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2009 C63 valve cover/oil leak with burning smell??

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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 07:40 AM
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2009 C63
2009 C63 valve cover/oil leak with burning smell??

Hi guys, spent lots of time searching and can't seem to find anything...I have a 2009 C63 with 92k and noticed a slight oil burning smell after a short drive. Smell is coming from the drivers side of the engine bay, no smoke. Upon inspection it appears there are drops onto the header/exhaust (see pics) - lots of posts about valve cover gasket leaks and coupled with "it's not that hard". Can anyone confirm my suspicion and/or confirm the gaskets aren't a major job? I'm pretty mechanically inclined (I've swapped motors and done engine work but never on this car, it's been problem free). Looks like pull the air boxes and it's there?? Any help/guidance/suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance
Attached Thumbnails 2009 C63 valve cover/oil leak with burning smell??-img_9679.jpg   2009 C63 valve cover/oil leak with burning smell??-img_9680.jpg  
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 09:57 AM
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Pluto - awesome, thanks. Patience I've got. Tools I've got. I ordered a set of OEM VC Gaskets. Have you done the job? Is it pretty straight forward remove and replace?
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 12:49 PM
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09 C63 AMG
Does the M156 use a plastic valve cover? Make sure the cover itself isn't replaced. When I had my BMW a guy leaned on it while doing an oil change and cracked it.
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Mbm6f
Does the M156 use a plastic valve cover? Make sure the cover itself isn't replaced. When I had my BMW a guy leaned on it while doing an oil change and cracked it.
No, not plastic. Metal.

OP - it does like like a VC gasket leak. Pull the airboxes, and coil packs and go from there. It's just a very tedious job as those little torx bits towards the firewall are very tricky to get to.

Just have extensions, swivel sockets, and a 1/4 wrench.

If you want to further diagnose, grab an automotive bendy mirror and look back there. You'll be able to see where it's coming from.

The gasket is installed on the HC itself. This becomes tricky when installing the valve cover back on because you have to slip the valve cover underneath the harness (drivers side) which means getting very the VC with newly installed gasket close to the camshafts. If the camshafts touch the gasket while you're sliding the VC underneath the harness, it can pull/move the gasket around and you won't see that. After you have everything set in place, make sure to run your fingers along the gasket to make sure it's still properly seated into the groove. This issue is problematic I found only on the drivers side towards the back right part of the engine if your standing right in front of the car.
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:22 PM
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09 C63 AMG
You're alright... for a tar heel.
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:37 PM
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Hope you have tiny hands
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:44 PM
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2009 C63
Originally Posted by Plutoe
Yes, post your VIN!!
WDDGF77X79F246858
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Jasonoff
Hope you have tiny hands
Awesome. Thanks so much for this. I don't have tiny hands but in guessing I'll have bloody knuckles afterwards
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Mbm6f
You're alright... for a tar heel.


You ain't no blue devil are ya?
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Old Jan 12, 2017 | 01:53 PM
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09 C63 AMG
UVA. Hoos
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Old Jan 13, 2017 | 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Mbm6f
UVA. Hoos
Nice. Great school

Sorry, OP. End thread jack.
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 02:54 PM
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Update....

ok guys. So I tackled the drivers side valve cover gasket today....what a pain...took it for a short spin afterwards and came back to burning smell and now smoke (from oil on exhaust)...do we think that it's the oriole that fell out when I took the physical valve cover off? Or do we think I made it worse? Everything is torqued to spec...

let it run run and burn off what's there or should I rinse with the hose? Help :/
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 03:16 PM
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Why don't you look around the gasket to see if it's still leaking or not. How is anyone here supposed to know that for you exactly?
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by BLKROKT
Why don't you look around the gasket to see if it's still leaking or not. How is anyone here supposed to know that for you exactly?
wowee zowee...so much for positive re-enforcement...

a. Of course I looked
b. I didn't know if anyone else who had done the job had experienced this/normal after swap
c. Thanks for your help
d. It appears was just dropped/excess oil. Burning and smoke is gone after the next run
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 04:51 PM
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There you go then. You're welcome.
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by deeepsix
wowee zowee...so much for positive re-enforcement...

a. Of course I looked
b. I didn't know if anyone else who had done the job had experienced this/normal after swap
c. Thanks for your help
d. It appears was just dropped/excess oil. Burning and smoke is gone after the next run
Bingo. Keep an eye out for seepage though. I used a small bendy mechanic mirror and a borescope to inspect for a few hundred miles after doing this.

Valve Cover Gaskets are so damn annoying.
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Old Feb 2, 2017 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Jasonoff
Hope you have tiny hands
I'm pretty sure this lady could do the job.....

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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 10:24 AM
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Just did this on my E63 W212.. What a pain in the *** because of how difficult it was to get to the tiny torx bolts at the bottom of the valve cover near the firewall. You do need tiny hands, a low profile ratchet and a TON of patience.
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Old Sep 5, 2019 | 10:11 PM
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What is the tightening torque and sequence for the head covers?
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Old Sep 5, 2019 | 10:54 PM
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Here is the torque sequence for both sides and the torque is 10Nm.


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Old Sep 5, 2019 | 10:56 PM
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Wow thanks! I thought it was much more than 10Nm...
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Old Sep 7, 2019 | 05:36 AM
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G'Day Fella's,

I hope you blokes don't mind me crashing this thread?

Almost three months ago, I purchased a second hand, 2012, C63, AMG Coupe (see "Brutal" pictured).
This vehicle's purchase, comes with 3 Months or 5,000 Km of warranty.
During the independent Pre-Purchase Inspection/Assessment, the mechanic identified an "Oil Weep", on the left hand side/rear of the engine.
This oil weep was acknowledged, by the dealer I purchased Brutal from.
To have a better understanding of this myself, I got under Brutal the other day, to have a look at this oil weep.
It is a minor oil weep and by the time the oil reaches the bottom of the engine, it has spread out, forward of, and then back onto the starter motor.

My Dumb question is, do you blokes believe this oil weep/leak, is also coming from a valve cover gasket leak?

I'd appreciate any knowledgable replies regarding this issue, so I can go back to the dealer, with a bit of ammunition (if you know what I mean).

D'oh!
Homer
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Old Sep 21, 2019 | 01:54 PM
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Just wanted to note the newer plastic cam covers are 8.5 Nm torque.
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Old Sep 21, 2019 | 06:42 PM
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Thanks for that information RKR.

Avagreatweekendeh!
Homer
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Old Sep 21, 2019 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Homer Oz
Thanks for that information RKR.

Avagreatweekendeh!
Homer
FYI I just fixed mine today, leaking near the rear drivers side cam cover gasket. About a year ago I noticed a leak and found the rear bolts a bit loose (they are single use). I torqued them to spec and it seems to help for a while but started leaking again, so ordered everything and did it today, took about 3 hours not working at it too hard. found the gasket was a bit deformed in the back corners, replaced the gasket, spark plug hole gaskets and all the bolts, cost about 70 bucks in parts.

Pics of what the lower rear area gasket looked like, otherwise gasket was still soft and pliable seems to just be an install error by Stephan on my motor.



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