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torque on the valve cover

25879 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  amc49, 
E
I am installing the valve cover gasket on my car. Does anyone know the torque on the valve cover on the 1996 nissan altima?

TIA
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Asleep
its barely around 20 in/lbs. snug em up and then give a little tiny turn. it doesnt take much to damage those fasteners.
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B
according to the haynes manual...torque all the fasters to 35 in. lbs. then to 69 to 95 in. lbs.
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M
¼ turn from shearing off.
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Asleep
Bri4404 said:
according to the haynes manual...torque all the fasters to 35 in. lbs. then to 69 to 95 in. lbs.
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im actually surprised that its that high... i know those things are notorious for breaking. i usually do my method - no leaks yet. :)
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E
Thanks

Thanks
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Asleep said:
im actually surprised that its that high... i know those things are notorious for breaking. i usually do my method - no leaks yet. :)
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got a torque wrench that does inch lbs...did it to the spec

not really that much difference between 20 in lbs and 95 inch lbs
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Asleep
yeah yeah i know, been doing this TOO long, lol. i just didnt think it was actually that high. i looked it up once upon a time, but after a few engine swaps in one month, you kind of just want to get the job done without breaking anything, ya know? :)
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eddie57 said:
I am installing the valve cover gasket on my car. Does anyone know the torque on the valve cover on the 1996 nissan altima?

TIA
Click to expand...
+1 on not using a ft-lbs measure tool, the typical torque wrench in ft-lbs won't be sensitive in that range - something like 6-7 ft-lbs, it won't p/u the diff between 20-95 inch-lbs very well. While over-tight short of breakage won't cause too many problems with the cover seal, just watch that O-ring spark plug seal, deform it too much and you get oil in your plugs and wires, through the 4 round seal points where the rubber gasket sits. That sucks because you end up soaking your plugs and wire boots with oil seeping around those seals in the cover.
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B
what about the torque sequence? I have the Haynes on the way from Ebay but if it is available on the web or on here it would be helpful.
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bmdavis said:
what about the torque sequence? I have the Haynes on the way from Ebay but if it is available on the web or on here it would be helpful.
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go in kind of a star or "criss-cross" pattern starting from the center and moving out.
you don't want to put too many in on one side at any time because it will cause the valve cover the lean, and then the other side wouldn't seal as well.

the key is - use diagonals and start in the middle.

p.s. The actual stock torque setting on the bolts is "7-9 ft. lbs.", as told to me directly by a certified Nissan mechanic.
That was for my '99 though, but I assume it's all the same.
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utopiainu
What is the torque order for the valve cover gasket?
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utopiainu
utopiainu said:
What is the torque order for the valve cover gasket?
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On a Nissan Altima 2005
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A
Ridiculously high on the torques. If the bolt is a common 6mm. shank then 10 in.lbs is enough. They commonly pull aluminum threads at 75% tapped and 20 in.lbs. 35 is off the chart. They are positive stop bolts now and you simply sink all in evenly until they hit solid and then a slight amount more to make sure they do not come loose.

Bolts do not need a torque any longer when they hit a positive bottom out point, it does nothing but break the bolts as the cover establishes the gasket crush now instead of the bolt torque. And why you are stupid if you go out and tighten the bolt more trying to stop a leak, it just breaks the bolt and the leak keeps leaking.

I quit all gasket tightening patterns and haven't used a torque wrench in years on valve covers now, no need. If you can't feel the bolt bottom out you are not competent enough to do the work.
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rogoman
utopiainu said:
On a Nissan Altima 2005
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The torque order for the valve cover gasket on a QR25DE engine as taken from the FSM:
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A
No wonder people break so many bolts.
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