Is replacement of the upper oil pan gasket mandatory (or highly recommended) when the timing cover is removed? (M119 motor in a 94 E420 with 148,000 miles.) I am doing the full timing chain/ tensioner/ all the guides replacement right now. The car is all apart and I'm getting ready to put it back together. The gasket appears to be undamaged, but I did have to lower the pan somewhat to get clearance to remove the timing cover.

So what do you guys think? Raise the engine - yank the pan and replace the upper gasket (ugh!), or reach around and smear some sealer on the surface of the old gasket, or just snug up the pan and hope for the best?

By the way, that chain sure didn't look too stretched (by aligning the 45 BTDC mark, and the cam locking pins, anyway,) and the guides have only very shallow grooves. Looks like I probably could have left it alone for another 100,000. I do change the oil every 3750 miles with Mobil 1, so maybe that has helped.

I'm planning on posting a full report on the job once it's done for anyway who is interested.

Thanks in advance,
Bob Johnston

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Bob Johnston
03 E55
Comand/Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod added
Black/black
(Oh man, this car is sooooo fast.)