Afternoon,

Sometime next week I'm going to replace my valve cover gasket. Many, many years ago I took a 77 300d in for a valve adjustment. When the mechanic took out a new gasket, he stretched it over his head, and behind his back. What good would that do? Thanks.

H Smith

1984 190d (W201) 111,670

It gave him some exercise. Wrenching is hard on the body.

X2
Why would we bother paying a mechanic to do his exercises?
I guess he saw the guy coming.
He would have looked a total fool if it broke.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

It made you think he knew what he was doing?

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

I heat mine up with a heat gun to make it a bit more pliable.

The Valve Cover Gaskets I have used so far have not needed stretching to fit.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

when Porsche used cork gaskets, which would sometimes shrink a bit, we used to soak them in water and then slip them over the outside of an old spare valve cover to stretch back to full size overnight before installing them. I don't see a reason to do this with rubber gaskets, though.

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Numen tibi adsit!

you should leave it out on the sun to make more pliable.

or carefully heat it in the oven. carefully.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Leave it just as it is so it stays on the cover. Too soft or stretched and it will be a mightmare trying to keep it on and in place as you locate the cover to the head.