Valve Cover Gaskets leaking slighly - big deal?

pmay805

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I have an E500 with 95k miles and the dealer showed me that the valve cover gaskets were leaking slightly. To my surprise he quoted $660 US to replace them. I think that include some pipes and pvc. Sounded outrageous to me. Why can't I just torque the cover down a bit? And why are they leaking. I put 150k miles on my previous Acura RL and never had a leak...actually hardly any problems at all.
 

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pmay805

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I would just re check in the area of the leak,,if OK then replace the gasket,,it is a simple job to do

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp...SGR=075&SGN=07
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Hi Malcolm, I tried to access the link you gave me but nothing was there. My leak around the valve covers is getting worse now so I thought I would give it a try. Is this a 3 or 4 hr job for someone who has never done it before on a benz?
 

television

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Since the first post on this it has been found on many 113 engines that the rocker cover bolts are just loose and a simple tighten up is all that is required, no need to change gaskets in all the cases been up since. My own were loose on my SL500, if you have to replace the gaskets it is a real easy job but a lot of dismantling.
 
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pmay805

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Thanks, I'll try tightening them first then. I did a search last night but did not see any comments around the looseness of the bolts. I guess my search words " valve cover" just didn't catch them.:)
 

Miffy

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The link Malcom sent you was 4 years ago, no wonder it no longer works.
 

television

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This would have been the link, these screws are very low torque, do not over tighten

index.php
 
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pmay805

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looks like bolt #29 may not be the typically hex head type that I'm use to. May have to but a new socket just to fit it.:confused:
 

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You can see them, just normal sockets as I recall
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi,
If there the same as the two M113 engines I have had they have male Torx headed bolts, the most common place for these covers to leak are from the secondary breather covers on top of the rocker covers, which are secured by the cover bolts and a few allen cap bolts, they have no gaskets but a line of sealant to stop them from leaking.
 
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pmay805

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they were torx heads but I was able to tighten them a bit with a regular 8mm hex socket. I also tightened the smaller ones on the top covers first. I brushed off all the dirty oil build up and plan to spray some degreaser on them tomorrow morning and hose them off after 5 minutes so I can tell later if they still appear to be leaking. Hope the degreaser is an OK idea.
 

television

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Yes you can degrease it all, use a paint brush to agitate it and a jug of water taking car not to get water on the coil packs or any electrics
 

poseidon

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hi,

you might have high pressure in the valve chamber. this happens because of blow by or blocked breather. Take oil filler cap while engine is running.

pose
 


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