PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Did the front timing seal and other stuff (M103)

tinypanzer · #3 03-31-2009, 07:33 PM

Yes, the valve cover gasket is supposed to be installed dry. However, I have learned that the replacement gaskets available these days get rock hard in less than a year, and they always start leaking at the back of the motor and by cylinder 6. This is my third valve cover gasket in less than a year. The last one leaked so bad that it dripped oil onto the exhaust causing a suffocating plume of smoke in the cabin whenever the Klima is on. I got sick and tired of it and decided to seal it down. I was loosing a half quart of oil per week mostly from the valve cover.

I don't think removing it will be too hard, one could just shove a tool into the half-circle cutout in the back and lift up.

This does bring me to one observation - if you do decide to goop down the valve cover like I did, make sure you are happy with your temperature sensors since you usually have to remove the valve cover to loosen them.

I've never done the cam seal on a M104.

According to the MB shop manual, you can put the seal on with the cover removed or installed, but doing it installed required two special tools that I didn't have. I also figured it would be easier to get the seal in perfectly square if I had the cover on my bench. Your mileage may vary.