Valve Cover Replacement

[Quest]

maxima-

For perma-dry type of gasket (or factory OE gasket), I typically install it dry (with the exception of those aforementioned sharp corners or awkward angle where a dollop of RTV is necessary), I generally wipe the contact surface down with either brake cleaner spray (residual free), or residual-free carb cleaner of some sort.

Good luck!

Q.

 

[Merkava_4]

Yeah I see where Chris is talking about. It's right at that intersection where the gasket surface turns to make a steep incline. That's where you put a small dab of silicone AFTER you set the gasket in place.

IMPORTANT!

Let the silicone "skin over" before setting the valve cover in place. That means it will not be tacky when you touch it, but it will still be soft on the inside. 10 minutes is usually the time it takes for silicone to skin over depending on the ambient temperature.

 

[Chris142]

Quote:

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Yeah I see where Chris is talking about. It's right at that intersection where the gasket surface turns to make a steep incline. That's where you put a small dab of silicone AFTER you set the gasket in place.

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In this application the gasket stays in the valve cover. Needs to put the dab on before putting the cover on.

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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In this application the gasket stays in the valve cover.

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Oh . . . it's one of those kind . . . okay.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Done and done. Got the little dab in place and the cover back on and torqued. Reinstalling the intake manifold and upteen bolts and harnesses.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

How long should I let it sit before driving it?

 

[Quest]

Give it 4+ hrs if possible. Overnite best.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

 

[Quest]

that's perfect!

Q.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Thanks. Any job worth doing well is worth doing twice.

 

[Chris142]

Quote:

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that's perfect!

Q.

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Thats what I was gonna say. Lots better than the slop job that looks like a Pep Boys flunky done it.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Quote:

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Thats what I was gonna say. Lots better than the slop job that looks like a Pep Boys flunky done it.

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I'm honored my original work is in the same class as a Pep Boys flunky.

Sadly, the gentleman who directed me to use so much RTV did the same...but with blue RTV.

 

[RyanHeo]

Hi, 2002 Maxima SE.
Do you have the picture of the inside of valve cover?
I mean there are spark tube seals inside the valve cover.
The reason is that I replaced the tube seal 3 times but it is still leaking, so I would like to check am I wrong or not? If you have the picture, would you send it to me or post on the borad?
Thanks.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Oh man, you should've seen my valve cover and head when I had Acura do a valve adjustment for me. It looked like someone spilled toothpaste all over my valve cover. And for some reason, he even put the hondabond on all of the washers for the bolts holding the valve cover down? It took me a good hour to take it all apart and scrape all the excess off, and reseal it to Honda specifications again... -sigh-

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Lotta varnish in there..Ya ever change the oil?

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Ryanho,

For the 2002-2003 Maxima/I35 the seals for the sparkplug tube are not replaceable, you have to replace the entire valve cover.

toocrazy2yoo,
That is just the lighting, those parts are all black and have a rough finish to them... no varnish what so ever.

 

[RyanHeo]

I mean not the tube but the tube seals. When the valve cover is upside down, there are three black gaskets.
Could you check it or send the picture of the inside of valve cover.
Thanks.

 

[surfstar]

toocrazy was pullin' yer chain. Sometimes sarcasm is hard to post online.

What oil/intervals? (surprised no one else asked yet)

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

RyanHeo,
The tube seals ARE part of the valve cover for 2002/2003. They are not replaceable on my year. Sorry, no picture.

surfstar,
Ah, humor...I love it!!!
For the first 10k miles it was whatever the dealer put in (changed at 5k mile intervals). At 10k, I changed to Mobil1 Synthetic. At, 55k miles I started using GC 0W-30. All done over 5k mile intervals.

 

[RyanHeo]

I didn't know that. Thanks man.