Leaking valve cover gaskets

[J30inthe sun]

Went to the Infiniti dealer in Tampa for an alignment.

After their 27 point inspection they told me my "valve cover gaskets are GUSHING out oil".

Now I change my oil about every 4-5 months & I check the oil about every 2 to 3 months & have never seen the oil low on the dipstick. In fact there is not any oil spots on my driveway or where I park at work in the same spot all the time. They said it is probably burning off on the exhaust yet I never smell anything or see any smoke.

GET THIS... they say the labor for replacement is 15 HOURS!!!!!!



@ $108 per hour. $1620 for labor!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone have a realistic idea of labor time for this job?

I would image with 15 hours an Infiniti mechanic could just about tear down & rebuild the whole engine.

[j-30 green machine]

you can tell when it gets close to X-mas, the dealerships are the first to let you know. You might get a second opinion before you spend any money, and see if you can get a dye test done if you are really worried

[J30inthe sun]

You might get a second opinion before you spend any money,

There is no way in Gods creation I would pay that. I was only at the stealership because I needed an alignment & they gave me a loaner so it made it very convienient for me & my job.

Oh & by the way they said my steering rack has too much play to keep an alignment. The cost to replace that would be @ $2400 for parts & labor.

[gr8scott72]

Went to the Infiniti dealer in Tampa for an alignment.

After their 27 point inspection they told me my "valve cover gaskets are GUSHING out oil".

Now I change my oil about every 4-5 months & I check the oil about every 2 to 3 months & have never seen the oil low on the dipstick. In fact there is not any oil spots on my driveway or where I park at work in the same spot all the time. They said it is probably burning off on the exhaust yet I never smell anything or see any smoke.

GET THIS... they say the labor for replacement is 15 HOURS!!!!!!



@ $108 per hour. $1620 for labor!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone have a realistic idea of labor time for this job?

I would image with 15 hours an Infiniti mechanic could just about tear down & rebuild the whole engine.

All of this is probably NOT needed but if it was, that labor time is not outrageous. Remember, you have to remove the intake manifold AND reinstall it.

It is a VERY difficult job to do.

[GerryO]

I was once told basically the same thing and in such a way that it sounded like a potentially serious problem, even though the car wasn't leaving any spots at all or using/loosing any oil.

When I had my plenum off to replace all six injectors and EGR valve, I checked things out (they looked very dry) and just to be sure, cautiously tightened the Philips head screws that hold down the valve covers and a few months before I replaced the front camshaft and crankshaft oil seals, when replacing the water pump, timing belts and accessory belts. With the front and back timing belt covers off, I did see evidence of a couple of small oil seal leaks, but still the car wasn't leaving any spots.

If you decided to replace your valve cover gaskets you'd want to do a lot of other very costly work at the same time, and that could be the BIG BUCKS that they are really after. Either that or you'd simply decide that buying a new car from them would make more sense.

[GerryO]

Oh & by the way they said my steering rack has too much play to keep an alignment. The cost to replace that would be @ $2400 for parts & labor.

My son purchased a '91 MR2 several months ago and was told the same thing (although not by a dealership), and in his case it was true. The rubber boots on both ends of his steering rack are bad and things are very loose. We needed to pull the steering wheel, steering column and then the rack in order to rebuild things on his '86 (he was quickening up his steering ratio) and I don't recall how much of the interior and front suspension needed to come apart too. And of course everything needed to be re-aligned afterward. BIG JOB.

Note to self - check steering rack rubber boots on J30..

[yodawill2000]

boils down to 2 things.1: Oil is gushing out2: No oil leaking on the driveway

1 is trueand 1 is false

Begin

[coolyun_98]

15 hours of labour = truebut it does not make economic sence to spend 15 hrs to repair valve cover gaskets.those gaskets are usually replaced while you are doing other repair involving the removal of upper intake.