Nissan Altima Engine Mount and Valve Cover Gasket Replacement (2013-2018)
About this video
Engine shaking at idle and a burning oil smell when the engine gets hot? Those are two of the most common complaints on high mileage four cylinders, and both are DIY jobs. An ASE certified mechanic replaces a collapsed engine mount and reseals the valve cover in one session.
SAFETY FIRST
The engine must be supported before a mount comes out. Use a jack with a block of wood under the oil pan or a proper support bar, never your hands or a loose stack of blocks. Work on level concrete with the vehicle on jack stands, let the engine cool before touching the valve cover, disconnect the negative battery terminal before unplugging coils or sensors, and torque the valve cover bolts in sequence to spec. Overtightening cracks the cover.
WHAT WE COVER, ENGINE MOUNT
How to tell a bad engine mount from a misfire, a bad CVT or transmission mount, or an exhaust hanger
The visual check for cracked, separated, or oil soaked rubber and a leaking hydraulic mount
The load check that confirms excessive engine movement before you buy parts
Supporting the engine safely and taking the weight off the mount
Removing the mount bolts and the bracket, and what has to come out of the way first
Installing the new mount, aligning it, and torquing with the engine at rest position
Why torquing a mount with the engine hanging causes a vibration that never goes away
WHAT WE COVER, VALVE COVER
Finding the real source of an oil leak before you start replacing gaskets
Removing the coils, harness, and breather or PCV hose without breaking connectors
Lifting the valve cover without disturbing the timing components
Cleaning the sealing surface properly and where RTV is actually required at the half moon or cam cap seals
Replacing the spark plug tube seals and grommets, the part that soaks plugs and causes misfires
Setting the new gasket, torque sequence, and why cover bolts get torqued low
Checking the PCV valve while the cover is off
Running the engine and verifying the leak is gone
SYMPTOMS YOU MAY NOTICE
Engine shake or vibration felt in the seat and steering wheel at idle
A heavy clunk or thump when shifting into Drive or Reverse, or on hard acceleration
Vibration that smooths out as RPM comes up
Burning oil smell through the vents after driving
Oil pooled on top of the engine, down the back of the block, or on the exhaust manifold
Smoke rising from the engine bay at a stop light
Oil in the spark plug tubes and a rough running engine
Low oil level with no drips on the driveway
Check engine light with a misfire code from oil soaked plugs
RELATED FAULT CODES
A worn engine mount sets no codes, which is why the vibration gets misdiagnosed. A leaking valve cover and soaked plugs commonly set misfire codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, and P0304. A failed PCV or a vacuum leak at the cover can set P0171 lean, P0507 high idle, and on some engines P052E for PCV system performance. Oil starvation or heavy consumption can also bring on P0011 and P0014 variable valve timing codes.
DOES THIS APPLY TO MY CAR
Recorded on a 2018 Nissan Altima, fifth generation L33, sold 2013-2018 in the US with the facelift covering 2016-2018. It applies to 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Altima models with the 2.5L QR25DE four cylinder and the 3.5L VQ35DE V6, which has two valve covers instead of one. The QR25DE is also found in the Nissan Rogue, Sentra, X-Trail, and Frontier, and the VQ35DE is found in the Nissan Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, 350Z, and Infiniti G35, M35, and FX35, so the parts and the procedure will look very familiar on those vehicles. The Altima is sold as the Nissan Teana in many markets. The diagnosis and the technique apply to nearly any car or SUV from Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevy, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Popular searches this video answers: engine mount replacement, bad motor mount symptoms, car shaking at idle, clunk when shifting into drive, valve cover gasket replacement, oil leak on top of engine, burning oil smell while driving, oil in spark plug tubes misfire, Nissan Altima motor mount, QR25DE valve cover gasket.
DISCLAIMER: This video and description are provided for educational purposes only. Vehicle repair carries risk of injury and property damage. You are responsible for your own safety and for any work performed on your vehicle.
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