I'm installing a new oil pan on the 1984 300DT. Planning
on using Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker to seal the gasket.
Can I use brake cleaner to clean the surfaces prior to using
the Permatex?

I see no reason not to.

some leave a residue, you may need to clean off with rubbing alcohol... check with the sealant's instructions.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Use whatever you want. I always like to finish with hot water and dish detergent.

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Chief

1991 350SD

I've gotta do this on my 420SEL. I've always wondered why people use the make-your-own gasket stuff rather than buy the original one. I mean its not like they're hugely expensive. The cheap ones for the 420 were 9$, the VictorReinz ones were $19.

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Brake cleaner is great stuff! It can be a bit of an expensive option though...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

The instruction that came with my oil pan seal said to apply a thin layer of RTV along with the new gasket

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

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

I used non-Chlorinated brake cleaner on the rim of the upper pan before I put mine on.

For applying the Permatex to the lower pan lip, just put a dab on a gloved finger and wipe around the lip, then set the gasket on it. Don't put Permatex on the other side of the gasket that makes contact with the upper pan. That will only make more crap to clean off way down the road when you need to replace it again...

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

Just make sure everything is dry and wipe down with a clean rag before re-assembly.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

The differential cover on my 85 td uses only RTV - no paper/fiber/rubber gasket. I changed halfshafts last year and when I put it all back together, I cleaned the surface of the diff case and diff cover like you would in an operating room. Followed RTV instructions and torqued to spec. Didn't leak for almost 8 months. Car is 27 years old. It can leak if it wants.

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

Laquer thinner dries very fast and removes oil residue etc from the flange well. If the laquer thinner is coming off clear it is usually clean.

Let it dry for a few minutes and apply whatever you are going to. The really nice thing about laquer thinner is it dries so fast.

OK, here's what I ended up doing. I used the green can CRC Brakleen brake cleaner to clean the mating surface on the engine. On the can it says, "Removes Brake Fluid, Grease and Oil, Degreases Instantly, LEAVES NO RESIDUE, Low VOC Formula (better for my lungs). Afterwards, I wiped the engine surface dry using paper towels. Then I sprayed both surfaces using Permatex Surface Prep Activator. Let that set for 3 - 4 minutes. While that was drying, I applied Permatex Anaerobic Gasket maker to both sides of the Victor Reinz oil pan gasket. Let that set up then carefully carefully lined up the gasket with the bottom of the engine and began installing the attachment bolts.

The car is up on ramps which gives me plenty of work room. I placed the oil drain pan up on some blocks of wood but somehow oil managed to leak down the sides of the wood onto the floor. Fortunately, I had an oil mat down which soaked up most of it (but not all, OOPS). This morning after installing the bolts, I noticed half of my hair was now covered in diesel oil. I immediately noticed the oil on the floor and picked up the oil mat and sprayed the floor with Purple Power and waited for a few minutes then cleaned up the oil mess using paper towels.

Then, I took a shower and shampooed my hair using hand cleaner. The shower turned black from the diesel oil in my hair. Oh well, I had a good time getting good and greasy. Tomorrow I will finish up with the attachment bolts on the oil pan and install a new oil gauge line. One of the attachment bolts broke off but it looks like I can access it from the top using vice grips. always something......

I appreciate all of the suggestions, I will file them away for future probes into the inner workings of the mercedes benz 617 diesel engine.

Hot fun in the summertime.