civicious

I don't post here much, if at all...


Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Wil, I'm a Bosch and ASE certified technician from Houston, Texas. I've been working on cars for most of my life (just like every other wrench), but I've got 7 years of 'real' Mercedes/BMW/Porsche/Ferrari experience.

Anyways, having said that, over the last five or six months, I've noticed a repeating trend with Victor Reinz valve cover gaskets - they leak. Pretty much every single later-model Mercedes has issues with the valve cover gaskets leaking (or the valve cover plugs, in the case of 272 engines) anyways, so it's an almost daily occurrence that VC gaskets are getting replaced in my shop. Starting around October or November, I noticed that we were getting a good deal of comebacks for oil leaks when we'd replaced valve cover gaskets ('a good deal' means ANY. ONE comeback a month is too many). I warrantied them out no problem, but I still had to eat the labor. More recently I've had those same cars that have already had one set of Victor Reinz start showing back up with the same oil leaks AGAIN.

I ordered a few VC gaskets from the dealer, and upon initial inspection they look pretty damned similar - the Victor Reinz feels like a little bit softer rubber, and has some powdery residue on it in the packaging - BUT the Victor Reinz gaskets are, on average, between one and two millimeters shorter (from where they sit flush against the surface of the cylinder head to the highest point where the gasket sits in the groove on the valve cover) than the OEM gasket.

Because the valve covers have 'tangs' on the corners that actually make contact with the cylinder heads, there is a limited amount of 'squish' that the valve cover can induce on the gasket, so this tiny difference in the height of the gasket CAN and WILL cause issues, whether it be immediately apparent or not.

I have spoken with several other technicians, both at dealerships and independent shops, and this is a trend that is starting to come up all over the country.

Just thought I'd make this bit of info available to the internet community, in order to save some people the trouble - whether you're a DIY'er that's trying to save a few bucks over OEM, or you're a shop customer that thinks your technician is trying to rip you off for a few extra dollars by recommending OEM parts rather than aftermarket - it's only a few dollars difference, and it'll save you a LOT of hassle the first time.


Moderators, I'm not entirely familiar with the forum, so if this post is out-of-line or needed to be approved by you first, I apologize.


-Wil Kitchens
Houston, TX
Bosch and ASE certified MB/BMW/Porsche/Ferrari tech
CMRA Expert #265
http://www.idbracing.com

Dan Morgan

Thanks Will, that is good info. that I will file away and also have wondered about as well.
Glad to hear your input, I will be picking your brain from time to time as I run into questions.

clsjack

Thanks for the info. Sure wish I had read this post before I waisted my time doing this job twice.
Is the correct torque on those valve covers only 9 in/lbs. ?

Jack

AMGTECH

i agree.. VR gaskets aren't what they used to be

clsjack

The gaskets that I had bad luck with were 'Bruss" brand gaskets.
Any of you tech guys ever hear of that brand ?

Jack

paste

The one(s) they sent me for the M113K valve covers had to be trimmed for the right valve cover. There is like a tab or something that is supposed to slide over the half-moon shaped part that should hold the gasket in place when you flip it upside down, but it was molded almost all the way shut. Either that or I was hallucinating from a heatstroke. The left side was okay.