OM602 Head Gasket Failure: A Few Questions
 

Having just had my head gasket replaced on my 92 300D at 244,000 miles, I had few questions.

1. Is there any pattern to 602 head gasket failure? i.e. does it tend to happen around/above a certain mileage?

2. What factors other than overheating accelerate failure? Green coolant was used in mine for over 200,000 miles....wondering whether that could be a contributing factor.

3. If a head gasket is replaced correctly, should it last as long as the original?

Thanks.

Per Whunter, head gaskets is routine maintenance. I would like to see that in the FSM before buying in though.

Use a MLS from an om605 and you wont have failures.

MLS? My 91 is rolling 262k miles. I havent seen any head gasket issues. I'm told the transmission might make it to 300K before going south... Idk

Multi layer steel. The 602/603 are.composite.

Can you use a 605 gasket on a 602? Does it match up physically speaking?

Needs some modification.

Normal failure item after so much time and milage to be expected. The different metals used in the block and head have much different expansion charactaristics that also may contribute.

Also on this engine the oil pressure passage to the head could have been a little farther from the cylinder bore. Same with the 603 engines.

Yep, that's where mine occurred....by #1 cylinder. Apparently common place for 602.

yeah mine failed between #1 and oil gally. My head was damaged from the head gasket compression seal getting pushed into the oil gally groove. I had the head deck where it had a groove in it welded and then the whole head was surfaced, still running strong at 250000.

If the head and block surfaces are still flat and have a decent finish remaining. There is no reason a gasket of similar quality or better should not go a similar amount of time and distance.

I still feel it advisable to let the engine cool down and equilise hot spots when coming right off the highway before shutting the engine off. It will do no harm even if not particularily beneficial. Also keeps the lube going to the turbo bearings until the turbo revs drop down.