Oil filter housing gasket?

[waqas]

Is there supposed to be a gasket between the oil filter housing and the block?
If not, what kind of surface preparation is necessary to prevent oil leaks?

(I'm not referring to the joint between the canister and the housing, which has an O-ring as supplied with the oil filter kit)

My parts book doesn't show one and I can't seem to find the relevant BBB section (if it even exists).

Thanks!

[66andBlue]

Waqas,
take a look at group 18, it shows a triangular gasket (#45 in the M127 parts list, #80 in the M129 parts list) for the oil filter housing: P/N 121 184 0080.
Hope this helps.

[waqas]

Alfred, that helps, thanks!  I must be blind, it was right there! Unfortunately, now I need another part.

Does anyone know if this gasket is special, or can I make it out of cardboard?  It's very inexpensive, but I'm short on time.

[66andBlue]

If I remember correctly it is made from some kind of high-temp rubberized material (plastic?) - certainly not card board. I had to scrape it of the old one of the block, it was baked on.

[waqas]

Alfred, thanks. I'll go ahead and order the right one. I'll just have to wait until Monday to reinstall the housing...  

[SteveK]

I just bought one a few weeks ago and it looks like starndard (relatively thin) gasket material.   If you were in a rush, you can go to any autoparts place and buy a roll of the stuff and cut one yourself.   (I always keep a roll around for things like this)   The one I got is the triangular shape with two round holes.

[ja17]

Hello Waqas,

Yes it is the standard paper gasket material.  Probably no more than 1 mm thick. It is the same on most of  the old gas MBs of the era. Being in Texas try Will Samples for a quick delivery by mail. It is the same as a 190SL.

As an alternative, it is an easy one to make with gasket stock.

[waqas]

Can anyone tell me the correct torque numbers for the three allen bolts holding the oil filter housing to the block? I couldn't find them in the technical data book. Thanks!

This is now officially the cleanest piece of metal attached to my engine....

[Naj ✝︎]

Not clean enough Waqas 

Needs a bit more elbow grease 

naj

[waqas]

Not clean enough Waqas  
Needs a bit more elbow grease  

Yes but everything is relative! Besides, I left some elbow grease in some of the corners to prevent.... um... corrosion.

So, torque numbers anyone? Or am I being too anal-retentive worrying about such things...?

[Dave Gallon]

The part number is now 121 184 01 80 (modified from 00). I am in San Diego. If you send me a PM, I could have it in the mail to you Monday AM, USPS First Class, probably delivered on Tuesday.

[wwheeler]

I am installing a new gasket on my oil filter assembly and have some questions. The MB gasket has one side that looks like typical fiber material. The other side has been coated with moly or graphite. Which side would go toward the engine block?

I am going to use Permatex #2 to hold the gasket to the filter unit during assembly. My guess is the graphite coating would face the engine block.

One final question. My gasket is triangular and has two holes in the middle where the oil passes through. These holes line up perfectly with the engine block. However, the filter housing has larger triangular openings here and does not support the gasket. In fact, when I looked at the old gasket, these two areas were shrunken back as if the oil pressure was deforming the gasket. And since there is no support from the housing, the gasket sinks in. I was thinking about cutting the gasket closer to the housing imprint and eliminate these two "pockets".

Has anybody run across this?
 

[ja17]

Hello Wallace, good questions, not sure I can answere them with certainty.  I would gues that the graphite coated side is toward the housing since most of these gaskets  part at the housing and have to be scraped off the block. Should not make any major difference eiither way. As far as the extra gasket matierial should not make any difference if it cut or not. Next I like to use Permatex #2 on a lot of places like oil pans etc. Use it very sparingly on the oil filter gasket if you use it there at all. If too much is used it may "extrude" out and into the oil passage where it can travel and do some serious harm.  I prefer to use Permatex  copper gasket spray adhesive in these critical alreas. It goes on thin and even but sticks well.

[wwheeler]

Here is what I did on my oil filter gasket. This is from a '68 W111 M130 so it maybe a little different for a 113 but roughly the same. Instead of the two holes (5/8"?) in the gasket, I enlarged them closer to what the filter housing is. I didn't want to make the new openings the same imprint as the housing because I was afraid it would then be to flimsy. I should have taken a before and after picture but forgot before the cutting began.

What good is all of the extra gasket material flopping around anyway? Seems like a good place for a piece of old brittle gasket to break off on get into the oil circulation.

I placed the graphite coated face towards the block so if I ever have to take this off again, I shouldn't have to scrape the block. Thanks Joe for the tip on the copper gasket spray.  It worked great!

[Dave Gallon]

1) many of you will disagree with me but I do not use any form of sealant in this location. If you are sure the block is scraped clean and the aluminum housing is flat, you will not have a problem. I have never had a leak. The copper gasket spray does work nicely.
2) if you must use a sealer, do stay away from the Permatex like products. There have been many engines destroyed by overzealous applications of sealant - it doesn't take a very large piece to block the oil passage to a main or connecting rod bearing.
3) I agree that there is no major difference which way the gasket is turned. However, I would place it graphite side toward the oil filter housing. You are much better off scrapping the gasket off the cast iron block than the off the aluminum oil filter housing.