I'm not a bit surprised at this. I just replaced both the valve cover gasket and the intake manifold gasket. I have driven it maybe 100 miles and I'm seeing oil on the intake manifold. Would it be the consensus that it is from the valve cover gasket? These valve covers were very poorly engineered.

Where's all the oil on top of the valve cover coming from? Don't rule out blowby pressure forcing oil out of places it's not supposed to come from.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Other possibilities:
Oil cap
Improper torque

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

You know, I think I'm having the same problem. I installed non-EGR style manifolds and rebuilt my turbo. Prior to this, I was getting a lot of oil leakage from the manifold gaskets and leaking out between the turbo and the plastic U-tube. After the turbo rebuild and manifold installation, I'm having the same problem.

I wonder if the valve stem seals have dried out and are causing pressure from the cylinders to leak into the head past the valve seals and cause pressure in the crankcase which is forcing oil out of the manifold gaskets and turbo.

Another interesting observation is that I also replaced the front crank seal and the spacer ring that fits on the crankshaft, but the front crank seal is leaking quite a bit, too. The recently replaced genuine Mercedes valve cover gasket is also leaking.

I think it's possible to replace the valve stem seals without removing the head; an air compressor can be attached at the glow plug hole and compressed air can be used to keep the valve forced up during the process.

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DON'T MESS WITH MY MERCEDES!


1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Highly Optioned, 350,000+ Miles

Oil on out side of gasket and not along valve cover suggests oil coming from
leak between intake manifold and gasket.
Test:engine cool,start engine squirt oil along leak area,rev.engine,let off
repeat several times,ck if oil is sucked in or pushed out. Clean off

Valve cover gasket was much thicker years ago,may need to file down stops
a small amount if problems stopping oil leaks from valve cover gasket.

I'd check the valve cover for flatness, put it on a big piece of glass and see if you can slip a feeler gauge under at various places close to the oil stain. Sometimes it is difficult to get the gasket to fully seat, especially at the holes for the bolts, so double check that.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC