Just put enough on there to hold the gasket to the pan. You only need it to line up the holes.

I removed my lower pan last week. I rolled a new chain on my 300SD and replaced the tensioner guide and slide. I just had to make sure the only thing in that lower pan was oil.

I washed the pan out with diesel and sanded the old sealer off with 220.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic