1995 C280 Oil leak

[mr. c.]

On a 1995 C280 oil is leaking from the joint between the timing chain cover and the cylinder head. I am told that this is common problem. It is caused by the head gasket shrinking and leaving a gap between the head gasket and the gasket under the timing chain cover. The oil finds its way onto the exhaust and on a longish (30 miles) trip the car smokes like it is burning.
Mercedes says the head gasket must be replaced with a new reinforced type that wont shrink. The price ? $2000. I am sure that would work but 2 grand would really hurt an old retired guy.
Have any of you folks heard about this problem? Are there any other fixes such as a different gasket for the timing chain cover?? Seems to me that the head gasket must stop shrinking at some point and if you stuffed a new timing cover gasket in there you'd have a fix that would last a good while.
Any help will be welcomed with great enthusiasm!

Ray C

[talonlover]

The common problem is the cam cover seals. This does not mean you have to replace the head gasket at all. Take it to another shop for a different opinion. The fix is simple...replace the valve cover gasket, camshaft seal, and the timing chain cover gasket. If you have a shop do it its going to cost around 50 dollars for the parts, about 1.5 hours labor. PS..let a shop do this because getting the valve cover gasket and the "U" gasket to seal properly is tricky, and if it doesnt seal correctly you have to do it all over again.

[mr. c.]

Originally Posted by talonlover

The common problem is the cam cover seals. This does not mean you have to replace the head gasket at all. Take it to another shop for a different opinion. The fix is simple...replace the valve cover gasket, camshaft seal, and the timing chain cover gasket. If you have a shop do it its going to cost around 50 dollars for the parts, about 1.5 hours labor. PS..let a shop do this because getting the valve cover gasket and the "U" gasket to seal properly is tricky, and if it doesnt seal correctly you have to do it all over again.

Hi In this case, the leak is actually between the head gasket and the timing cover. The head is now off and I can see the problem. New gasket set is on the way. Not at all easy to pull the head but I found a procedure here on the Net of how to retain the timing of the cams and the cam variator. I am up to my ears here and hoping to be able to get it back together.

[talonlover]

I'm glad to hear you are saving some dough doing it yourself. 2 grand seemed a bit high for a head gasket change...unless they were rebuilding the head as well.

[mr. c.]

Our dealer charges $90 per hour for work in his shop and the dealer book shows this operation reguiring 16 hours. The parts will cost about $400 so not hard to get to $2000. I am now using CD based books and web pages as a manual and will do more and more myself.