Valve cover gasket
 

Will this work for 81 300TD (617.952)?
I looked in fastlane but it is a little more than I want to pay for this gasket. Or should I just see if I can reuse the one on the car? I have wrenches coming that I bought from another forum member. The car is not my DD, so if I have to wait for a gasket, no biggie - don't know whether the gaskets can be reused or not.

Thanks,
Tom

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-Valve-Cover-Gasket-Diesel-300CD-300CDT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ33665QQihZ023QQitemZ360057186986QQrd Z1QQsspagenameZWD1V

yes.

You most likely can use the Original for quite some time though.
it should feel rubbery more than plastic-like

AllPartsExpress has the valve cover gasket for $5.38.

You can get away with using the valve cover gasket a couple times, but IMO it's a PITA to get the valve cover back on with the gasket seated right, so I use a new one every time. I don't want to have to go back and redo it because the gasket isn't sealing right.

http://www.allpartsexpress.com/RenderScriptTemplate.epc?_cmd=epccat_VehicleWHD&cookieID=2FJ0QFTC52FJ0QH84O&yearid=1981%40%401981&ma keid=MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40MERCEDES+BENZ%40%40X&engineid=1194308%40%40300TD++%2F+L5%2D3005cc+3%2E0L+DIE SEL+FI++Turbo%40%40300TD&catid=Engine+Seals%2C+Gaskets+%26+Sets%40%40Engine+Seals%2C+Gaskets+%26+Set s&mode=PA&subcatid=Valve+Cover+Gasket@@Valve+Cover+Gasket&clientid=allpartsexpress.com

You need to order $100 to get free shipping though.:)

Also ************** sells a pack of three gaskets for $24.95 and only charges $4.80 for USPS shipping.
http://**************.com/node/752

Gasket Pak
 

Just order a bunch of consumables. Oil filters, fuel filters, valve cover gaskets
etc. Unless you really NEED to conserve, replace the gasket. It would really piss me off to do a valve adjustment only to have the gasket leak, and have to replace it.