Nissan Sentra B14 spark plug seal replacement

Do you happen to find engine oil in your spark plug hole when you are about to replace your spark plugs??? Well normally is the spark plug seal which is located at the valve cover has either harden or broken in a way that it lets the engine oil slips through. However, when changing the spark plug seal it seems that there is a need to actually get a new valve cover as there is no way to remove the old seal and replace it with the new one. Here is the solution to this problem which all Nissan Sentra drivers with the black valve cover. Here are some pictures that shows the modification to the valve cover. Bare in mind you will need a steady hand. :) This is how it is done......

First remove the valve cover from the engine by removing all the spark plug high tension cables and holders, PCV valve and also the hoses. After that remove all the screws. With the screws all removed, slowly lift it using a flat screwdriver by prying in between the cylinder head and the valve cover.

With the valve cover removed, turn it upside down and clean all the engine oil with a rag. Be sure to remove the rubber seal which is at the center left of the valve cover and keep it somewhere safe as without it you will be burning engine oil. Next is to try and cover the small holes (if possible)

Take the new spark plug seal and place it over the spark plug hole to match it firmly right in the hole on top of the old seal which is still in the valve cover.

After placing the new seals on top of the old seals at the spark plug holes, take a small flat screwdriver or anything sharp and draw along the outer part of the new seal. this is to make a round circle on the part which will be cut.

After making a circle on the valve cover, take a flat screwdriver or a chisel and hack on the line to break it or you can also use a grinder to do so which will be better. cut it until the sides is as the same with the black surface on the sides after taking out the old seal. don't worry as it will not break out of the line just aim directly at the line properly when hacking using a screwdriver.

Next take out the old seal and used a sand paper or a sand grinder to smooth the surface that has already been cut. This is how it looks like when it is done. A bigger hole to fit the new seal.

 
 

All cut to oversize to fit the new seals. (new seals are already fitted) 


Clean up all the debris from the grinding and the cutting with a cloth or with compressed air . After that check and inspect all the seals and make sure you fit them right to the end by pressing it till it seats right in. with all that done, fit the valve cover back to the engine and tighten all the screws and fit back the hoses with the spark plug cables in place. Job done. Hope it helps :)

Any question or suggestions feel free to comment about it :)