Vq40de Valve Covers And Gaskets

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I'm not going to go through doing a complete "How To" for this. I will try to add some pictures and do a quick write up on it though.

I was able to replace both valve covers and gaskets without removing the cam control solenoids. It took a little work to get the gasket surfaces cleaned around that area but it's doable.

My PCV hoses were old and brittle and the cross-over between the valve covers cracked when I pushed it back on the passenger side valve cover nipple. Since I had needed to order it, I replaced all three PCV hoses. I also took the time to replace the hoses for the VAIS system on the intake plenum since they were showing some dry-rot.

If you are doing this job, it's probably a good idea to order and replace the hoses right from the start instead of having to wait an extra week to get them like I had to.

For now, here's a list of parts that you will need and will hopefully be helpful.

ORIGINAL POST:
So I'm trying to replace my valve cover gaskets and was going to change the spark plug tube seals as well.

Well those seals aren't replaceable in my 2007 covers and I busted the left hand cover trying. So I'm down till I can find replacements.

What year VQ40 DID come with replaceable spark plug tube seals? I'm assuming one HAD to since since they list and sell the seals.

Any ideas?


EDIT 1:

You can order the valve covers and gaskets together in a kit here. This doesn't include the intake plenum gaskets or any of the other parts listed further down except the covers and the gaskets for them.

https://www.courtesyparts.com/maint...lve-covers-gaskets-kit-vlvcvrkit1?parent=3448

EDIT 2:

Parts list for the job:

Valve Cover Right (includes PCV valve):
13264-EA200

Valve Cover Gasket Right:
13270-EA20C

Valve Cover Left:
13264-EA210

Valve Cover Gasket Left:
13270-EA21C

Intake Upper Plenum Gasket:
14032-EA200 x3

Throttle Body Gasket:
16175-EA200

Optional:

Cam Soleniod Gasket:
23797-ZA000 x2

PCV Hose to Intake:
11823-EA20A

PCV Hose between Rocker Covers:
11826-EA200

PCV Hose from Rocker Cover to Air Intake Tube:
11826-ZL80B

I needed in addition:

Throttle Body Bolts: Mine were damaged from a previous repair preformed by someone.
16122-7S000 x4

EDIT 3:

Found this write-up on here for pulling the plenum and doing the spark plugs. It applies to having to change the valve cover gaskets as well so here's the link:

https://www.xterranation.org/index....e-plenum-gasket-replacement.8203/#post-506101
 
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General_Tarfun

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Location
Atlanta, GA
So I'm trying to replace my valve cover gaskets and was going to change the spark plug tube seals as well.

Well those seals aren't replaceable in my 2007 covers and I busted the left hand cover trying. So I'm down till I can find replacements.

What year VQ40 DID come with replaceable spark plug tube seals? I'm assuming one HAD to since since they list and sell the seals.

Any ideas?



Well sh*t, I'm sorry I mentioned them! I assumed the same based on them being listed for our valve covers back when I looked it up. I just a youtube search and found a video where a guy pried one out and cut it in half to show a cross section of it.

They are definitely not replaceable if what the aftermarket is selling is just a rubber o-ring, the cross section shows it's more like a suspension bushing with metal and rubber molded together, one part even has a metal spring molded inside of it.

Zo3WqRu.png
 
Last edited:

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Well sh*t, I'm sorry I mentioned them! I assumed the same based on them being listed for our valve covers back when I looked it up. I just a youtube search and found a video where a guy pried one out and cut it in half to show a cross section of it.

They are definitely not replaceable if what the aftermarket is selling is just a rubber o-ring, the cross section shows it's more like a suspension bushing with metal and rubber molded together, one part even has a metal spring molded inside of it.

Zo3WqRu.png
No issue. I would have bought them anyways once I got in there. I had assumed they came with the valve cover gaskets.

You would think my local Nissan dealership parts guys could have explained the situation but they're about as helpful as a stubbed toe.
 

General_Tarfun

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Location
Atlanta, GA
No issue. I would have bought them anyways once I got in there. I had assumed they came with the valve cover gaskets.

You would think my local Nissan dealership parts guys could have explained the situation but they're about as helpful as a stubbed toe.


I guess they just replace the entire covers when they replace them. That would make sense from the quote I remember getting from my local dealer, it was little high for just the gaskets. Do the replacement covers come with new main gaskets too?
 

TerryD

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Location
Covington, Va

General_Tarfun

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Location
Atlanta, GA

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
That's what I'm trying to avoid with this. I'm hoping I can get by with doing the full setup with spark plugs every 100k to avoid leaks and keep the engine running good. I should have done this when I put plugs in I guess but hind sight is 20/20...

I'll know next time and hopefully someone will learn from my experience.
 

General_Tarfun

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Location
Atlanta, GA
That's what I'm trying to avoid with this. I'm hoping I can get by with doing the full setup with spark plugs every 100k to avoid leaks and keep the engine running good. I should have done this when I put plugs in I guess but hind sight is 20/20...

I'll know next time and hopefully someone will learn from my experience.

That plan should work pretty well, I replaced my gaskets around 150k and the tubes were completely dry. I'm now at 175k and only one tube has a minor leak so the covers themselves seem to be pretty well made.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
It stopped raining after lunch time today so I went out and got the Driver's Side (Left) cover back on and torqued. It went back together ok.

I pulled the upper intake plenum as well and stuffed rags into the intake runners to keep trash out while I work. I'll try to get the other cover done tomorrow and get this thing buttoned back up.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I started out first thing this morning and got the passenger side cover on the X. However, the PCV hose that runs between the valve covers cracked on me. I decided to just order all three PCV hoses and the throttle body gasket from Courtesy Nissan. While I was at it, I ordered the power steering return hose that's been leaking lately as well. Hopefully they'll be here this week. Looks like Friday will be a nice day so hopefully I can get this ALL back together then and be done with it.

This is going to take at least two weeks to do just because of ordering parts. Glad I have a backup DD...
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I would say 3-4 hours the first time you do them. But I haven't been keeping track of it because of the issues I've been having.

A side note: I did NOT remove the cam phasing solenoids and have been able to change both covers. So use your own judgement on that.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
The X is back together!! Getting ready to take a test drive. Changed the oil in the crank case before starting it because I wasn't sure how much water got in when it rained. One spark plug tube was full (hood wasn't completely closed) and it was the one with the torn up seal so better safe than $4k engine swap.
 

General_Tarfun

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Location
Atlanta, GA
The X is back together!! Getting ready to take a test drive. Changed the oil in the crank case before starting it because I wasn't sure how much water got in when it rained. One spark plug tube was full (hood wasn't completely closed) and it was the one with the torn up seal so better safe than $4k engine swap.

That must have been some pretty heavy rain! I think you made the right choice on just changing the oil to be safe.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Did you use the rtv at the front corners of the covers that the fsm mentions?
Yes I did. I used the Permatex grey from Advance Auto.

You don't want a ton of it there, but enough to fill the gaps where the gaskets might not make full contact there.

Make sure the cover goes straight down onto the beads so you don't wipe it off the gasket surface.
 
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