OM617 Oil Cannister To Block Gasket - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vwnate1 · #1 10-26-2018, 05:55 PM

It began weeping then failed, I nearly ran out of oil before I realized what's going on and ordered in a new gasket .

? What causes these to fail ? .

Any tips or suggestions, links to what steps to take or avoid will be greatly appreciated .

TIA,

g-wizz · #2 10-26-2018, 08:52 PM

because the car is old and it had time to vibrate loose, the gasket hardened. its a normal thing. think of the leverage the filter housing exerts on the block pedestal as it goes through normal cyclic vibrations.

g-wizz · #3 10-26-2018, 08:52 PM

reassemble using grey rtv on both sides giving an hour for gasket tac before you assemble.

Diesel911 · #4 10-26-2018, 09:33 PM

Warning I did not spell check or check for typos.

The origonal block to oil filter gasket is just a paper gasket. They can srink and even fall apart over time. But, that is not the only plase it can leak. To the rear bottom if the Oil Filter housing is a bolted on plate that has where your Oil Pressure Gauge attaches and if you have a Turbl there is a banjo bolt and to crush washers.

The Plate has another paper gasket and the banjo bolt can be tightend too much and crack the plate and cause a leak. Some people have had the Turbo Oil Feed line crack.

The other issues are the the block can warp with heat and time and it is even possible or rust to eat under the gasket.

I like silicon sealant but this is not an area for that. Use a thin rubbercement type gasket sealer/adhesive like Gasgacinch. Essentially a high temp rubber cement.

The real mercedes replacment gasket has a thin sheet of Metal inside with a smooth rubbery coating on one side and a waffled/grid on the other side. Seems really well engineered for the job.

The other companies seem to sell some thick paper laminant. But, I have never actually seen one. People have used them with no issues.

When I did the job about 6 years ago I used the real Mercedes Gaskets.

What I found I could not do was use a Torque Wrench on all of the allen head bolts. I sub in some normal Hex head bolts and was able to fit a beam type Torque Wrench in to do the Torque. Others have said removing the Steering Box gives you lots of room.

vwnate1 · #5 10-27-2018, 12:13 AM

Thanx Fellas .

The gasket is only a few years old and the allen headed bolts are all tight

.

It's definitely the gasket not any cracks, evdry thing around it is clean and dry, it's weeping right from the bottom .

(you can make fun of me later when it stlil leaks and I find a crack)

No way I'd use any sort of RTV nor even Permatex "The Right Stuff" ~ I'll dig in my garage and see if I still have a can of Gasgachinch ~ I'm familiar with it as I was taught to make my own gaskets in the 1960's but this one looks too important plus it's only $1.25 @ Pelican Parts so I ordered it and will will-call it Monday, hopefully I'll be able to get it then .

No way am I going to dismount the steering box, not even if I wasn't crippled !

.

I guess I'll have to undo the oil cooler hoses ? no chance I can simply un bolt the oil filter canister and ever so carefully slip in a nw gasket and be good to go ? .

Maximan1 · #6 10-27-2018, 12:44 AM

The OE metal gasket is only available from one source now. Kent has a video on this subject on his YouTube channel, and sells the correct gasket with wrench for the hard to reach bolts. I bought it, but have not had the chance to install it on my OM616, it died before I had the opportunity to install it. I will be using it on my OM617 build, but it looks to be good quality. Do a Google Search for it.

Diesel911 · #7 10-27-2018, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximan1

The OE metal gasket is only available from one source now. Kent has a video on this subject on his YouTube channel, and sells the correct gasket with wrench for the hard to reach bolts. I bought it, but have not had the chance to install it on my OM616, it died before I had the opportunity to install it. I will be using it on my OM617 build, but it looks to be good quality. Do a Google Search for it.

If you use that wrench you won't be torquing it to a specific spec.

I removed the Oil Filter Housing using Allen wrenches and an Allen Socket. I don't remember if I needed to cut one leg of an Allen Wrench short as the Mercedes S tool is.

Maximan1 · #8 10-27-2018, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

If you use that wrench you won't be torquing it to a specific spec.

I removed the Oil Filter Housing using Allen wrenches and an Allen Socket. I don't remember if I needed to cut one leg of an Allen Wrench short as the Mercedes S tool is.

True, but looks like it would be handy when the everything is together.

Unrelated question, is Mercedes S like some taboo on this forum? I see that if I type it out, it's blocked out like a curse word.

Diesel911 · #9 10-27-2018, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximan1

True, but looks like it would be handy when the everything is together.

Unrelated question, is Mercedes S like some taboo on this forum? I see that if I type it out, it's blocked out like a curse word.

Yes. There is a bunch of compeitors that will be blocked.

moon161 · #10 11-09-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximan1

True, but looks like it would be handy when the everything is together.

Unrelated question, is Mercedes S like some taboo on this forum? I see that if I type it out, it's blocked out like a curse word.

Mention of competing vendors, other than the mercedes classic center is censored.

vwnate1 · #11 10-27-2018, 12:56 AM

And here's a nice little DIY how to from our very own Squig :

https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/replacing-oil-filter-housing-gasket-on-300sd-(om617)/

vwnate1 · #12 10-27-2018, 01:00 AM

"FWIW- I had great success with the less than $5 Victor Reinz Gasket. The secret is the clean the mating surface until no bumps can be found, install it dry with no sealant and torque down the housing or an even pattern."

Sounds good to me, I'll give it a go next week .

Diesel911 · #13 10-27-2018, 12:29 PM

One if the things I like about Gasgacinch is that it it thin enough that it actually absorbs into the gasket paper. If you are willing to take the time you can apply a coat and let it dry and apply more coats with periods of drying in between and you end up with kind of a rubberized papper gasket.

Unforunatly the local chain auto part stores don't sell it.

vwnate1 · #14 10-27-2018, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

One if the things I like about Gasgacinch is that it it thin enough that it actually absorbs into the gasket paper. If you are willing to take the time you can apply a coat and let it dry and apply more coats with periods of drying in between and you end up with kind of a rubberized papper gasket.

Unforunatly the local chain auto part stores don't sell it.

That's the stuff ! .

? Does it still come in a metal can with the girl on the label ? .

At the shop where we used gallons of it, it was fondly called "skirts up b*tch".

Properly used on paper or composite gaskets you _don't_ want it to get thick ~ a thin spear that's allowed to tack up five minutes before assembly is the key .

Anyone who uses Permatex brown sealant is going to learn some fancy new curse words.......

I've used it to salvage warped air horn cabys that were unobtanium, you make your own gasket and use the fuel proof hardening typ of Permatex (? H2 ?) and allow it to dry 24 hours, it'll never, ever leak again but taking it apart again is near impossible with out ruining the carby, why it's only used as a "Hail Mary" last gasp effort .

Anyways, THANK YOU ALL ! I hope to take a few photos to share once I get the gaskets next week .

Diesel911 · #15 10-27-2018, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

That's the stuff ! .

? Does it still come in a metal can with the girl on the label ? .

At the shop where we used gallons of it, it was fondly called "skirts up b*tch".

Properly used on paper or composite gaskets you _don't_ want it to get thick ~ a thin spear that's allowed to tack up five minutes before assembly is the key .

Anyone who uses Permatex brown sealant is going to learn some fancy new curse words.......

I've used it to salvage warped air horn cabys that were unobtanium, you make your own gasket and use the fuel proof hardening typ of Permatex (? H2 ?) and allow it to dry 24 hours, it'll never, ever leak again but taking it apart again is near impossible with out ruining the carby, why it's only used as a "Hail Mary" last gasp effort .

Anyways, THANK YOU ALL ! I hope to take a few photos to share once I get the gaskets next week .

I won't know for sure about the picture till my can arrives. But, when I did an image.googlels search the edlebrock with no girl pic showed up and a lot with the girl pic showed up.

My first encounter with gasgacinch was at my first job as a mechanic. And I used to buy it from the same place that supplied where I worked but it went out of business 2 years ago.