A 3.5 engine in a Maxima is side mounted and the valve cover is on the upper rear side of the engine in clear view. The valve cover is the rectangle shaped cover with the four rubber tubes coming out of the top. The gasket is the seal between the cover and the engine block. This seal keeps oil in and air out. If the gasket is worn then the engine will not perform as well and carbon build up will form around the cover, staining the engine.
Disconnect the mounting clamps from the battery using a box wrench. Allow the 3.5 engine to cool before proceeding, to avoid burns.
Pull the rubber tubes off the top of the valve cover. Use a power drill and corresponding size socket to remove all eight bolts on the top of the cover. Pull the cover off the top of the engine.
Remove the gasket from the inner edge of the valve cover with a scraper. Make sure all of the gasket has been removed.
Place the new gasket onto the engine block along the edge where the cover rests. Place the cover onto the engine and make sure that the gasket is flush with the edge. Replace the bolts and tubes. Torque the bolts to 45.8 ft/lb with a torque wrench. Reconnect the cables to the battery.
