valve cover seal change.

[Michiganbenz]

I have a 1995 C280. I pulled one of the spark pulgs and it had a lot of oil dripping from it. I think it needs new valve cover seals with the spark pulg seals. Is this a hard job to do on a C280. Is there a lot that has to come off to get to the seal? Thanks

Michiganbenz

[mayagman]

Hey pal,
Valve cover gaskets were the first thing I did on my car. I ordered the MeisterSatz kit from the shop that suggested I replace them.
Its easy as pie. There's about six bolts around the valve cover if I remember. Just take off the intake plenum, get everything out of the way, remove the cover, peel the old gasket off.
Make sure that you carefully clean the gasket seat around the valve cover mount so the new gasket will fit nicely. There will be small flecks of melted black plastic or oil deposits. I took em off with a rag. Next is the only tricky part.
On my car (2.8 Inline Six), there are two small semi-circle gasket components that you have to pull by hand out of the back of the motor. You'll see what they look like in your new kit. I knew the purpose for them, but I forget now. Now is also a good time to put in the new sparkplug gaskets, clean off the surface and pop em in just like the others.

Pull these out and prep the surface like you did before. Pop the new ones in, and carefully press the valve cover with gasket back down. Make sure that the gasket doesnt fall out, as it will only be held in there loosely. Make sure those semi-circle plugs are seated evenly and flat, so the gasket presses down on them nicely.

After this, hand-tighten the bolts, and using an inch/lb torque wrench, tighten all of them up to the same value. I don't know the exact value, but it should be just a bit more than snug, with even pressure across all the bolts. Just make sure you dont sock it down on one end and not the other, pinching the gasket.

Print this out and have it by you while you're in the shop, and everything should be a cake-walk. If anyone knows the torque values, maybe they can help you. Should be about the same procedure for all our engines.

Best Regards,
-Maytag

[Michiganbenz]

Thanks bud. I'm gonna get the kit and try doing it.

Michiganbenz

[djdoughboy]

its easy bro... it will take you about 10 minutes...