OIL LEAK?!?!

[advanceKEN240]

today i was changing my spark plugs and wire on my ka24de, i pulled out my number4 cylinder wire and i noticed the boot was cover in oil, FRESH OIL TOO!! cuz i changed my oil the other day. has ne1 had this problem?? what could be the cause of this and how do i fix it... please help

[480sx]

You need to replace your valve cover gasket.

If you get a new valve cover it will come with two pieces, the little thing with 4 holes connected by a line of rubber is what really needs to be replaced. However you might as well replace the whole thing while your at it.

[vancouverbc]

this tutorila covers valve cover replacement but pics recently dead

zerothread/105618

[ScrapMetal]

Like 480sx said, buy a new valve cover gasket from autozone/advance. It will come with 2 gaskets. One that goes around the edge of the valve cover and one that goes around the edge of the spark plug holes. Replace them both while your at it.

[advanceKEN240]

thanks alot guys for all the support.... looks pretty complicated to do ....iono if i should do this by myself prolly have my mechcanic take a look at it, but i do appreciate all the help....thanks

[vancouverbc]

thanks alot guys for all the support.... looks pretty complicated to do ....iono if i should do this by myself prolly have my mechcanic take a look at it, but i do appreciate all the help....thanks

it looks pretty simple to me. youll need some liquid gasket and a way to get off the hard to get to bolts ie wobble socket. I dont think you have to do anything with distributor if you are just taking valve cover off. PICTURES ARE BACK FOR THAT TUTORIAL.

[vancouverbc]

2. Take off the valve cover-Remove the spark plug wires.-Loosen bolts as shown below.

-The bolts closest to the firewall might be a bit hard to get to because of wires and brake lines but try to push those away and wobble extension will help.

[vancouverbc]

note clean off dirt and oil before replacing gasket or using liquid gasket

Install your valve cover- Put your gasket in the valve cover as shown in the picture.



-Apply RTV sealant at the semi-cricle "ditch" in front of the camshaft and also in the back as shown in the picture.

-Install your valve cover and tighten as shown below. Torque spec is around 7~10 lb*ft

[00selimited]

note clean off dirt and oil before replacing gasket or using liquid gasket

Install your valve cover- Put your gasket in the valve cover as shown in the picture.



-Apply RTV sealant at the semi-cricle "ditch" in front of the camshaft and also in the back as shown in the picture.

-Install your valve cover and tighten as shown below. Torque spec is around 7~10 lb*ft

You used blue RTV? Thats not good for valve covers or oil related items IMO, i know i know you're going to say its says its ok to use on the box. The blue ones are for things like water pumps and thermostat housings. The oil related stuff i recommend the Permatex Ultra gray or the expensive Nissan orange silicone. The reason is, the blue stuff is too soft when it cures and doesnt resist oil as well as the Gray one, the Ultra Grey is a stiffer version of the blue and is meant for valve covers, oil pans etc, it actually has a Nissan approved label on the back also for this type of use. The ultra gray has a different chemistry altogether, i bet that blue stuff is the one that smells like vinegar lol. The gray stuff smells like swimming pool chlorine.

[vancouverbc]

Im not the author of that tutorial. Im just backing it up in case the pics die again.

I used Permatex red hi-temp for my water pump. I was planning on using it for the valve cover . I do appreciate feedback on these tutorials .

[00selimited]

Im not the author of that tutorial. Im just backing it up in case the pics die again.

I used Permatex red hi-temp for my water pump. I was planning on using it for the valve cover . I do appreciate feedback on these tutorials .

Ahh i see...ok

[Vegascorbin]

thanks alot guys for all the support.... looks pretty complicated to do ....iono if i should do this by myself prolly have my mechcanic take a look at it, but i do appreciate all the help....thanks

Although I hav ethe SOHC and not the DOHC in general valve cover gaskets are a good place to start if yo want to become better aquanted with your car and your tool box. Kind of hard to screw up and if you do make a mistake USUALLY all yo uend up with a leak like you started with.

Don't be afraid. You need to start someplace and the enjoyment you will get from being able to say "I Fixed It" for the first time is great.

[tramp_drift240]

why are there advocates of using liquid gasket for the valve cover?

isnt it better off to just get new rubber gaskets, theyre supposed to be installed dry.

the one ive got right now (92 dohc) ive used maybe 5 or 6 times, all ive done is dry off the gasket and the contact area on the head, then just bolt it back down to spec. havent had any oil in my spark plug holes or around the edges of my head.



i think its better off to just replace 'em and be done with it instead of getting all messy with liquid gasket maker.

[vancouverbc]

why are there advocates of using liquid gasket for the valve cover?

isnt it better off to just get new rubber gaskets, theyre supposed to be installed dry.

the one ive got right now (92 dohc) ive used maybe 5 or 6 times, all ive done is dry off the gasket and the contact area on the head, then just bolt it back down to spec. havent had any oil in my spark plug holes or around the edges of my head.



i think its better off to just replace 'em and be done with it instead of getting all messy with liquid gasket maker.

just the arch

[tramp_drift240]

that diagram doesnt make much sense to me, to be completely honest.

still, havent seen any reason to use liquid gasket on mine. dry install means metal to rubber to metal.

[vancouverbc]

that diagram doesnt make much sense to me, to be completely honest.

still, havent seen any reason to use liquid gasket on mine. dry install means metal to rubber to metal.

I cant really visualize what the arch is. The fsm say there is a rubbler plug in the arch. according to fsm, you put rtv around plug. I assume the gasket interfaces with the rubber plug? maybe plug shrinks so you put rtv in that area. i have no idea.

[vancouverbc]

looks like the rubber plug is part of the gasket so it makes sense to rtv it as it is not compressed with bolts.

[00selimited]

that diagram doesnt make much sense to me, to be completely honest.

still, havent seen any reason to use liquid gasket on mine. dry install means metal to rubber to metal.

Probably because you have a SOHC? , this applies to DOHC motors. I dont think the SOHC had those half moons.

The half moon is a weak sealing spot as its a sharp edge corner, thats why they tell you to use RTV...same thing goes with the oil pan arch lip seal.

[Vegascorbin]

Yes the SOHC has the same Arch or half moons. One at each end of the head.

The argument of RTV (Liquid Gasket) vs Rubber is more of a personal preferance thing. For every person that you find that likes one way I can find one that likes the other.

Properly done both will seal fine. One advantage of Liquid, in my opinion, is when things are not quite right. I mean if your cover is bent just a little bit the rtv will fill the gaps better while the rubber is sized for when things are straight.

I hav eused both (at seperate times) and like I sad both will seal fine.

[ChickenWyng]

Thanks for the tutorial here. I have a pretty bad leak and I was told to replace the gasket. Damn I love this site.

[tramp_drift240]

Probably because you have a SOHC? , this applies to DOHC motors.

Nah man, ive got a DOHC in my car.

looks like the rubber plug is part of the gasket so it makes sense to rtv it as it is not compressed with bolts.

its not directly compressed with bolts, no. but when you tighten all the valve cover bolts, the force is distributed through the whole contact area. which runs around the whole edge of the head.

i dunno, i guess it could be a good idea, but this is honestly the first time ive heard of it being actually advocated to use liquid gasket on it.

[00selimited]

Nah man, ive got a DOHC in my car.

its not directly compressed with bolts, no. but when you tighten all the valve cover bolts, the force is distributed through the whole contact area. which runs around the whole edge of the head.

i dunno, i guess it could be a good idea, but this is honestly the first time ive heard of it being actually advocated to use liquid gasket on it.

This liquid gasket on the half moon is recommended by Honda also, i remember this in the Honda FSM when i used to work on B series motors.

[advanceKEN240]

OO..i c now....i thought that tutorial was for juss the valve cover...but i juss looked at the pictures...now i c that i can prolly do it......does ne 1 recommend doin ne other maintenence while i have the cover off????? thanks again guys for all the help.....

[nisssan-drive]

YUP... might as well just throw these bad boys in there!

[ChickenWyng]

YUP... might as well just throw these bad boys in there!

Excuse my ignorance, but what are those?

[Vegascorbin]

Check the Timing chain guides. Search for info on the DOHC Timing chain arangment. Something about removeing some guides etc. I have the SOHC and need both guides I have.

BTW Those things are Cams. They make the valves open and close. NOt sure but the picture is probably of a set of performance ones. If you are not sure about changeing your own valve cover gasket then you are a long way from changing your own cams.