Man should've seen this video before! I didn't add the rtv silicone and it's a mess now and it's right from those 90 degree corners. Your the man thanks for the video
Thank you very much for posting this! I have an Infiniti I35 with the same type engine; you my friend just saved me a ton of cash from having to pay a mechanic to do it. Now I can just pull this video up if I have a question. Thanks again! :)
Found this helpful did both valve covers when I did rebuild on 04 altima 3.5 v6 and didn't use the rtv gasket.. everything is new and is leaking out of corners were u put rtv thank u for the helpful video
Very good, informative and detailed instructional. Thanks for taking the time to make it. People like you save people like me tons of $$$ by not having to go to a shop to get service. You rock.
GREAT job on the video. Straightforward and easy to follow. I've been smelling burning oil lately on my 04 quest.....I'll pull the cover and see if I can find evidence of a leak.....hopefully the front cover and not the rear....Thanks!
You are the man! Every time my Quest needs something, you have done it. It's like you are a forerunner for me! You must have put on the miles on faster :) I did the 3 sensors and next is the valve cover. What other fun will be next? Do you have a section of your vids just for the Quest?
frankly i just tightened the bolts how i wanted and it works perfect for almst 2 yrs now no leaks, or problems. so im still wondering why nissan has a sequence for it
Great, easy to follow video, man: thanks. I have a quick question: did you allow any curing time for the RTV silicon prior to torquing down the valve cover bolts? The back of Permatex Ultra Black mentions at least a 1 hour cure prior to torquing down; the permatex website is worded differently and seems to imply that torquing can be done immediately (but cautioned against so tight that it squeezes out). Both state waiting 24 hours for it fully cure before returning to service. Or do you think those directions are for building a liquid gasket only? Thanks again.
Did you apply the same amount of rtv for the back as you did for the front an still having a minor leak some how and thanks for the detail video trying to replicate this process on my 03 Maxima
Hey i follow up you video of replacing the valve cover and gasket about 3 week ago in a nissan altima 2006 v6 because it was leaking oil on the side of the valve cover and inside of the spark plug. Today i open the hood and i see siping oil on the side of the valve cover and i also see oil in the spark plug. I think there is a lot of pressure inside the valve cover that through time of driving it will leak. What will be the problem of leaking? Thank you
Thanks! looks like an easy job. Couple of questions. Looks like you only put sealant on the upper corners and then just installed the cover, no more sealant necessary for the all the other edges? Also, When buying the new cover in amazon, what should I look for, the left, the front, I'm confused as there are two covers, but I only need the very front one. Sorry, too many questions.
The sealant is only applied to the corners where you have the 90 degree turn. This is how the engine is built and as per the Nissan service manual. As for which one is LH or RH valve cover, the front valve cover (close to radiator) is the LH - Left Hand one. The back valve cover (close to firewall is RH - Right Hand one. As to which specific part for your car, you will need to research that yourself.
@@dial2fast Thanks for your prompt response and clarification to both questions. I'll be working on my 07 Murano thanks to this interactive manual like video. BTW, got a tip from a a friend -- wrap around the tip of a long flat head screw driver with a rag, spray it with brake cleaner and clean it with gentle strokes as to not scrape the metal. Thanks again and stay safe my friend.
i have one question,i know that quest 2004 and maxima 2004 have the same 3.5 V6 right? but, are the head covers the same for both cars?cuz quest have more torque..thats the only that changes between both, the rest is the same.i'm changing next weekend my head gaskets in my maxima 2004 thanks
I'll be doing the front and rear valve covers on my mom's Altima. It appears that the valve cover prices have increased quite a bit. My local dealer wanted $309 for the front cover (of course, I'd never get it from them). The OEM rears are reasonably priced on eBay, and I'll most likely go aftermarket on the front, since it's easy to access if I need to replace it again.
+hoopfan71 I found out from my Nissan parts guy the price jumped significantly after the 2004 model year. Not really sure why as the parts are still plastic. Good luck with your job!
+dial2fast I replaced the front valve cover yesterday, which appears to be the worst of the two; oil was caked on the cylinder head and dripping onto the exhaust manifold when warm. I planned on doing the back valve cover at the same time, but I called it a day after replacing the PCV valve breather hose that cracked while installing the front valve cover. I didn't want the car to sit for two days over the holiday if I ran into another issue while changing the back valve cover. Thanks for the video.
Great video. Unfortunately, I think I got that leak on the rear cover. Gonna be a fun project. What was the purpose of the silicone in those corners if it has the gasket?
What are those yellow things called ? And also is that the air filter cover on the right side where the battery is located ? Please let me know i Have the same car but those two are missing and I want to buy those
I can just replace the gasket if the plug o-ring is still good, right? I just looked up the valve covers for my 06 maxima and prices are minimum $175 and $250 at nissan.
Thanks for all your videos on the Quest. Been a big help! I'm fixing to change out the valve cover gasket on the front too! Did unhooking the negative battery terminal keep the computer from losing it's information for you?
Hi dial2fast, I have some light smoke coming from the engine bay of my Quest. Was your Quest smoking a little before you replaced the valve cover gaskets?
+Christopher Larkin Yes I saw some smoke but smelled the burning smell quite early on because if it's dripping on the back, it will drip onto the exhaust manifold.
Hey dear I have same this engine i got problem there are 2 spark plugs of 3 leaking oil the front side same tht u did and blue smoke can u tell me wht i shoud to fix it .. Thank you
I have oil all around the sparks plugs as soon as I pull of the first cover with the Nissan logo on it. Is this the front valve cover or is it something else? The valve cover is like $200 dollars so I do not want to get the wrong part, and still have the same issues. The car does have a slight burning smell when you turn the engine off after driving a bit, but there is never any oil leaking on the ground so it took me a little while to find this. I did replace the engine cooler o-ring gasket, and that I was hoping would fix it. (It was leaking pretty bad from there) The car only has 106,000 something miles, and it has been a cash drain every since we paid it off. lol Not a big fan of Nissan....
If it's a high mileage vehicle, you need to replace the valve cover (not just the gasket) because there are also spark plug o rings in the valve cover that harden and leak.
This seems to be common in this year 3.5L. I'm replacing the exact some one on my 2005 Altima. The leak is in the exact some spot too. I'm not replacing the cover, just the gasket. The plug grommets aren't leaking as far as I know (no oil burning in the exhaust, spark seems fine too). I suppose I'll know once I get in there. Maybe I'll do a temp fix if one is leading. I thought about doing the back/RH gasket but it's a lot more trouble from what I've seen and if it's not leaking, why fix what isn't broken.
I have a question, my Nissan Altima has the same engine but does it only have to be a specific part number to fit? Because I see other ones online that say they fit, also a lot cheaper, thanks in advance.
I am not sure what are all the differences as the VQ35 is used in many of the Nissan cars, but they use different part numbers. If you are getting OEM, stick with the PN specified for your car. If it's aftermarket, stick with the application they say it fits for your car.
can you tell me exactly where you bought the valve covers cuz over here where I live in Avondale Arizona the bolt covers cause one of them $130 the other one like 210 I would really appreciate it thank you
I am not sure why the big price difference between models. Even the parts guy at my dealer told me it's much more for a Maxima. The price I mentioned was specifically for my 2004 Nissan Quest SL model, and I bought it from the parts dept at Sutherlin Nissan - Mall of Georgia. You can call them and ask.
Bro you are the MF'n man!!! Thanks for the detailed step by step process and explanation for replacing the whole cover because of the worn out spark plug O-rings. Very helpful my friend. Wish I could buy you a case of beer!
Do you by any chance have the link to the site where you bought the oem vc & do you know if the part # is the same for an 04 maxima? Thanks! Great video btw
I bought it from my local Nissan dealer (Sutherlin Nissan Mall of Georgia). Think they have an online parts store also. To see if it's the same for 04 Maxima, best to call them or your local Nissan dealer parts dept and give them your VIN # to be 100% sure.
don't forget to reattach that back hose, near the top left. I didn't notice him reconnect it when he was putting everything back on. Maybe add an annotation?
Does this work with Nissan Murano 2003 as well? The guy who changed the plugs for me found leaking in three plugs in that area. He old me I need to change the Valve Oil Gasket. Thanks if you reply.
Question, I know this video is 5-6 years old and you stated that you paid $40 - 45 for an oem cover. How did you get them so cheap? When I was shopping for replacements for my 2003 Maxima the oem covers were around a couple hundred $ each. I ended up getting mine from Rock Auto and paid like $100 each and they were from Dorman. I believe all 3.5 valve covers are the same part number.
At the time of doing the repair, that's the price my local Nissan dealer charged for the valve cover for the Nissan Quest. It was only after making the video that some viewers commented how expensive it was for similar Nissan parts. I really can't tell you why the big price difference or if the prices have gone up since then.
Hi I viewed your video...Great. I just had my valve covers replaced June 24 /2020, on my 2004 Nissan Maxima 3.5 engine. Now I have an oil leak on the left front side of the cover facing the radiator...Left side? The oil is leaking down towards my alternator. I cleaned the area of the leak to see how bad is was leaking. I drove the car for a while came back home and the area was wet with oil. I'm afraid to remove the valve cover....I'm planing to bring the car back to the mechanic. I'm wondering if I'll need a new valve cover? I paid $150 a piece for each valve cover and another $300. to have them installed. I feel that I got beat. I plan to go back to the auto store and get a replacement valve cover. It's still under warranty. I was wondering if the valve cover might have been cracked while they were installing it and if they followed the sequence of installing the cover. ... Also what is that bolted on item to the left of the valve cover called....It looks like some sort of sensor...Has a few bolts on top and it's a round at the bottom. I was also wondering if that may be where the leak is? Does oil flow thru that item also? I could use some feed back. Thank you in advance! Ted
Any reputable shop will have warranty on the work. Since you just had it done, take it back and tell them to fix it. I can only guess the leak is from the corner of the valve cover where they did not put RTV silicone. The factory puts RTV there, and the dealer will to when doing this job. The valve cover and gasket can be reused with so little miles. Just go back and let them know the problem. If they say it's something else not related, then ask them to show you the issue.
Best to call your dealer parts dept and give them your VIN number so they can find the correct part for you car. I am in GA and bought at Sutherlin Nissan Mall of Georgia.
dial2fast Wow! Thank you for that. You were absolutely right, the seals were hard as a rock not to mention that a couple were already starting to leak with some oil seeping in to the spark plug. Glad I took your advice. Thank you again.
very good video, easy to understand and good recording and I know that this was a Nissan Quest you were working on, I am having the same issue with my 2007 Murano leaking from the front, is the procedure the same for a murano as it is in this video?
Its the same VQ35 V6 engine on both vehicles. Repair procedure is the same. You just need to confirm the correct valve cover and gasket part for your Altima.
quisiera saber como reparar el claxon pues con la alarma de la cerradura del control remoto funciona ya revise el timón y todos los contactos están en buen estado también revise el fusible y el re-lay y funcionan cuando presiono el control remoto de la aserradura de las puertas
You can try it to see if it helps but I usually stay away from stuff like that as they use additives to try to swell the rubber components. Who knows what else it will do to other components in the engine.
Great video! I'm a mid-level DIYer with a '02 V6 Altima. It has a long block with 165K on it, and both valve covers are leaking on both sides (no oil in the spark plug tubes). The mechanic that found the leaks said that these valve covers usually warp over time due to the heat, so trying to re-use them is iffy at best. In your experience, are the old covers coming off Nissans not reusable due to warping - regardless of the plug seals or gasket situation?
These plastic valve covers don't warp. It's simply the gasket and the spark plug seal that hardens and leak due to age. The spark plug tube seals are not serviceable. Because the replacement of the rear cover is so labor intensive, you are better off replacing it with a new valve cover, or you stand a chance of having to do the repair twice. If you planning to keep your car for awhile longer, replace the valve cover and gasket and not have to worry about it for several more years.
FYI - I took your advice and replaced the covers with new OEM covers + gaskets that I bought on ebay for around $220 total. The work wasn't that bad. It took about 4 hours total to do both the back and front covers (with a break in between the two), and that included about 30 minutes digging a bolt out of the center of the block with a magnet on a wire hanger. (Pro tip: Have a strong magnet on a flexi-handle on hand for those, "Owww! That's HOT..." *drops bolt into engine crevasse* "SHiiiiT - where'd the bolt go??", moments. :) ) In retrospect, I probably could've gotten away with just replacing the main gaskets and putting them back on. The old covers themselves were still in good shape (was a bad main gasket issue), the plug tubes didn't have any oil in them, and the tube gaskets weren't 100% plasticky stiff. But like you said, no worries now. I'll never have to change the covers again.
Thanks. I have one more question. Should I replace spark plugs too since I will be replacing valve covers and gaskets? I replaced 50,000 miles ago. Would it be wise to re-use those?
@@PhantomMenace99 If you got the platinum plugs, then you can reuse it as it last 100k. But if you think you will keep it for another 50k, then you may want to replace them so you don't have to do this job again in 50k. You have to weigh cost of spark plugs to the cost of your time.
Cool. My time is worth way more than the cost of the plugs. Those will be getting changed as well and I'm good for another 100K. Appreciate all of your help.
Was it really necessary to replace the valve cover? I know you said that the spark plug o-rings were not replaceable. Were the o-rings really that bad or was it just the fact that you were in there already and thought you might as well replace everything as preventable maintenance.
This was the original valve cover with 117k miles on it. The spark plug o-ring should be rubbery but the old ones are rock hard. In fact a youtuber commented below how his was so worn that oil started getting into the spark plug hole (see below). So this is a maintenance item that needed to be done.
+Robert Barrera actually, no, I was not successful. I did get the old seals out of the valve cover with minimal damage (yes. I cracked them a bit, but they would have been salvageable had the replacement seals fit). But alas, the seals that the parts store gave me were too big to fit in the hole by about an 1/8". I ended up scrapping the idea and had to order two brand new valve covers off eBay for $250, plenum and valve cover gaskets included. I had a guy from Idaho assuring me they were replaceable, and he was actually very helpful up til the end when he couldn't give me the part number of the seals he was using. He was a backyard mechanic posing as a professional. With that said, I wouldn't waste your time trying to replace those seals as they are built into the cover and the replacement seals they call for don't fit even when you pull that breather cover off the underside. Hope that helps.
@@dial2fast Where did you find that torque setting in the service manual? I'm doing the same repair on my 2002 maxima (same motor) and was hoping to get smarter on using the FSM.
@@jeffandjoannbauer9567 For the Nissan Quest, torque spec for the plugs and coil is listed under EM section (Engine Mechanical). In the Nissan service manual, pretty much every bolt has a torque spec.
@@dial2fast Thanks man. Seeing it's the same motor, I'll be using those specs: I've been all over the EM section of the Maxima's FSM and cannot find the coil pack bolt torque values anywhere: comparing that section to what you describe and what I found in the FSM for the Altima, it looks like Nissan skipped that section right out of the Maxima's manual.
in-lb is used because most torque wrench that measures ft-lb start at around 20 ft-lb. For the valve cover bolts which need 74 in-lb, that's equal to 6 ft-lb. So even after conversion, you won't find a ft-lb torque wrench that will give you 6 ft-lb torque. Best is to get a proper torque wrench that ranges from 30 - 250 in-lb like this one amzn.to/2OMMxvo
Since you are pretty much mile for mile the same repairs as me (with you paving the trail and being the man for posting vide, of course), I was wondering how many miles you have now and what I may have forthcoming. I am at 120k.
+Trent Mason I am now at 130k miles and the engine is holding up well. The key with this engine is regular oil change so you don't have problem with the timing chain guide breaking. The next thing coming up appears to be the passenger side engine mount. Looks to be cracked, but need to find time to change it. Lazy...lol
For the very early model 04 Quest, that's the list price for these valve covers. I got them at my dealer. It seems for later models, the price are all around $150.
Thanks for the vid! I did this but I had trouble with the gasket coming out when i flipped the valve cover over to place it in, I ended up putting a little rtv around it to help seal it in place but hopefully i didn't throw anything off and it won't leak in the end, anyone else have this problem? And also the guy before me had some silicon around the spark plug gaskets, and it looked like some came off when i put the valve cover back on( i reused the old one), some silicon might be in the engine, so in a few days i might do the process all over again when i get the time sadly ( paranoid about potential damage)
So what really happened with the pcv valve? I see you edited it right there, I think because you found out that it wasn't a tube you couldn't remove, and ended up breaking it.......... Super frustration, you should have added all that in short bursts and what you did to get around it
I hope you realize the PCV valve is on the other valve cover near the firewall, and not on the front valve cover. The front valve cover has couple of rubber hose you can pull off. No need to break anything.
the UA-cam guys I got a quick question I got a 2004 Nissan Quest my mileage on my Nissan Quest 182,000 now I'm starting to have this problem when I smell oil burning but it's no oil leaks could be two gaskets are no smoking
If you just started smelling it, it's possible the leak just started, and small. There is no easy way of finding out unless you get underneath it and check the back firewall side to see if there are leaks.
FELPRO MAKES THE SPARK PLUG TUBE SEALS!!!!! PART# ES72481 at AUTOZONE! That's for the Infiniti I35 2003. Felpro gaskets are no junk! Some backyard mechanics only know how to fix and repair by spending more and buying pre- assembled parts !
+M Escobar You can't replace just the gasket because the 3 spark plug holes have o rings which are hardened after all the miles (just like the gasket), and those o rings are not replaceable. So you have to replace the entire cover. See this vid where I showed this: ua-cam.com/video/mYw4S2mbSBE/v-deo.html
+dial2fast And at 1:16 you say the gasket is replaceable. At 1:40 you show the gasket. You confusing ppl. I say, if theres no point in spending over $180 on valve covers if they are not cracked. If its just the gasket leaking, then replace just that and save money.
+M Escobar If you want to reuse the valve cover with those hardened spark plug seals, go right ahead after spending 6 hours of doing this work. Let me know how yours work out.
the nissan manual shows the rtl in a smaller area and as well mine was only in this spot. not sure if there is a downside to using more, but fyi what I see.. www.autozone.com/repairguides/Nissan-Murano-2003-05/Engine-Mechanical-Components/Valve-Covers/_/P-0996b43f803805c7
Thank you for this I kept getting a minor leak some how this will be my forth attempt I couldn't find this diagram in the FSM for 03 Maxima but it's the same engine so it will work but it's for the back cover nonetheless
BEST VIDEO EVER. I CANT WAIT TO REPLACE MINE NOW. HUSBAND SAID JUNK THE CAR AND I SAID NOPE I BET I CAN FIX IT. HERE WE GO!
Did you give it a go ?
Did you ever fix it?
Man should've seen this video before! I didn't add the rtv silicone and it's a mess now and it's right from those 90 degree corners. Your the man thanks for the video
THis was absolutely perfect. I literally have the same problem and will be fixing it tomorrow morning. Thank you so much.
Poor design that you cannot replace the spark plug gaskets like in the older 3.0L v6
Great vid . Some other videos of yours have helped me also.
Thank you very much for posting this! I have an Infiniti I35 with the same type engine; you my friend just saved me a ton of cash from having to pay a mechanic to do it. Now I can just pull this video up if I have a question. Thanks again! :)
+Phayzyre105 You are very welcome. Glad to have helped.
@@dial2fast did it have any misfires from the oil leaking down?
Finally someone that shows torque tightened 🙏 thank you 🔥☝️
Yeah man this is an awesome video thank you so much I'm watching this video while I'm in the middle of working on my Nissan
thank you for video now I can understand what the mechanic has to do...your video wonderful and detailed thank you so so much
My rubber gasket will not stay put in the groove of the valve cover, am i not pressing it in hard enough?
Found this helpful did both valve covers when I did rebuild on 04 altima 3.5 v6 and didn't use the rtv gasket.. everything is new and is leaking out of corners were u put rtv thank u for the helpful video
Very good, informative and detailed instructional. Thanks for taking the time to make it. People like you save people like me tons of $$$ by not having to go to a shop to get service. You rock.
very illustrative and explicit ..me I'm glad to see it . thank you very much .
GREAT job on the video. Straightforward and easy to follow. I've been smelling burning oil lately on my 04 quest.....I'll pull the cover and see if I can find evidence of a leak.....hopefully the front cover and not the rear....Thanks!
Thanks for your comment!
Great video dude. Just as good as a 1a auto video.
You are the man! Every time my Quest needs something, you have done it. It's like you are a forerunner for me! You must have put on the miles on faster :) I did the 3 sensors and next is the valve cover. What other fun will be next? Do you have a section of your vids just for the Quest?
Very helpful. Was there a video for the rear?
Great video. I have a 2006 Quest and sensors on the back bumper and the horn are not working. Do you have any videos on these? Thank you in advance.
Can you make a video on the spark plug well gasket replacement I think that's what it's called
frankly i just tightened the bolts how i wanted and it works perfect for almst 2 yrs now no leaks, or problems. so im still wondering why nissan has a sequence for it
I am wondering for the same thing !!
It’s the same concept as tightening down lugs in a star pattern to make sure it sits flush against the hub.
So everything goes on evenly. Just like lugs or any other surface part. But yeah I agree with you
Great, easy to follow video, man: thanks. I have a quick question: did you allow any curing time for the RTV silicon prior to torquing down the valve cover bolts? The back of Permatex Ultra Black mentions at least a 1 hour cure prior to torquing down; the permatex website is worded differently and seems to imply that torquing can be done immediately (but cautioned against so tight that it squeezes out). Both state waiting 24 hours for it fully cure before returning to service. Or do you think those directions are for building a liquid gasket only? Thanks again.
You can install the valve cover immediately and torque it to spec. No need to wait
dial2fast Thank you for the fast reply!
thank u for your videos. I have an 04 quest and u have saved Me $. keep up the good work.
hey I have a question.. every time I go to put the valve cover back on the gasket falls out. Any tips or tricks to keep it in?
+Chel Rial I use 3M spray adhesive. I have never dropped a gasket when using it. It will save you a lot of headache.
Use rtv gasket maker. It works
At the top left of the valve cover what hose is that? 4:21 , I broke it trying to get it off,
That should be the PCV hose. You can get one from the dealer.
Manuel Salgado I can confirm. It is the PCV valve. Mine just broke as well. Easy enough to replace though.
Did you apply the same amount of rtv for the back as you did for the front an still having a minor leak some how and thanks for the detail video trying to replicate this process on my 03 Maxima
Hey i follow up you video of replacing the valve cover and gasket about 3 week ago in a nissan altima 2006 v6 because it was leaking oil on the side of the valve cover and inside of the spark plug. Today i open the hood and i see siping oil on the side of the valve cover and i also see oil in the spark plug. I think there is a lot of pressure inside the valve cover that through time of driving it will leak. What will be the problem of leaking? Thank you
He would make an awesome Teacher…!
Thanks! looks like an easy job. Couple of questions. Looks like you only put sealant on the upper corners and then just installed the cover, no more sealant necessary for the all the other edges? Also, When buying the new cover in amazon, what should I look for, the left, the front, I'm confused as there are two covers, but I only need the very front one. Sorry, too many questions.
The sealant is only applied to the corners where you have the 90 degree turn. This is how the engine is built and as per the Nissan service manual. As for which one is LH or RH valve cover, the front valve cover (close to radiator) is the LH - Left Hand one. The back valve cover (close to firewall is RH - Right Hand one. As to which specific part for your car, you will need to research that yourself.
@@dial2fast Thanks for your prompt response and clarification to both questions. I'll be working on my 07 Murano thanks to this interactive manual like video. BTW, got a tip from a a friend -- wrap around the tip of a long flat head screw driver with a rag, spray it with brake cleaner and clean it with gentle strokes as to not scrape the metal. Thanks again and stay safe my friend.
You sir, are a Steely eyed missile man! Thanks. You saved me $1000.00
i have one question,i know that quest 2004 and maxima 2004 have the same 3.5 V6 right? but, are the head covers the same for both cars?cuz quest have more torque..thats the only that changes between both, the rest is the same.i'm changing next weekend my head gaskets in my maxima 2004 thanks
I'll be doing the front and rear valve covers on my mom's Altima. It appears that the valve cover prices have increased quite a bit. My local dealer wanted $309 for the front cover (of course, I'd never get it from them). The OEM rears are reasonably priced on eBay, and I'll most likely go aftermarket on the front, since it's easy to access if I need to replace it again.
+hoopfan71 I found out from my Nissan parts guy the price jumped significantly after the 2004 model year. Not really sure why as the parts are still plastic. Good luck with your job!
+dial2fast Having to replace the whole valve cover is already ludicrous, then Nissan proceeds to gouge their customers - smh.
+dial2fast I replaced the front valve cover yesterday, which appears to be the worst of the two; oil was caked on the cylinder head and dripping onto the exhaust manifold when warm. I planned on doing the back valve cover at the same time, but I called it a day after replacing the PCV valve breather hose that cracked while installing the front valve cover. I didn't want the car to sit for two days over the holiday if I ran into another issue while changing the back valve cover. Thanks for the video.
great job ,thanks a bunch. ???? is rear the same sequence and torque ?
I think he has four videos for this.
I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima SE 3.5 will this work for both valve cover gaskets
Well the other valve cover is a lot more work. I did a video series on it. Here it is ua-cam.com/video/cRUOy89R57o/v-deo.html
Great video. Unfortunately, I think I got that leak on the rear cover. Gonna be a fun project.
What was the purpose of the silicone in those corners if it has the gasket?
Yes the rear cover took me 4 hours it's a pain. I think the silicone is just extra security to hold it.
The corners have little cracks/lines in between. The silicone is used to fill in those lines and create a tight seal.
What are those yellow things called ? And also is that the air filter cover on the right side where the battery is located ? Please let me know i Have the same car but those two are missing and I want to buy those
Fantastic video. Thank you
I can just replace the gasket if the plug o-ring is still good, right? I just looked up the valve covers for my 06 maxima and prices are minimum $175 and $250 at nissan.
Thanks for all your videos on the Quest. Been a big help! I'm fixing to change out the valve cover gasket on the front too! Did unhooking the negative battery terminal keep the computer from losing it's information for you?
wow !!! you just save me a lot of money brother. thanks so much for helping. God bless you.
Thank you for your comment!
great video mate nice and thorough appreciate it
Hi dial2fast, I have some light smoke coming from the engine bay of my Quest. Was your Quest smoking a little before you replaced the valve cover gaskets?
+Christopher Larkin Yes I saw some smoke but smelled the burning smell quite early on because if it's dripping on the back, it will drip onto the exhaust manifold.
Hey dear I have same this engine i got problem there are 2 spark plugs of 3 leaking oil the front side same tht u did and blue smoke can u tell me wht i shoud to fix it .. Thank you
I have oil all around the sparks plugs as soon as I pull of the first cover with the Nissan logo on it. Is this the front valve cover or is it something else? The valve cover is like $200 dollars so I do not want to get the wrong part, and still have the same issues. The car does have a slight burning smell when you turn the engine off after driving a bit, but there is never any oil leaking on the ground so it took me a little while to find this. I did replace the engine cooler o-ring gasket, and that I was hoping would fix it. (It was leaking pretty bad from there) The car only has 106,000 something miles, and it has been a cash drain every since we paid it off. lol Not a big fan of Nissan....
There’s lots of oil where you pointed on the video on the front part, do you think I can replace my 2005 Altima 3.5 gasket the same way you did it?
If it's a high mileage vehicle, you need to replace the valve cover (not just the gasket) because there are also spark plug o rings in the valve cover that harden and leak.
dial2fast ok is it the same procedure for the altimas?? :) thanks in advance
Same procedure for the 3.5L V6
This seems to be common in this year 3.5L. I'm replacing the exact some one on my 2005 Altima. The leak is in the exact some spot too.
I'm not replacing the cover, just the gasket. The plug grommets aren't leaking as far as I know (no oil burning in the exhaust, spark seems fine too). I suppose I'll know once I get in there. Maybe I'll do a temp fix if one is leading. I thought about doing the back/RH gasket but it's a lot more trouble from what I've seen and if it's not leaking, why fix what isn't broken.
It's 2019 and my Nissan, leak in the same place also, but I'm doing both because O ring on both were leaking...👍
I have a question, my Nissan Altima has the same engine but does it only have to be a specific part number to fit? Because I see other ones online that say they fit, also a lot cheaper, thanks in advance.
I am not sure what are all the differences as the VQ35 is used in many of the Nissan cars, but they use different part numbers. If you are getting OEM, stick with the PN specified for your car. If it's aftermarket, stick with the application they say it fits for your car.
can you tell me exactly where you bought the valve covers cuz over here where I live in Avondale Arizona the bolt covers cause one of them $130 the other one like 210 I would really appreciate it thank you
I am not sure why the big price difference between models. Even the parts guy at my dealer told me it's much more for a Maxima. The price I mentioned was specifically for my 2004 Nissan Quest SL model, and I bought it from the parts dept at Sutherlin Nissan - Mall of Georgia. You can call them and ask.
What is the purpose of putting black gasket maker in those two spots? Is that absolutely necessary
Those corners are 90 degree turns, and the silicone will ensure you don't have a leak. This is also how the it's installed by Nissan when new.
Bro you are the MF'n man!!! Thanks for the detailed step by step process and explanation for replacing the whole cover because of the worn out spark plug O-rings. Very helpful my friend. Wish I could buy you a case of beer!
I realize I am kinda randomly asking but do anybody know a good site to watch newly released tv shows online?
@Raymond Julius Flixportal :D
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Do you by any chance have the link to the site where you bought the oem vc & do you know if the part # is the same for an 04 maxima? Thanks!
Great video btw
I bought it from my local Nissan dealer (Sutherlin Nissan Mall of Georgia). Think they have an online parts store also. To see if it's the same for 04 Maxima, best to call them or your local Nissan dealer parts dept and give them your VIN # to be 100% sure.
Is the valve cover assy and gasket the same for the 2002 Altima 3.5 SE? Thanks.
The response to wesdean1977 answers this. Verify the part number with the dealer before buying.
don't forget to reattach that back hose, near the top left. I didn't notice him reconnect it when he was putting everything back on. Maybe add an annotation?
Would this work on an 04 maxima? It looks the same but im asking to be sure
yes
Does this work with Nissan Murano 2003 as well? The guy who changed the plugs for me found leaking in three plugs in that area. He old me I need to change the Valve Oil Gasket.
Thanks if you reply.
The PN might differ, but the procedure is the same.
Question, I know this video is 5-6 years old and you stated that you paid $40 - 45 for an oem cover.
How did you get them so cheap?
When I was shopping for replacements for my 2003 Maxima the oem covers were around a couple hundred $ each.
I ended up getting mine from Rock Auto and paid like $100 each and they were from Dorman.
I believe all 3.5 valve covers are the same part number.
At the time of doing the repair, that's the price my local Nissan dealer charged for the valve cover for the Nissan Quest. It was only after making the video that some viewers commented how expensive it was for similar Nissan parts. I really can't tell you why the big price difference or if the prices have gone up since then.
Hi I viewed your video...Great. I just had my valve covers replaced June 24 /2020, on my 2004 Nissan Maxima 3.5 engine. Now I have an oil leak on the left front side of the cover facing the radiator...Left side? The oil is leaking down towards my alternator. I cleaned the area of the leak to see how bad is was leaking. I drove the car for a while came back home and the area was wet with oil. I'm afraid to remove the valve cover....I'm planing to bring the car back to the mechanic. I'm wondering if I'll need a new valve cover? I paid $150 a piece for each valve cover and another $300. to have them installed. I feel that I got beat. I plan to go back to the auto store and get a replacement valve cover. It's still under warranty. I was wondering if the valve cover might have been cracked while they were installing it and if they followed the sequence of installing the cover. ... Also what is that bolted on item to the left of the valve cover called....It looks like some sort of sensor...Has a few bolts on top and it's a round at the bottom. I was also wondering if that may be where the leak is? Does oil flow thru that item also? I could use some feed back. Thank you in advance! Ted
Any reputable shop will have warranty on the work. Since you just had it done, take it back and tell them to fix it. I can only guess the leak is from the corner of the valve cover where they did not put RTV silicone. The factory puts RTV there, and the dealer will to when doing this job. The valve cover and gasket can be reused with so little miles. Just go back and let them know the problem. If they say it's something else not related, then ask them to show you the issue.
GOOD MORRING LOVE THE VID WILL THIS OEM PART WORK ON A 2004 NISSAN MURANO SE AWD 3.5 AND IN WHAT STATE DID YOU GET THIS PART AT ?
Best to call your dealer parts dept and give them your VIN number so they can find the correct part for you car. I am in GA and bought at Sutherlin Nissan Mall of Georgia.
Have you have done video for replace thermostats
Sorry, no video on that.
Thank you for the video. Question, why did you replace the valve cover? was your original cover damaged?
Once the vehicle is past 100k miles, the gasket will harden and leak oil. It needs to be replaced.
dial2fast Wow! Thank you for that. You were absolutely right, the seals were hard as a rock not to mention that a couple were already starting to leak with some oil seeping in to the spark plug. Glad I took your advice. Thank you again.
@@canyuto Very good to hear you diagnosed it. Cheers!!
very good video, easy to understand and good recording and I know that this was a Nissan Quest you were working on, I am having the same issue with my 2007 Murano leaking from the front, is the procedure the same for a murano as it is in this video?
The procedure will be the same. The valve cover part may differ between model and year.
Ok thanks for the feedback.
Is the 3.5Lfor the 04 Quest the same as 3.5 L for 04 Altima?Looks the same but didn't want to assume.
Its the same VQ35 V6 engine on both vehicles. Repair procedure is the same. You just need to confirm the correct valve cover and gasket part for your Altima.
quisiera saber como reparar el claxon pues con la alarma de la cerradura del control remoto funciona ya revise el timón y todos los contactos están en buen estado también revise el fusible y el re-lay y funcionan cuando presiono el control remoto de la aserradura de las puertas
Hello I have a question. Where did you get your service manual? I would like to buy one for my 2012 Nissan Altima
Google NICO altima fsm they are available for free download
Exelent,,you save my life,,I subscribe all ready 👏👏👏🎸🎸
I was wondering if u have a video for the rear gasket
Thanks for making videos.... it realy help
Velonation 808 did you get the link for the rear gasket video
Is the 2004 Quest the same as the 2005? I have a 05, my van just started developing a oil burning smell,
Yes it's the same.
When replacing the valve covers do i have to replace both or just the one that's leaking
Damian Williams both is better
Would it help to use stop leak if the leak isn’t as bad?
You can try it to see if it helps but I usually stay away from stuff like that as they use additives to try to swell the rubber components. Who knows what else it will do to other components in the engine.
Great video! I'm a mid-level DIYer with a '02 V6 Altima. It has a long block with 165K on it, and both valve covers are leaking on both sides (no oil in the spark plug tubes). The mechanic that found the leaks said that these valve covers usually warp over time due to the heat, so trying to re-use them is iffy at best. In your experience, are the old covers coming off Nissans not reusable due to warping - regardless of the plug seals or gasket situation?
These plastic valve covers don't warp. It's simply the gasket and the spark plug seal that hardens and leak due to age. The spark plug tube seals are not serviceable. Because the replacement of the rear cover is so labor intensive, you are better off replacing it with a new valve cover, or you stand a chance of having to do the repair twice. If you planning to keep your car for awhile longer, replace the valve cover and gasket and not have to worry about it for several more years.
FYI - I took your advice and replaced the covers with new OEM covers + gaskets that I bought on ebay for around $220 total.
The work wasn't that bad. It took about 4 hours total to do both the back and front covers (with a break in between the two), and that included about 30 minutes digging a bolt out of the center of the block with a magnet on a wire hanger. (Pro tip: Have a strong magnet on a flexi-handle on hand for those, "Owww! That's HOT..." *drops bolt into engine crevasse* "SHiiiiT - where'd the bolt go??", moments. :) )
In retrospect, I probably could've gotten away with just replacing the main gaskets and putting them back on. The old covers themselves were still in good shape (was a bad main gasket issue), the plug tubes didn't have any oil in them, and the tube gaskets weren't 100% plasticky stiff. But like you said, no worries now. I'll never have to change the covers again.
Excellent to hear and thanks for sharing your feedback. Cheers!
Where is the video of you changing the rear? I've looked all over and can't find.
Five part series to do the rear one. Video 1 ua-cam.com/video/C41myBMI_qM/v-deo.html
Thanks. I have one more question. Should I replace spark plugs too since I will be replacing valve covers and gaskets? I replaced 50,000 miles ago. Would it be wise to re-use those?
@@PhantomMenace99 If you got the platinum plugs, then you can reuse it as it last 100k. But if you think you will keep it for another 50k, then you may want to replace them so you don't have to do this job again in 50k. You have to weigh cost of spark plugs to the cost of your time.
Cool. My time is worth way more than the cost of the plugs. Those will be getting changed as well and I'm good for another 100K. Appreciate all of your help.
thank u for the video but where is the link for the back side..
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/cRUOy89R57o/v-deo.html
Good job! 👍
Was it really necessary to replace the valve cover? I know you said that the spark plug o-rings were not replaceable. Were the o-rings really that bad or was it just the fact that you were in there already and thought you might as well replace everything as preventable maintenance.
This was the original valve cover with 117k miles on it. The spark plug o-ring should be rubbery but the old ones are rock hard. In fact a youtuber commented below how his was so worn that oil started getting into the spark plug hole (see below). So this is a maintenance item that needed to be done.
dial2fast OK I can relate. I would do the same.
+dial2fast I am in the process of replacing the three center o-rings. if you're careful you can replace them without buying the whole valve cover.
+leshomorego
Were you successful on your 3 center o-rings replacement. I would like to know more (part number, seller,...)
+Robert Barrera actually, no, I was not successful. I did get the old seals out of the valve cover with minimal damage (yes. I cracked them a bit, but they would have been salvageable had the replacement seals fit). But alas, the seals that the parts store gave me were too big to fit in the hole by about an 1/8". I ended up scrapping the idea and had to order two brand new valve covers off eBay for $250, plenum and valve cover gaskets included. I had a guy from Idaho assuring me they were replaceable, and he was actually very helpful up til the end when he couldn't give me the part number of the seals he was using. He was a backyard mechanic posing as a professional. With that said, I wouldn't waste your time trying to replace those seals as they are built into the cover and the replacement seals they call for don't fit even when you pull that breather cover off the underside. Hope that helps.
OK so I ended up basically stuck for min, thank you I got it.
I wonder how much wouldbit costs tonlet someone do it?
Good job
Will this work for the 2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SL?
Yes
+dial2fast I love you.
Great video, thank you.
What did you torque the ignition coils at?
Ignition coil bolt on this van is 62 in-lb
@@dial2fast Thank you
@@dial2fast Where did you find that torque setting in the service manual? I'm doing the same repair on my 2002 maxima (same motor) and was hoping to get smarter on using the FSM.
@@jeffandjoannbauer9567 For the Nissan Quest, torque spec for the plugs and coil is listed under EM section (Engine Mechanical). In the Nissan service manual, pretty much every bolt has a torque spec.
@@dial2fast Thanks man. Seeing it's the same motor, I'll be using those specs: I've been all over the EM section of the Maxima's FSM and cannot find the coil pack bolt torque values anywhere: comparing that section to what you describe and what I found in the FSM for the Altima, it looks like Nissan skipped that section right out of the Maxima's manual.
Nice vid
If I don't have inch pound how much fut pound I can do?
in-lb is used because most torque wrench that measures ft-lb start at around 20 ft-lb. For the valve cover bolts which need 74 in-lb, that's equal to 6 ft-lb. So even after conversion, you won't find a ft-lb torque wrench that will give you 6 ft-lb torque. Best is to get a proper torque wrench that ranges from 30 - 250 in-lb like this one amzn.to/2OMMxvo
ok thanks i appreciate it
Since you are pretty much mile for mile the same repairs as me (with you paving the trail and being the man for posting vide, of course), I was wondering how many miles you have now and what I may have forthcoming. I am at 120k.
+Trent Mason I am now at 130k miles and the engine is holding up well. The key with this engine is regular oil change so you don't have problem with the timing chain guide breaking. The next thing coming up appears to be the passenger side engine mount. Looks to be cracked, but need to find time to change it. Lazy...lol
Where did you get this for $40-45?? Am I missing something? Everywhere is like $150 absolute lowest.
For the very early model 04 Quest, that's the list price for these valve covers. I got them at my dealer. It seems for later models, the price are all around $150.
@@dial2fast Weird that the price would be so much different for the same engine. Looking at changing this on my 07 Maxima. Thanks for the reply!
thank you you the best..
Thanks for the vid! I did this but I had trouble with the gasket coming out when i flipped the valve cover over to place it in, I ended up putting a little rtv around it to help seal it in place but hopefully i didn't throw anything off and it won't leak in the end, anyone else have this problem? And also the guy before me had some silicon around the spark plug gaskets, and it looked like some came off when i put the valve cover back on( i reused the old one), some silicon might be in the engine, so in a few days i might do the process all over again when i get the time sadly ( paranoid about potential damage)
So what really happened with the pcv valve? I see you edited it right there, I think because you found out that it wasn't a tube you couldn't remove, and ended up breaking it.......... Super frustration, you should have added all that in short bursts and what you did to get around it
I hope you realize the PCV valve is on the other valve cover near the firewall, and not on the front valve cover. The front valve cover has couple of rubber hose you can pull off. No need to break anything.
Inch pounds???
the UA-cam guys I got a quick question I got a 2004 Nissan Quest my mileage on my Nissan Quest 182,000 now I'm starting to have this problem when I smell oil burning but it's no oil leaks could be two gaskets are no smoking
If you just started smelling it, it's possible the leak just started, and small. There is no easy way of finding out unless you get underneath it and check the back firewall side to see if there are leaks.
You don't need a new valve cover to replace the gasket. Lol but if the spark plug o ring is gone then yes. But just to fix the leak no
That's the same thing I was thinking 👍
Son dos cover de valvula
FELPRO MAKES THE SPARK PLUG TUBE SEALS!!!!!
PART# ES72481
at AUTOZONE! That's for the Infiniti I35 2003. Felpro gaskets are no junk! Some backyard mechanics only know how to fix and repair by spending more and buying pre- assembled parts !
The great thing about UA-cam is it's a great community. Please make a video and share your knowledge.
nissan
Looks like I gotta do mine on my Maxima...front (left) gasket as well.
is there anyone here know why my car overheating after 3 to 4 miles run i got the same problem front valve oil is leaking is it because of that leak?
These valve covers from nissan are around $200 now
why didnt just replace the gasket?
or was the valve cover itself cracked?
+M Escobar You can't replace just the gasket because the 3 spark plug holes have o rings which are hardened after all the miles (just like the gasket), and those o rings are not replaceable. So you have to replace the entire cover. See this vid where I showed this: ua-cam.com/video/mYw4S2mbSBE/v-deo.html
+dial2fast but still, why you replace the whole valve cover if those O-rings dont leak? And btw, the valve covers cost over $180 each.
+dial2fast And at 1:16 you say the gasket is replaceable. At 1:40 you show the gasket. You confusing ppl. I say, if theres no point in spending over $180 on valve covers if they are not cracked. If its just the gasket leaking, then replace just that and save money.
+M Escobar If you want to reuse the valve cover with those hardened spark plug seals, go right ahead after spending 6 hours of doing this work. Let me know how yours work out.
the nissan manual shows the rtl in a smaller area and as well mine was only in this spot. not sure if there is a downside to using more, but fyi what I see.. www.autozone.com/repairguides/Nissan-Murano-2003-05/Engine-Mechanical-Components/Valve-Covers/_/P-0996b43f803805c7
Thank you for this I kept getting a minor leak some how this will be my forth attempt I couldn't find this diagram in the FSM for 03 Maxima but it's the same engine so it will work but it's for the back cover nonetheless
Good video but holy number of ads.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE?
For the rear one, I have a 5 part video series on it. Here is the first one ua-cam.com/video/C41myBMI_qM/v-deo.html
I meant the valve covers, I have a 2004 Nissan Murano
Woulda been a lot easier if you woulda disconnected the motor mount plug