My valve cover leaks oil past the gasket. The gasket is only about 2 years old. I'm wondering if the valve cover has warped, and is not putting adequate pressure on the seal.

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I suggest we solve high gas prices with environmentalists... unfortunately they don't burn well.
1982 300CD, 220K miles: This vacuum system will be the death of me yet! (OBK #26)
1977 F150 400 C6 2wd, 10.2 sec 1/8 mile with 2.75 gears.
1965 Mustang. Mostly stock... LOL!
2001 Ram 2500, cummins, 5spd, 202k miles.(girlfriends)

torque specs are 11 netwon ft lbs.. or was it inches..

I also have the same issue. it leaks by the # 5 cylinder..

When installing that gasket you need to wipe all traces of oil from the matting surfaceses to assure no leaks. Try a reinstallation.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

The gasket becomes brittle from age and heat. Also it can leak if excessive blow by is present. Its a very simple replacement, just like the prior poster said, make SURE the surfaces are bone dry and clean. I cover the cam with rags and use brakeclean aerosol to clean the gasket surface.

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81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

Two years is a bit young to go, but I'm on the second one on my mother's TE at six, so maybe not.

Installation is a bit tricky -- clean the head as noted, but also clean the valve cover lip! Do not use ANY sealant of any kind, not even to stick the gasket to the cover to hold it up during installation -- this will inevitably cause leaks.

Install the gasket on the clean valve cover and make sure it's on and all the way down in the slot. This is tricky on the corners sometimes. Place cover on head, then lift slightly and slam it down firmly. Repeat until it makes a solid thump -- you will hear the difference. This seats the gasket correctly on the cover (note that the procedure is different for the 60x and later engines -- they have a half-round section that fits into the head and cannot be thumped like the earlier ones).

Tighten the cover screws only until they "seat", not until you cannot turn them any more. Doesn't take much pressure -- on the newer engines, too much pressure will cut the gasket, on older ones with "stops" you will warp the cover and it won't seal.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!