I use a nut-driver when I do those and I work gingerly. Even a stubby 1/4" drive ratchet will easily overtorque them. IIRC the spec is 2.5 or 3 NM which is really very, very little. My sense is that they are really there simply to hold the cover snugly (not firmly) in place until the sealant is fully cured. (Which is really the key to this job, the longer you can let it sit until you start the engine, the better. Best to go overnight if you can.)

Replacing them would depend on how they look when they come out.

As far as the sealant, I tend to prefer the MB stuff, in part because it is available in a syringe, so it's easier to control and work quickly, which is another key to this job. If you take too long getting the sealant applied to the breather cover before you get it back in place, it's not going to seal properly.

Of course the first key is getting all of the old sealant off, which is the most time-consuming part of this simple DIY task.


Can we get someone to edit the thread title to include the M113? It's the same exact setup and this discussion is equally pertinent.