Valve Cover Modifications for OM617
 

On another website, the guy says that numerous OM617 owners have changed valve cover gaskets numerous times to stop oil leaks, but the oil leak from the valve cover gasket keeps on coming back. He says the solution to the problem is to modify the valve cover to permanently stop the oil leaks. He said he will not be tell us how to install a valve cover and assumes that we already know how to do that. For a small price, I can learn this secret valve cover modification.

What can be modified on a valve cover? Won't any modification just cause more leaks?

ZERO ! Don't pay whomever a red cent. He or she wants to charge you for what ?

A new gasket should fix the problem. You have to make sure it is seated corrected and once that happens, I push down on it and move it back and forth as much as I can to make sure there's the best seal / fit possible. I am frequent flyer on S T D dot com and I have never heard of anyone wanting money to post some snappies and to discluse the "secret" of installing a VC gasket. There's a good chance your VC is just warped. It happens. OR, and the big OR is, is he or she selling you a mod'd VC ? If that is the case, then yes mod's and R&D cost some money, but not the snappies and a thread.

The "stops" can be filed down so that the cover fits a bit tighter to the gasket.

chain of consequences: "stops" are filed down vc nuts are overtightened causing vc to warp causing more leaks..... the fun never ends

If that's the secret you have to pay for....
 

I did what people told me not to do. I put red RTV sealer on the gasket--top and bottom. Over a year later, it is leaking again. There are no leaks on the injector side. The front and rear are damp, but damp enough to cause the whole right of the engine to be wet with oil. This is causes drips on the right side of the car.

The filing idea is really bad. The valve cover is very finely machined. It should never be touched.

I agree on the idea of using a new gasket. They are only $5.50 at Pelican. But what if the valve cover is warped? Pelican does not sell new ones. I bet the dealer wants a fortune for a new valve cover.

Those of us who have successfully employed that technique might see things differently. In any case, making the argument that the valve cover is such a precisely crafted part that it cannot be touched is a bit lame when the cover fits so poorly that it leaks.

In my view, folks who jump to conclusions on the basis of experience that they don't have might do well to not touch something else: the hood release.

Here's my $0.02 - When the cover is off remove the gasket and lay the cover cylinder head side down on a known flat surface - I use my cast iron table saw table (a sheet of glass will work, too). With one hand see if you can rock the cover - that should not be possible. If so, you can use a set of feeler gauges and see how much it's warped. As a second check, using a small feeler gauge (say, 0.010" I also work my way around between the cover and the table and see if it'll fit. If you do find that it's not flat you can take it to a decent machine shop and they'll machine it for a few $$. You can also draw file it but if you're not good at it you can make it worse.

Just a FYI - OM616 and 617 engines do not have a "valve cover". That's a "cam cover" as the cam as well as the valve gear are contained inside. Kind of picking at nits, I know, but you can sound like a pro with a little info.

Dan

Several times after adjusting valves and replacing the gasket with a Victor Reinz from PP, it leaked (the cam cover :D that is). I don't know if the VR gaskets are sub-standard, or the cover is warped, but it leaked after changing it. The next time this happens, I will check it on a flat surface (I have a granite sink cut-out that is as flat as needed).

I would be willing to bet I know the site you're talking about (has an M and an S in the name?)... I believe good information should be free. Unfortunately I don't think he always gives good information. I'm lucky there are smarter people around here to provide rescue.

-Rog

Well E X C U S E M E .... CAM Cover then ... lol

What Dan and Rich said x 3 ... check on a known flat surface for possible warpage. That is, check your CAM Cover.

I thought the cover was purposely not flat so as to apply pressure to the unbolted sections when tightened down?

Ive had leaking incidents too, but always solved by a new gasket and a good cleaning of the surfaces

For 100 dollars, ill tell you the secret to making 1000 dollars. First, ill need you to get 9 of your friends interested too though.

:D

That sounds really dumb. Can you tell us where that is?

You know I had my tongue firmly in cheek, I hope! But technically.......

Dan

The website is Mercedes Source. Do a search for valve cover gasket. He has a video called "Permanently Repairing the OM 616 and OM 617 Pesky Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leak" for just $2.99. You can watch the teaser video for free. I am suspecting that the idea is to file down the cam cover.