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.

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

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.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

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.

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

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

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300

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

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory

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”…

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

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

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?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

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.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

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

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1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

Want to put a tank in the trunk for WVO/SVO in the E300 Need to find a place to store my OIL!
Still procrastinating about the biodiesel/WVO
Made some biodiesel but so afraid to pour it all in - I've added some and think I'll supplement my fuel to see how I make out

Made some biodiesel but the process scares me - methanol fumes are not your friend! Need to do this outside.

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.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL