Valve Cover Hose question???

[Qdemption]

I am removing the pass side VC and I have a couple questions on the removal of the three hoses connected to the pass side valve cover.

First of all, what do they do. The one closest to the front of the car appears to be a fuel line, but I could be wrong. With that hose I was just going to cut it and replace. Is that a wise choice? I mean, I could pry it off but I am thinking it is just going to rupture anyways.

I started to get at the middle hose and stopped. The hose began to chip with a less than stern torque of a flathead. Again it looks like a hose I could replace myself, rather than ordering one.

And the last hose, the one closest to the pass compartment, I haven't even touched. From what I can tell I can get it off but need some advice on the correct and least damaging removal procedure.

I can't wait to get this puppy off and see how much gunk is in there.

p.s. Does anyone know where to get a FSM for a 92 Q45. I called Nissan publications and they said they don't even make them anymore. The lady said that they can special order one from Nissan for $75 with a 4-6 week delivery time. I thought that was a complete crock of shi.....! I don't mind the 75 bones, but 4-6 weeks????? anyways...

[szh]

p.s. Does anyone know where to get a FSM for a 92 Q45. I called Nissan publications and they said they don't even make them anymore. The lady said that they can special order one from Nissan for $75 with a 4-6 week delivery time. I thought that was a complete crock of shi.....! I don't mind the 75 bones, but 4-6 weeks????? anyways...

They occasionally show up on eBay for less than that.

The Nissan Infiniti tech web site has model year 1994 onwards in PDF format. This costs $20 to access for a day - if you have a reasonably high-speed Internet access ( do get all the TSB's too!). The info on the 1994 should mostly cover the 1992 as well ...

Z

[DAEDALUS]

I believe all the hoses you're referring to are air bypass hoses. They go brittle faster than any others. Pretty much hopeless getting them off the fittings. Usually easier to pry the fittings out of the cover. They're swaged in, and then they won't be as secure after you put them back. The hose furthest back is the most critical. If you crack it you are in for removing the plenum.

Ebay and http://www.books4cars are your best bets for the FSM without waiting 4-6 weeks, though I must say $75 for a new FSM is freaking cheap.

[maxnix]

Try AZHitman and Elwesso to see if they still have their early manuals.

[szh]

Ebay and http://www.books4cars are your best bets for the FSM without waiting 4-6 weeks, though I must say $75 for a new FSM is freaking cheap.

The only problem with the book4cars folks is their price. They want $199 for old Q manuals ...

Z

[Qdemption]

WEll, two of the hoses have been disconnected. The middle hose, the one that travels underneath the plenum and connects to the drivers side valve cover is a big ? for me.

What about cutting the hose? Is that hose, the middle bypass one, special? IT looks and feels just like a rubber pcv hose that can be replaced at minimal cost. Yes, I am cheap.

It would all be good if it weren't for this one stupid bolt holding a bracket to the plenum.

Just to be thorough, I am speaking of the hose/pipe that runs underneath the body of the plenum and from there it connects to a three way fitting that ajoins to the main air flow tube and the drivers side valve cover.

any suggestions?

BTW, thanks for the FSM info.

-----Ben

[DAEDALUS]

Yeah, I'm cheap too. But in the end my efforts were futile, and I ended up buying all the hoses I needed for my car from the local dealership. I'd guess I spent about $500 and made 8 trips to the dealership. Of course, my hoses were so bad, I couldn't even remove the metal fittings without them breaking.Before you start the reassembly, ask yourself if you want to do this job again in a week if it turns out you cracked a bypass hose, or in a year, when one of them breaks on its own. Most people say "no thanks" and opt to replace all hoses.If I recall right, the hose you're speaking of actually has different diameters on both ends. Verify that, but if that's teh case, good luck finding an aftermarket part to fit that! Or of finding one standard hose pliable enough to fit both ends.You're applying to an elite club and this is the hazing process.

[Qdemption]

LOL!!!! I know. I feel like a true frosh. Two weeks ago I had never even heard of a "plenum". But, I am learning though and it is all thanks to you guys. Everyone has helped out more than they know.

------Ben

[elwesso]

I dont have my manual anymore, and Im pretty sure hitman doesnt have his.....

I think there is a manual on ebay right now...... For a 92 or 93 if im not mistaken.....

You really wanna contact Joe to get new hoses....... Call him up at 1888-216-5328, and tell him your a NICO member and a good friend of Wes Stinson.....

But, I do have a question for you..... I am preparing to the valve covers, and I wanna know how you got that bottom rear bolt off....?

[Qdemption]

Elwesso,

I had to jack up the car and get it from underneath. I used a opened end wrench. It took about 20+ min just for that bolt. My arms are skinny and the angle was a lil weird. Ohh and if you have any liquid wrench stuff, use it. CAuse when I first got the wrench on there I couldn't torque it. Sprayed some of that stuff on there and tried it again and BAM it was off.

Thanks for the info on the biznook and looks like I am going to be talking to joe, I just busted one of the hoses.

peace..... Benny

[elwesso]

So then how did you torque it down... I think I could get a small wrench on it, but when it comes to torque time i dont know.... And if at all possible I dont wanna guess, I dont wanna do this anytime soon again.....

[Qdemption]

From the position I was in I had to torque up. I was laying underneath the car, fit the wrench on there and pushed up. It could have been a boxed in wrench, but am not sure. We are talking about the passenger side, correct?

on the hands of a clock: I fit the wrench on there at between 5 and 6 o'clock and torqed to three o'clock.

It wasn't fun and took a few curse words and patience.

If you can get it on there you should be able to turn it. I didn't have much leverage and without the liquid wrench I don't think I would have been able to do it. It was real awkard.

Right now I am in the final stages of removal. All I have to do is take off the last of the bolts. I can't wait to see inside. Tomorrow I will post a pic of just how bad it is in there.

--------------- Benny

[elwesso]

What kind of maintenance history do you have..... I wanna know what to expect with mine...

Also, when you look into the oil filler cap, what does it look like???

[Qdemption]

I bought the car over a year ago and the previous owner had all the records for regulary schelduled maintenance from the dealership, including oil changes.

So the paper trail is good, however the car seems to have been neglected. The TB, plenum, EGR, MAF, and IAC were nasty, looked like they had never been touched. The EGR was completely clogged, from the plenum on down.

Inside the oil filler cap is straight up gunk. I ran my finger around the inside and scooped some of it out. Gross. It is all along the walls of the valve cover. I was hesitant to use a engine flush due to the amount that seems to have accumulated in there.

So a VC job was in order. I have taken all the bolts, hoses, and various connectors off. The only thing left is to physically remove it. But, it seems to be stuck on there pretty good and I don't have the patience right now to muscle it off.

---------- B

[elwesso]

Ok... But was the goop sorta crusty also?? thats how mine is... but it seems as if mine are normal....

[Qdemption]

Mine is more goop than crust. Once I get that d*mned thing off I am posting a pic. Hopefully later tonite around 11 (EST) or so.

-------- Ben

[Qdemption]

Hey Wes,

Here it is. Not as gunky as I thought. In fact it seems that it is just carbon on the inside.

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....age=1

------- ben

ps. 2-morrow I will get a pic of the engine. Couldn't tonite, it was raining.

[DAEDALUS]

WOW. That's pretty bad. Your decision to not flush the engine was probably a good one, but I don't know how you'll clean the rest of it out. The oil galleries are the arteries for the lube system. Block them up and pretty soon things don't feel very well. No way to reach them physically without removing things.

[Qdemption]

So does this mean I am screwed?

When you say Oil Galleries are you talking about what is on the inside of the valve cover? Like all those gears and stuff.

Man to be honest I don't know that much about cars. THis all began when I started picking out leaves around the windshield wiper area. Next thing I know it is almost two weeks later and I have a Valve Cover sitting in my living room.

THe car has been sitting for over 3 months now. One good thing I beleive is that the oil has had sufficient time to pool.

Me 1 Car 436

[Q45tech]

Looks like somebody has been using Castroil, uck! Should be perfect with just an orangish tinge, tint on all surfaces.

Take some pictures of the cams and lobes and followers and post.

[DAEDALUS]

The galleries are narrow tunnels running from the oil pump through the block and head to deliver oil to various bearing areas--crankshaft, wristpin, camshafts, etc, plus the tensioners, lifters and VTC. There are also return paths, but they're larger and less of a concern. Be frequent with the oil changes--once a month for 6-12 months--and use a mild flush just before each one. Most sludge you really don't care about as long as it stays in one place.

[maxnix]

Yeah, I kind of thought that looked like a chafing dish that was left on the burner too long.

ATF is used as a cleaner also, but don't drive nor rev the engine with it in the crankcase.

I have talked to vendors of Envirolution who have had to do multiple flushes while the engine was hooked up to the machine. Seems like $400 was the figure for a triple flush for a VG30DE which had not seen new oil in 30K miles.

Do a search for Tom Mackin of Envirolution and call him. He may be able to view your photo and have some comment on what would be required.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[elwesso]

Wow, those are really icky..... I hope mine dont look like that.....

Post picture of the heads, too.....

[Qdemption]

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....o=700

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....o=699

[elwesso]

GROSS!!!

You might wanna wipe that baby down with a rag and some carb cleaner..... Just dont let much if any get on the valvetrain.

Man I hope mine doesnt look like that.....

[Q451990]

Was that a dead mouse you pulled out of the bypass hose?

All I can say is be very gentle with anything you use to flush it with... Prepare for multiple 200-500 mile oil changes and small amounts of flushes until you can get the oil to not change colors for a 1000 miles or so.

I really think Maxnix is on to something with the Envirolution suggestion.

Heath

[Q451990]

For reference... here's how a clean one looks.

[elwesso]

Dang.... Thats clean....

I hope mine looks that good, but im not getting my hopes up!

[Q451990]

At 47K I was sure hoping it looked that way... I was a little concerned that the former owner may not have kept up with the oil changes, but everything looked great under there during the guide job. I was very happy.

Heath

[Q45tech]

Oh the humanity, how could members allow the crud to build up destroying their engine...............they should all look like the 47k or better picture.

PAO Synthetics cannot sludge.