To lift the engine up high enough to replace the oil pan gasket, will I need an engine hoist? (its in storage so if it can be avoided that would be great) Any parts that need to be taken off?

I'm replacing my motor mounts and oil pan gasket today

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

You're supposed to raise from above but people without a hoist often raise from below and block up the motor mount brackets - in other words remove the lower mount bolts, jack up from the oil pan, remove the mounts, block up the mount brackets, remove the jack on the oil pan, remove oil pan from the front. Not that bad since you're doing the mounts anyway. Be safe.

So nothing needs to be removed parts-wise?

I read somewhere that sway bars needs to removed?

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

CD doesn't mention it for 124, only for 201 and 129. For 124 only a couple of transmission oil pipes, one on each side. You should get the CD - very helpful.

I have the CD but half the stuff I can't find on it It seems very limited, but maybe I don't understand how to use the CD?

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Things are just hard to find. But it's very thorough, although brief. This job is at engine / mechanical / crankcase / #3100.

We have the sump unbolted, but it seems we will need the hoist...There just isn't enough space to pull the bugger out

Good news so far is that I may not in fact have a head gasket leak after being able to see better now!

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

You should be able to raise it as much from below as from above - it will only go so far before the transmission hits the tunnel. But in the middle of the job the hoist would be the way to go if you have access to one.

Got it eventually




How does the engine look from underneath? I assume that is pretty clean!

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k