Q:Hi all,My 1995 nissan altima (122k on the odometer) stalled for a few minutes this morning. I noticed that one of the sparkplug holes ( where the cable from the distributer connects to the spark plug) is sorrounded by oil. I cleaned it out and it got filled with oil again. luckily for me, and by god's grace it somehow started normally and i drove home. I am sure its the valve gasket. There is not much oil leakage, the oil level is fine.I need to know if its going to damage my engine if I ignored the problem for 3-4days.Thanks.

It wont hurt to drive the car. I would replace the valve cover gasket. I would get a complete gasket set with valve cover,half moons if they are separate, and spark plug tube gaskets. If the spark plug wires are soaked with oil and feel soft i would replace them also.

Q:How much would it cost to get a new valve cover gasket on a 1993 Nissan Quest van?? I know of a van for sale, but they said it might need a gasket soon. How much plus labor, average, do you think it'll cost? Thanks!!

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Q:Hey guys Itook my car to mechanic because my engine light was on and the code showd that it was unsufficient egr lift or something like that....they had changed the egr valve before so this time they said there was carbon build up and they cleaned it and my car runs great now. i don't have problem with accelaration and the engine doesn't stall when i stop, BUT the light came on again and still shows the same code. I am sick of it!!! anybody knows what else could it be? It's 94 honda accord with 140 000 miles on it.

Hi Val, It sounds to me like the repair shop made a mistake here, they replaced a part without addressing the condition. If you had a fault for ERG insufficient flow , it would be caused by excessive carbon build-up in the intake manifold or the upper intake plenum, depending on engine. If you had a problem with stall at idle and a fault for excessive EGR flow the culprit would be loose carbon particles lodging in the EGR valve pintle and keeping it open. In either case the carbon needs to be physically removed, this would involve removing the intake manofold and or upper plenum Good Luck!

Q:I got a 2012 peterbilt 386 ...it just came back from the shop a few day ago to get injectors 4 and 5 looked at and repaired ....I'm getting a fault code for injector spill valve and a engine light ....I tried resetting the computer to get rid of the code but that's not it ... uld timeing of this cause the problem ...but other than that it runs like a champ so what could I do to fix this is it time cause I did probably get re timed when they repaired it

The fault for the spill valve is not something you can correct with timing. When they repaired or replace injectors they need to be programed into the computer so they match the other injectors. The spill valve is in the injector and is there to return unneeded fuel back to tank. If this valve does not work you could be over fueling or run the risk of fuel cooking in the injector making a mess of the spray pattern. It should be telling you which injector is throwing the code and if it is one of the two that were worked on take it back.

Q:Hi. I am planning to install new kitchen faucet and noticed that there are two shut off valves under the sink. One of them is badly rusted and needs to be replaced. I noticed that it is connected to three pipes (one of which is kitchen faucet). The other is clearly water coming in. What is the third one connected to wall? Also how should I go about replacing this? Anything that I should be careful of?

make a drawing of what you have. . .take it to Home Depot or better yet, a plumbing suppy place. They will be able to replace what you have. Just replace what you have and it will work. The interesting thing about shutoff valves is that they are always broken when you need them and work when you don't. They last no longer than what you are protecting. Buy the best ones they have. I have a strange one that is connected to three pipes. . .the water comes in one and goes out to the faucet and the dishwasher. . .three pipes. That's the hot water. And then the cold water comes in and goes up to the faucet. .the second shutoff.

Q:On a Chevrolet truck with a V8...One valve cover has a PVC valve and the other a push-in breather. Would it hurt to put a second PVC valve in so I have one on each side and run 3/8 hose to a T fitting then to the carburator? Good/Bad/Wouldn't hurt?

Leave the breather in, you need the freshair to enter the crankcase. Esentially think of the breather a the entrance for the air then it goes through the crankcase and up the other valve cover back into the intake/carb with all the oil vapors. If you wanted to run a closed system could put a line from the valve cover with the breather to the air cleaner.

Q:My friend is having 3 valves in her heart replaced with pig valves. Her dr said that putting in human valves raises the risk of her body rejecting them but wouldnt your body also reject a part form different species? And if they only last a few years why use them at all? shes all freaked out about the surgery so I dont want to ask her too many questions

Hello again. The valve I have implanted in me is porcine. Pig valves are sometimes used for a few reasons. First of all, they are much easier to get a hold of. Waiting for a human valve can take a long time. Secondly, there is less risk of rejection. These two reasons make a porcine valve better than having a human valve. You can also have metal valves, but when you have one or more of these you must take crazy medications for your entire life. With porcine valves, no extra medications are needed. So, porcine valves are really the best option. Like I said in a previous answer to one of your questions, I had my surgery when I was 16. I'm 22 now and doing alright. My valve is expected to last 10-15 years, so I expect to go under the knife to have it replaced when I'm 26-31. Unfortunately I have other issues and will have to have the surgery done earlier, and they'll probably change the valve while they're in there already. As far as I know, porcine valves last just as long as human valves. Whichever you have, it's going to clog up eventually anyways.

Q:The water shut off valve that is under my sink in the bathroom is leaking and I need to replace it. I am wondering if I need soder the new one or can I just put some thread tape around it.

you solder it, because your pipes have to be copper, which never have threads, so the threads tape would be useless right? just ask a plumber to come over and do it and watch them, really good way to learn without paying a college degree.

Q:Hey guys. I need help. Sorry this might not go here... but i couldnt find a 'good' category to put it in. This is for an engineering project for college.Im looking for shielded core solenoid valves that can with stand 95-98% sulfuric acid. With this in mind not very many materials are usable, right now we are looking for HDPE (High-density polyethylene).The size of the valves and cost is unimportant. Main thing is finding someone who sells HDPE solenoid valves.For more clarification on what we are looking for, below shows a shielded core solenoid valve from ASCO. The more acidic resistant material they offer however is a FKM. Which can only withstand ~60% sulfuric acid solutions.

In practice, engineers do not use solenoid valves directly on chemical or process lines. They are bound to leak and cause danger particularly in your case of 98% sulphuric acid. Use a mechanical valve actuated by a motor (since cost is no issue to you) If an air supply is available, then you can use pneumatic diaphragm valve operated by a solenoid valve. Motorised valve has slower fixed open close time VS faster adjustable open close time for air operated valves.

Q:What exactly are valves and cylinders when talking about car engines? Say a car has 3 cylinders or 8 valves for example.

There are intake valves and exhaust valves. On the intake side, the intake valve opens which lets the fuel/air mixture into the combusion chamber. At some point (measured in degrees of crank rotation) the intake valve closes, the air/fuel mixture is compressed and ignited by the spark plug. Then the spent mixture exits the cylinder when the exhaust valve opens. Valve configuration varies somewhat, but regardless of how many valves there are there will always be at least one intake and one exhaust valve. Some cylinder heads have 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves which is what is described as the 4-valve per cylinder setup. Regarding Car Cylinders, the answerer says Cylinders in a car engine are pretty much like rowers in a boat. But they are not. Rowers always row in synch with each other. Cylinders are made to be out-of-sync for smoother operation. The more cylinders you have, the smoother the engine runs. Compare a 1-cylinder minibike with a 4-cylinder motorcycle (both air-cooled), or a 4-cylinder to an eight... big difference in smoothness.