[4th Gen] VC gaskets just replaced - now it leaks

[OwnerCS]

Sometimes you are better off leaving a non-leaking Valve Cover alone.. So don't touch if it doesn't leak..

Now here's a lesson learned the hard way..

For the 95 Maxima SE 5-speed, I decided to replace the VC gaskets along with the EGR refresh.. The old gaskets were NOT leaking, but I wanted to pull the plenum to replace the gaskets as "preventative maintenance".

Basically, I followed the write up at the following link. I even used the same gasket brand in the write up.

valve-cover-gasket-job-on-i30-very-thor ... 90767.html

So a few days after I finished the job, I notice oil spots in the drive way. I check the oil and it is one quart low.. Yikes! I see oil leaking from corners of the VC gasket area. When I removed the VC gaskets, I noticed some blue (factory looking) RTV in corners of the gasket to head mating surface. I found a picture from when I had the head removed. The pictures has RTV markers where the blue RTV was located. I did not replace the blue RTV -- thus causing oil leaks with the new gasket job.

I'll be doing this job over starting next weekend -- after reading the FSM where it says to use RTV..

Has anyone else experienced leaks from not replacing the RTV in the VC corners?

[maxhopper]

That sucks. I feel your pain. I helped a guy install a 3.5L into his 4th gen. We got the old engine out and the 3.5L he had modified installed. Started it up only to find out the timing was off.

[McSteve]

So you didn't use any RTV when doing that?

[OwnerCS]

So you didn't use any RTV when doing that?

Now that I reworked the job WITH RTV there are no oil leaks..

We need to update the NICO articles as there is no mention of RTV for the VQ30DE.

[OwnerCS]

So you didn't use any RTV when doing that?

Now that I reworked the job WITH RTV there are no oil leaks..

We need to update the NICO articles as there is no mention of RTV for the VQ30DE.