Hi everyone. It's been a few years since I posted here after selling my 2004 G35 Coupe that I owned for almost 11 years. My girlfriend is the original owner of her 2006 G35 sedan with 85,000 miles. I am suspecting one of her valve cover gaskets (or spark plug seal) is leaking as I've been smelling burned oil coming from engine compartment for some time. What should I expect to pay an independent shop to replace one side or worst case both sides? I had one side of my 04 Coupe's changed when the mileage was in the 40s under warranty. I see the valve cover lists for $325 , but see it on different sites for a little over $200. I assume there is no aftermarket valve cover for the G35 and I would prefer to use OEM anyway. The Infiniti dealer quoted me $982 per side on the phone today. What is a fair price at an independent shop? How many hours labor per side? Thanks all. PS I just got another quote from a 2nd Infiniti dealership which quoted me $1400 to replace both sides for the Valve covers and gaskets.

 

Book time according to AllDataDIY to replace both sides is 3 hours or 2.2 per individual side. That is not counting parts, so I wouldn't expect to pay more then shop labor rate X 3 OR 2.2 hours. But, some places don't go off the AllData time specs. Try calling Nissan instead they usually have slightly less labor rates.

Or you could do the work yourself for about 50 bucks. I replaced both gaskets on my G a few weeks ago and took about 3-4 hours going slow and taking breaks.

 

Coffeysm......Is it 3 hrs labor instead of 4.4 because the car is already apart to do the other side? I just called a 3rd Infiniti dealer who also quoted me $1430 including tax. Was told it is 5 hours labor and parts came to $680. The valve cover alone lists for $300 with the gasket around $40.I think their labor rate is $155/hr. I have an independent shop I could use but they are out of the way and would require dropping my girlfriend off at work, finding a way back from the shop as I'm not standing around waiting and just overall inconvenience. The loaner makes the ordeal much more palatable even though she will be spending hundreds more than an Indy. I found another Infiniti dealer that was the highest and quoted me all kind of extra parts (other than valve cover and gasket) that were necessary bringing it to over $1800! I just hope my dealer doesn't lie about how many sides are leaking because my girlfriend is planning on selling her car within the year. She would do one side if the other wasn't leaking. If we can get him down from that original $980 per side to $700, she'll go for it to get it over with. Convenience does have a cost.

 

I don't think you live too far from danny / greengoblin's shop, Slammered Inc., which is located in Davie (I think). Its worth giving him a call to see if he can do better on price.

 

Leaving to stearlership now. If he comes down to $700 or even twice that for both sides, my girlfriend is getting it done. To be continued.

 

It says 3 hours for both sides, but I'm not sure how they come up with their times. I just know that a lot of shops and dealers in particular use the flat rate system for the techs. So, they try to squeeze hours out of jobs that are out of warranty. I think all the prices even 700 unless it includes a brand new cover is outrageous.

There is no way replacing both those covers takes 5 hours. I'm not a master mechanic or guru when it comes to cars, but I've done a lot of my own work. I had the passenger side cover off and replaced in about an hour if that! Now, the drive side on the other hand did take about 2-3 hours, because there is bracket, space issue, and it's a PITA to keep the gasket on it without falling off. If I had this Permatex form a seal (keeps gasket in place) when I did the job, I would have easily lowered my time doing the driver side by at least 1-1.5 hours.

The only other gasket I might consider replacing is the VTC solenoid gaskets, but those are like 20 bucks each I think (Take 5 minutes to swap out). I don't know what else they were trying to sell you as well, it does make me curious though.

 

Back from dealership. Had it up on lift. Only had tier one mechanic who knew nothing Managed to remove coil pack for cylinder 6. Dry as a bone. He started working on driver's side and told him to stop. Tech was a cripple and wet behind the ears. Did notice tiny drops of oil forming at rear of main valve cover gasket. Planning on leaving all alone as girlfriend may sell within 12 months. No point in throwing any unnecessary money into this car . Basically dry underneath.

 

While alldata books might say 3 hours for both. No one is forced to follow those numbers. Generally most places go with 1.5x book because they factor in everything else.

Book time is in a perfect world where everything comes off nicely, no rust, damage, or mods done to the car that could give you issues. They only time dealerships are forced to go by book time is when the manufacturer is paying for it. If nissan says they will pay 3 hours, thats all the tech can charge. But for a normal person they can say 5hours.

 

bocatrip,

That is exactly what I was going to suggest if I read your post in time.

Inspect the spark plugs first. If no oil or little oil is found don't get it done if you are selling soon.

On my G at about 100,000 I replaced the valve covers myself. Wasn't a very difficult job if you take your time.

two spark plugs were full of oil, but I never smelled anything burning so your burning smell could be from something else.

 

Just got this job done about a month ago at a Indy shop on my 06 G35x 112,000 miles .The total came out to about $1,000 with parts.This was for both sides just to be safe.

 

Yea I had a friends shop do the gaskets on both sides and their labor rate is cheap at $60 a hour. I trust their work so I have no problem taking it there. They had the same book time of 3 hours for both sides. Ordered both gaskets from rock auto. So $180 for labor and gaskets were cheap. I believe rock auto did have the valve covers too. Can't remember

 

RockAuto does sell the valve covers, a couple of choices on brands $122/ea for ITM and $176/ea for Beck/Arnley which includes gaskets.

 

If oil is not pooling into any of the spark plug valleys but only leaking from the individual valve cover gasket, can the gasket be changed independently of the entire valve cover? Once again we are not planning on keeping the car for much longer than a year.

 

Yes, if you're not having any oil in the spark plug valley's then you can replace just the gasket. It's the spark plug seals that require a new VC, hole sawing them out, or trying to use a bunch of RTV (I tried it on one plug area, I haven't looked to see if the issue was fixed though).

Driver side is pretty easy, but the passenger side can be a bitch due to space issues. Buy some of that Permatex form a gasket spray to keep the gasket in place, while you put the cover back on. I didn't have it when I did my G, but have used it on my Audi and Rav 4 and the stuff if awesome.

 

How often is it actually just the valve cover gasket itself that leaks rather than the spark plug seals on the valve cover? I've never really seen a cheap fix for valve cover leaks on the G35. Are there any that leak just from the gaskets rather than the spark plug seals which are part of the expensive plastic valve covers???