First off all, someone at Nissan should be beaten with a stick. I used to have a 2000 Maxima with the 3.0 litre V6 and the rear spark plugs were accessible without dismantling half the engine. This 2004 with the 3.5, the intake manifold collector has to come off, which means extra money for a new gasket as well as the cost of the plugs, and way more of my time spent bent over in the engine bay.
Anyhow. I also had to replace the rear valve cover gasket as it was leaking oil pretty bad. I took a pic of the innards while the cover was off. I'm the second owner - previous owner had the vehicle serviced at the stealership, so I assume regular non-synthetic oil. I've been running synth - whatever is on sale - so far Pennzoil Platinum/Pure, Mobil 1 and Castrol Edge and once Castrol Edge Extended Performance. I got the car at 178 000 kilometres about a year ago, and it now has 210 000 kilometres.
So, is that rust on my camshaft? If it is, what would be causing it and why only in those two spots (and more in the upper spot). I meant to scrape this stuff with my finger nail and see if it came off, but completely forgot.
Here's the nightmare to change the plugs. Intake manifold collector on and off.
Anyhow. I also had to replace the rear valve cover gasket as it was leaking oil pretty bad. I took a pic of the innards while the cover was off. I'm the second owner - previous owner had the vehicle serviced at the stealership, so I assume regular non-synthetic oil. I've been running synth - whatever is on sale - so far Pennzoil Platinum/Pure, Mobil 1 and Castrol Edge and once Castrol Edge Extended Performance. I got the car at 178 000 kilometres about a year ago, and it now has 210 000 kilometres.
So, is that rust on my camshaft? If it is, what would be causing it and why only in those two spots (and more in the upper spot). I meant to scrape this stuff with my finger nail and see if it came off, but completely forgot.
Here's the nightmare to change the plugs. Intake manifold collector on and off.
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