Did a search and came up empty.

!992 400E - it came home smoking the other day. When I got home, a look under the hood showed that the oil fill cap was not on correctly and there was evidence of oil weeping down the side of the valve cover. OK clean it up (changed the oil as it was due) and did see signs of oil on the exhaust manifold, wet with oil in 3 places. Started it up and drove for a bit, the rearmost point dried out as did the front point, however the mid point is still showing wet. I cannot see any evidence of the valve cover gasket "weeping". Is there any other path for oil to come out in this area (like the exhaust manifold bolt)? I figure unlikely but I'd ask.

My thought is oil got blown back in that direction from fan and airflow, may just need some more time to burn off.

Crappy pic of area included - to orient yourself it is the right - passenger side, air hose removed, edge where it attaches to air filter assembly housing is visible.

Any insight appreciated.
Thanks
paul

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I've experienced the same thing when the oil cap is not seated correctly. I would get some good brake parts cleaner (the chlorinated stuff) and try to get the residual oil off. Then you'll know.

The valve cover gaskets do leak and eventually require replacement as they harden. I have found that the factory gaskets are so much better than the Victor Reinz as far as fitting better and staying secured to the valve cover on installation. It is more costly, but it is worth it. Also, when replacing the valve cover gaskets, order the tiny copper washers for the valve cover bolts since these are not supposed to be reused.

If your motor mounts are fairly new, the tough part of replacing the valve covers is getting to the aft rear bolt on the passenger side. It is helpful to have a 5mm 1/4" drive swivel Allen, or you can do what I did and drill your own access port for that bolt.

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

Thanks for the advise - my suspicion is that there must be a slight leak at the gasket as it does not seem to be burning off completely and the valve gasket seems to be the only possible source that would get to that location. I will do a few 30+ mi drives to make sure everything really got warm enough for a sufficient time (and also look for signs at the gasket when running at temp and at shut down).

Thanks
Paul

Before you get too worried, remove your air cleaner box and the plastic plug wire shroud on the passenger side valve cover. Clean that thing up. Depending upon the amount of oil that exited the filler cap, the grooves alomng the top of your valve cover may be full of residual oil and that stuff will leak and drip for weeks.

I speak from experience... I had the same thing happen and it was pooled up oil sitting in the grooves/channels of the valve cover.

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Jeff
'87 300E
'92 400E
'06 ML350

Thanks Jeff - will take a look there first.

Paul