w116 300sd Oil leak Valve Head Cover - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

xaliscomex · #1 12-17-2012, 01:24 AM

1979 300sd with an oil leak at the valve head cover (gasket). Just replaced the gasket a few months ago and now its leaking oil. I have read many using and not using sealant(sealer) in between the valve head cover and gasket. What is recommended and what type of sealant should I use that is safe and effective. Why is it that oil leaks between the valve head cover. Does the cover warp or does the head warp? How tight or what is the torque on the valve head cover nuts?

whunter · #2 12-17-2012, 02:01 AM

If you did not scrape every millimeter of the cylinder head contact surface with a razor and XActo knife, the crusty old gasket material can cause leaks.

If the gasket was low quality, it can fail quickly.

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Govert · #3 12-17-2012, 02:43 AM

The valve cover nuts should be tightened to 15 Nm.

Is the valve cover installed correctly?

There is room for expansion between cylinder head and valve cover, that is why it isn't a tight seal.

xaliscomex · #4 12-17-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

If you did not scrape every millimeter of the cylinder head contact surface with a razor and XActo knife, the crusty old gasket material can cause leaks.

If the gasket was low quality, it can fail quickly.

.

The rim of the head is clean and no left over gasket material or any other residue has ever accumulated in such area. Maybe I just didn't tighten the nuts to specified torque. To be honest, I have never torqued those bolt nuts. I use a Victor Reinz valve head cover gaskets. Is there a chance that these gaskets are becoming inferior just like oil filters, tools, tool boxes and other parts that seem to get bought out by cheap manufactures.

whunter · #5 12-17-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xaliscomex

The rim of the head is clean and no left over gasket material or any other residue has ever accumulated in such area. Maybe I just didn't tighten the nuts to specified torque. To be honest, I have never torqued those bolt nuts. I use a Victor Reinz valve head cover gaskets. Is there a chance that these gaskets are becoming inferior just like oil filters, tools, tool boxes and other parts that seem to get bought out by cheap manufactures.

OK.

Any manufacturer can have random quality issues, and if they stay in business long enough it is inevitably going to happen many times...

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