Valve Cover Washers?
 

Hey all,

I've noticed that my valve cover washers are non-existent on my 81 300SD. I'm about to do a valve adjustment and replace the gasket. How important is it to have wave washers under those nuts? Why won't regular washers work?

I'd much rather buy washers from my local hardware store than spend the extra money and time waiting to get them from mercedes******.com.

Thanks

It is amazing the MB`s in PNP that do not have a washer under the VC nuts. even my cars when I got them, did not have a washer.

The washer will prevent the Nut from gouging into the Aluminum of the cover. so any flat washer is better than none.

Some hardware stores carry the metric wavy washers.

If you have any type of PNP junk yards near you, the 13mm nuts that hold the brake peddle assy and the brake booster together have the wavy washers and you will get 4 13mm nuts.

Some of the later W126 and maybe the W124 use a nut with a flat washer that is all one piece, and the nut/washer actually swivel. I use these, but still use the wavy washer too.


Charlie

Charlie

Lowe's carries the wavy washers. If that isn't convenient, then Fastenal has about any kind of hardware you could ever imagine and they are nearly everywhere.

Yeah but you need to buy 100 of them... I worked for them for a year so I know their tricks.


Neither of my diesel cars had the washers and I have never seen them on any other OM61x motor either.

^^^ x2

None of my cars ever had them and never even heard of until this thread....

Can someone post a pic, just for giggles? Why does it matter if it's a wavy one?

Hmmm........

Interesting, I've ordered quite a bit of hardware from Fastenal for my business, in the past few years, and have never had to buy a 100 of anything. I guess it could be a store-by-store situation.:confused: Of course, they probably won't sell you half-a-dozen but I've easily bought 50. Maybe that is their break-point. I know Lowe's sells them by the piece.

Sure, the washers may not be needed in this particular situation, in fact an ordinary flat washer may work as well, but that is up to the individual. I was just providing sources that I've used.

When I replaced my '83 SD's VC gasket there were no washers. I had 4 copper washers though not correct did the trick.

Same here. I just ASSUMED that they never had them from the factory.

Okay my car never had a valve adjustment done to it, when I pulled the cover the original gasket was still in place with the mb star....and I had no washers....

My other car, never had washers, the w115 had no washers, the 240d never had washers...

So like everyone else, I never knew they came with any....

I believe they never came with washers from the factory. But I added them, even found nuts with washers built into them so I won't loose them. :cool:



.

The torque for the valve cover bolts (5 Nm for the W115) or nuts (15 Nm for the W123) is very low, so there is no real danger of damage to the aluminium cover.

I somehow think that if MB thought the washers were needed, it would have added them. The bolts of the W115 sometimes have a washer by the way.

It usually depends on the size of the part and the material as well. You can get bags of 10 in 3/4" 316 stainless but for 1/8" you need 100.

For commercial customers they are great but for a typical guy off the street not so much.

Use any kind of washer you like but remember................



http://i1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/5...dToSquare=true



I mentioned above I see most of them in PNP w/o a washer, but have seen some with them from time to time. it`s a personal issue.


Charlie.

A mechanic I respect mentions to use wavy washers, so even from Lowes you can get a small quanity.