What repair do you fail at? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 04-29-2012, 07:10 PM

Hey everyone,

Just thought I'd vent a bit about my recent failures on my 420SEL and 300SD.

I'm hanging up my hat and never going to replace another pan gasket on these cars. Gah. What disappointments.

First car, the 420SEL. Whole endeavor was to replace the leaky oil level sender seals. That was easy. Got my new pan and gasket all in place. Went nice and slow, torqued them down as per spec. OH LOOK. A LEAK. So I snug up the ones around the leak by a 1/4 turn, move the car, and check again. OH LOOK LESS LEAK BUT STILL A LEAK.

I threw in the towel, I wasnt about to replace the gasket and lose the oil only to fail a second time. Send it to the shop, they replaced it and the same o-rings that I did. I should have been more clear in my note I suppose.

Second car, 300SD. Transmission has been flaring when cold but once it was warm is was perfect. After I did the spring kit it had a small leak at the passenger front corner. So I said I'm not playing games, new pan + new gasket, $65. My other 300SD I over-torqued the pan, broke the gasket and it leaked a river a few days later. Not again.

Soon as the pan and gasket arrive I put the gasket on the pan and let it sit for a day or two to let the gasket loosen up and return to its normal shape. Today I drop the pan, put the new pan and gasket in. Use my new 1/4" drive torque wrench to get it right at the proper number. It converted to 70 inch pounds.

I start putting in ATF. After the third quart. OH LEAK, whole front of the pan. OH LOOK MR. GASKET ROLLED INWARDS. THAT *******. So down goes the pan and my nice three quarts of ATF. I reseat the gasket, making sure to install bolts caddy-corner. Visually checking the gasket to make sure its all seated.

Start putting in new ATF. 5 Quarts are in good, no leaks. Drove it around, parked and tried to check the fluid level. I cannot for the life of me read this dipstick. It seemed a bit low to me, so I add 1/2 quart. Drive off. All is good, some flaring at 3-4, so more adjustments of modulator. I make my final adjustment, and what do I see.. OH A LEAK. Rear corner, passenger side.

So thats 0/2 for pan gaskets for me. How about you guys? Whats your Achilles's heal of repairs?