Nissan Maxima 1998-Valve Cover Gasket Changeout

[NutriaforBreakfast]

My 98 was leaking oil for a long time and I swore the PSwas leaking AND the valve covers were leaking. Looks likeit was only the valve covers. Car has 141,000 miles. I dontwant my wife broken down somewhere in Dallas with a bustedcoolant hose or major oil leak-worse yet blown head gasket.

Be sure to drain the coolant and pull out fuse #32 for the fuelpump to shut it off.

After disconnecting the air cleaning plumbing, it took off the idle air control valve and throttle body. They were both extremelydirty. The butterfly valve had a lot of carbon on it . I removed the IACV and three screws on it holding a cover and lots of carbonwas removed from there also. After I removed the plenum,the EGR tube was about 85% stopped up so I cleaned the carbon out ofhole connecting to the plenum. Used new gasket to reinstall

The valve cover bolts were very loose (just like my 95 was when Idid the same on it) and the gasket was in good shape. If I couldjust have tightened the bolts to the right torque, it would not leakI think. I also put in new spark plug tube seals on the valve cover withnew gasket. All the bolts were retorqued to specs per the FSM or Haynes.

I also replaced all the water hoses that could not be repaired withouttaking off the plenum. Those little hoses connecting the IACV and theplenum were tricky. I doubled clamped most of the hoses and used qualityhose clamps with a good bolt head for ratcheting.

To all who want to do this, just give yourself plenty of time and usea lot of masking tape to number your parts and put them in part trays.Be extra careful on your hoses to # them too.

[MaximA32]

Looks good but where are the pictures?