year, I'll have a VQ40 short block with rebuilt Revup cylinder heads and a new lower plenum.
I stopped taking pics about half way.
This time I had the right tools to clean the heads of all RTV. This took me from 10AM until about 3PM. I still have a valve cover bolt that I'm not using since half of it is stuck in the cylinder head and the the only way to get it out is to drill it out and tap for a 1 size larger bolt and I can only do that with the cylinder head out of the car. I am very sorry that bolt broke. In total I broke 3 bolts since I got the car, 1 for the valve cover, 2 for the upper plenum which are still stuck in the lower plenum, and I stripped one bolt hole for the thermostat. Also broke a Taiwan ratchet today.
I installed new gaskets at $15 each and I bought brand new valve cover bolts which was $80+ for 18 of them. 20 total. I bought 2 before.
So far no SES light and the car seems to be ready to pass emissions. Will try that Tuesday or Wednesday just in case the light comes back on before registration is due in March. Hopefully this same time next year, I'll have a VQ40 short block with rebuilt Revup cylinder heads and a new lower plenum.
I stopped taking pics about half way.
Last edited by Andrei; 01-30-2011 at 07:36 PM.
#2
#3
Anyway, when I took off the original valve covers in May or April of 2010, they had 90k+ miles and they were not leaking oil inside the spark plug tubes even though my mothers Murano was leaking at 63k. I just put the original ones back on the car today.
#4
#5
I found the post they made. Hopefully this is a lifetime solution.
"We here at R&D Factory service many Nissans and Infinities daily and run into same valve cover/spark plug o-ring leak. About 75% of the vehicles that we serve have same problems. Even though its money out of customers pocket after spending so much money on these valve covers we were thinking there has to be a way to cut the cost. So here is the good news. We are in process of putting valve cover and o-ring replacement kit together in very short time. The kit will come with both driver and passenger side valve cover gasket, six o-ring gasket and a simple instruction how to replace them. MSRP on the kit is going to be $80.00 plus shipping. We will be also offering ready to install kit for $150.00 + $100 for the cores. we will ship you two valve covers(one of each driver and passenger side) with new valve cover gasket and o-rings installed. $100 core charge will be refunded as soon as you send in your covers to us. This kit should be available by end of the month or beginning of next month. You can PM us if you have any further questions. "
"We here at R&D Factory service many Nissans and Infinities daily and run into same valve cover/spark plug o-ring leak. About 75% of the vehicles that we serve have same problems. Even though its money out of customers pocket after spending so much money on these valve covers we were thinking there has to be a way to cut the cost. So here is the good news. We are in process of putting valve cover and o-ring replacement kit together in very short time. The kit will come with both driver and passenger side valve cover gasket, six o-ring gasket and a simple instruction how to replace them. MSRP on the kit is going to be $80.00 plus shipping. We will be also offering ready to install kit for $150.00 + $100 for the cores. we will ship you two valve covers(one of each driver and passenger side) with new valve cover gasket and o-rings installed. $100 core charge will be refunded as soon as you send in your covers to us. This kit should be available by end of the month or beginning of next month. You can PM us if you have any further questions. "
#6
They drill the plastic sealing surface that locked the o ring seals in and simply put in new seals. I had those same seals and thew them away.
Basically this is the QX4 Pathfinder valve covers with replaceble spark plug seals.
This valve cover had the camshaft lobe surface taken clean off. No more clearance issues with big cams. I wish I knew about this before.
Basically this is the QX4 Pathfinder valve covers with replaceble spark plug seals.
your warranty should and will cover leaking valve cover o-rings grommets. we do advise you to check for leak before your warranty is over.... the whole idea of us making these o-rings grommets were for those who have leaking o-rings grommets yet their warranty is already over. we do drill out the old o-ring grommets with hole saw size 1 7/8 inch. its is slightly bigger than the existing hole and slightly smaller than the o-ring....please pm us if you have any further questions....thank you
60 for 6 o-rings
90 to add OEM valve cover gaskets (both side)
100 to add OEM pcv valve and seal
above prices are shipped to lower 48 states.....
60 for 6 o-rings
90 to add OEM valve cover gaskets (both side)
100 to add OEM pcv valve and seal
above prices are shipped to lower 48 states.....
#7
How could I have missed this. I am mad at myself right now. So much time and money wasted chasing QX4/Pathfinder valve covers across GA that don't fit, buying seals for those covers, when I could of done this to the original covers from the beginning and would of had no broken bolts and replaceable seals.
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#8
#10
Why don't everybody file a complaint for this issue? Here is the link: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/online.cfm. I think this is a serious safety issue which can cause engine fire while driving on highway. You don't need to get involved in an accident to file a complaint.
#11
#13
Well according to a Nissan factory trained technician, it should be in nothing less than a clean room.
Last edited by Andrei; 02-01-2011 at 04:38 PM.