valve cover leaking on xterra. Too difficult to get to. Any oil additives to fix it?

Discussion in 'Other Automotive Tech & Talk' started by scooper77515, Oct 21, 2013.

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  1. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    Is there anything that my dad can add to his oil that will go through to the valve cover gaskets and cause them to swell so they won't leak as much?
     
    scooper77515, Oct 21, 2013
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  2. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

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    Snake oil products. Then watch it ruin something else. Fix it right by replacing the gaskets.
     
    rthomas771, Oct 21, 2013
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  3. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    Not my car. I am not fixing it...:D

    Even the guy that usually does their work, and the guy at the Nissan dealer said it is a major hassle of a job.
     
    scooper77515, Oct 22, 2013
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  4. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    add oil...:yup:
     
    71gold, Oct 22, 2013
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  5. simple man

    simple man Member

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    I'd be very leery of those "stop leak" additives! They will swell all the seals and may cause a worse leak! I'd try an oil change with a heavier weight oil and see if that helps. There is no easy fix! :cry:
     
    simple man, Oct 22, 2013
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  6. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Yep.....my wife's Windstar Van has an oil leak. $700 to fix. I can buy lots of oil for $700.
     
    Craig Selvey, Oct 22, 2013
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  7. Paul Masson

    Paul Masson MCCI Atlantic Canada Rep

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    What year is the Xterra?
     
    Paul Masson, Oct 22, 2013
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  8. Paul Masson

    Paul Masson MCCI Atlantic Canada Rep

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    The flat-rate time is 1.9 hrs for the right side, and 0.8 for the left on a 2006 X-terra with V6. Combination time is only 2.3 hrs to do both at once. Unfortunately, step 1 is "remove upper intake manifold".
     
    Paul Masson, Oct 22, 2013
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  9. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    Yes, that intake is the problem. Otherwise I would do it for him. I dont want to waste half a day doing that.
     
    scooper77515, Oct 22, 2013
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  10. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    I have taken intakes off and not actually taken everything off. At times I used a strap or bungee to hold it or hoist it up out of the way keeping some things attached to it. Some just look intimidating but are not that bad once it's all done. There are those that you just add oil to though lol.
    And accomplishing a major oil leak repair in half a day is not a waste.
     
    blugene, Oct 22, 2013
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  11. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    It is a 2000 with 3.3 l engine.

    And YES, fixing someone else's car while I am out of town visiting IS a waste of half my day!

    The leak is not that bad. He has a couple of small black spots on the garage floor.

    He says it has burned/dripped one quart in 3000 miles. It has almost 100k miles, so good chance most of that has dripped rather than burned.
     
    scooper77515, Oct 22, 2013
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  12. Paul Masson

    Paul Masson MCCI Atlantic Canada Rep

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    The 2000 times are even worse. 0.9 hrs for the right and 3.5 hrs for the left. A combined time of 4.0 hrs. one quart in 3000 miles isn't THAT bad, but I just hate the nusance of the oily mess. Good luck.
     
    Paul Masson, Oct 22, 2013
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  13. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    Oh, well, if your visiting then add oil. :)
     
    blugene, Oct 22, 2013
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  14. Moneymaker 1

    Moneymaker 1 Green Street Beasts

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    If there are any bolts you can get too easily, have you tried to tighten them up, make sure they are snug?
     
    Moneymaker 1, Oct 22, 2013
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  15. Dave B

    Dave B I like Mavericks!

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    If it ain't a pissan, it ain't a Nissan.....
     
    Dave B, Oct 22, 2013
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