Oil leak after valve cover gasket replacement
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 C320
Oil leak after valve cover gasket replacement
Hello,
I just replaced leaking valve cover gasket on passenger side of my 2003 C320. I tied all bolts up to 8nm, everything looked good.
Yet after starting an engine in about 3-4 minutes I noticed oil leaking on the floor, from bottom rear side of the cover. I have not used any sealants, just gasket.
I cannot see any problems, though that side has limited visibility. Why would oil leak develop with a brand new (aftermarket) gasket? Can it be gasket failure?
Thanks.
I just replaced leaking valve cover gasket on passenger side of my 2003 C320. I tied all bolts up to 8nm, everything looked good.
Yet after starting an engine in about 3-4 minutes I noticed oil leaking on the floor, from bottom rear side of the cover. I have not used any sealants, just gasket.
I cannot see any problems, though that side has limited visibility. Why would oil leak develop with a brand new (aftermarket) gasket? Can it be gasket failure?
Thanks.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 4
S203
gasket was seated properly? bolts were tighten in order? you replaced the gasket because it was leaking? maybe there are gaps in between contact surfaces? i think flatness is the word, sorry english is not my language. there is a tool to check that. this can happen if someone in the past took the cover off while the engine was still hot
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
Likes: 53
From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
hmm... odd.. I have done this job and it went well. Try removing the cover again and making sure the gasket is well sealed, not twisted etc. Did you clean/scrape both surfaces before re-assembly?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 C320
Apparently the gasket fell out at the rear bottom end when I was putting it in.
Reinstalled, and seems fine, other than a bunch of oil collected at the engine pan still dripping.
I strongly advise against doing this as DYI, unless you have a properly setup working environment with floor protection and very large oil drip pan - that oil spill cost me lot of time to cleanup, and some environment damage too.
On a side note: what kind of moron put RUBBER gasket in engine area with constant high temperatures? Obviously it will eventually fail. So much for "german engineering".
Reinstalled, and seems fine, other than a bunch of oil collected at the engine pan still dripping.
I strongly advise against doing this as DYI, unless you have a properly setup working environment with floor protection and very large oil drip pan - that oil spill cost me lot of time to cleanup, and some environment damage too.
On a side note: what kind of moron put RUBBER gasket in engine area with constant high temperatures? Obviously it will eventually fail. So much for "german engineering".
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 938
Likes: 53
From: Montreal, Canada
2005 C240 2011 R350
well most do this repair quite successfully. It is not technically difficult. with most of the time being removing parts and hoses to access the cover. As for rubber... remember that valve stem seals are also rubber, as well as many other internal engine seals that are in direct contact with hot oil. So I don't think that rubber is the issue here.. But I agree.. we have been building engines for over a hundred years, why MB can't get a valve cover right is beyond me.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 154
Mercedes
well most do this repair quite successfully. It is not technically difficult. with most of the time being removing parts and hoses to access the cover. As for rubber... remember that valve stem seals are also rubber, as well as many other internal engine seals that are in direct contact with hot oil. So I don't think that rubber is the issue here.. But I agree.. we have been building engines for over a hundred years, why MB can't get a valve cover right is beyond me.
--Kyle
