OM606 Longevity - head gasket
 

Anyone have any idea of how long the head gaskets last on the OM606, as long as it hasn't overheated? I was curious as over the years on this forum I have never heard of anyone replacing a head gasket on their OM606. Obviously if the head had to come off for glow plug issue or whatnot it's a no brainer.

Sadly I may have to do this job. Check out my recent thread about it: "Cracked OM606 head". It's probably not cracked, but I suspect the gasket. I have residual pressure in my cooling system but no other symptom thus far. I wonder how much is involved in doing this job. I've owned this car for half a year with no overheating during my ownership, but whether it was ever overheated prior to my ownership I have no idea.

A couple of regulars(either brian or hatterasguy?) I can't remember which swear they are the closest to bullet proof since the old Iron heads went away. Makes sense. I have seen quite a few with well over 200K and 300K miles when I was shoping for a new used Benz. I would say this it the best modern diesel until the CDI proves itself.

I was under the same impression, but had to ask...

Hopefully they will chime in with some words of wisdom. I would look at that crack head thread mentioned earlier.

606's don't crack - but original gaskets do fail eventually
 

The cylinder heads on 606’s simply don’t crack – that was an issue on some early 603 head castings. The 606 heads are very durable, but there does seem to be some similarities that I’ve read here about eventual head gasket leakage. The leak that was described in the other thread is similar to what I experienced; a very very small coolant seepage on the rear/passenger side area between the head & block. I eventually had the ‘residual pressure when cold’ symptoms, and at that point I decided to do the gasket (and valves while it was apart).

I guess that I’m now ready to go prove the proverbial and often quoted on E-bay statement that “these engines are known to go a million miles”… :cool:

P.S. DieselAddict: I can almost guarantee that your head is NOT cracked, it is the head gasket starting to act up.

Is it possible that a simple retorque of the head would solve the problem? Or does the head really need to come off and a new gasket be installed?

Replace your head gasket. Don't retorque it. Once they're bad, they only get worse.
steve

I do, I'd stack a 606 up agianst any MB diesel to date. I have never heard of one cracking its head or blowing a headgasket. Well unless they were overheated badly of course. Still I can't recall ever hearing of a 606 with a cracked head.

I think I found my problem
 

So what was the tally'damage on the head job and how many miles were on the engine when you finally gave in. I think I see the exact same leak - rear/passengers side.

thanks

I see another old thread got resurrected. As far as my problem is concerned (I mentioned this in another thread) I ended up using Bar's Head Gasket Repair which worked for me. Over a year later I still don't have any significant residual pressure in the cooling system like I used to. I think the Bar's Stop Leak products are pretty good. I used another Bar's product (I think it was Radiator Repair) to successfully fix a leak in my 240D's heater core.