Family
OM642
Strength: High service life with proper maintenance. Common watch-out: Intake swirl flaps jam. OEM life note: not limited; often cited in practice: 400,000 km. This family appears across roughly 33 fitment bands in 2005–2018; service history, oil/cooling records, and engine-code verification matter.
OM642
OM642, OM642.820, OM642.826, OM642.832, OM642.835, OM642.838, OM642.852, OM642.854, OM642.858, OM642.861, OM642.910, OM642.920, OM642.930, OM642.940, OM642.961, OM642DE30LA, OM642LSDE30LA/642.826, OM642LSDE30LA/642.873
Verify on the car report
2005–2018
Most frequent / serious themes first; amber labels mark year gates.
The most known problem of this diesel is oil cooler gasket leaks. Since the cooler is located in the V of the engine, replacing the cheap gaskets is expensive. Around 2010 the design was revised and such leaks no longer occur.
The engine uses a reliable Bosch Common Rail fuel system, but its piezo injectors are very sensitive to fuel quality and expensive. Also, regular failures of the fuel quantity control valve in the high-pressure pump are noted.
The intake manifold has steel swirl flaps, but they are actuated by a servo with plastic rods that often break. The problem is worsened by intake clogging due to a weak crankcase ventilation membrane.
The Garrett turbo itself is durable and easily lasts 300,000 km, but its variable geometry system often sticks due to heavy soiling. Most often the turbo is damaged by debris from cracked welds in the exhaust manifold.
This engine is known for frequent oil leaks and a not very durable oil pump. Since it is sensitive to oil pressure, spun bearings are not uncommon.
| Rated life (OEM) | not limited |
|---|---|
| Life in practice | 400,000 km |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Timing failure effect | bends valves |
| Oil change interval | every 10,000 km |
| Oil capacity (engine) | 8.8/ 10.8/ 12.8 L * |
| Oil capacity (change) | 8.0/ 10.0/ 12.0 L * |
| Oil specification | 5W-30, MB 228.51/229.51 |
| Valve adjustment | not required |
| Valve adjustment method | hydraulic lifters |
| Oil filter | 10,000 km |
| Air filter | 10,000 km |
| Fuel filter | 30,000 km |
| Accessory belt | 90,000 km |
| Coolant | 5 лет or 90,000 km |
Verified fitments; each row links to the related car report.
OM642, kaynaklarda öne çıkan High service life with proper maintenance ile anılan bir motor ailesidir; Intake swirl flaps jam dikkat edilmesi gereken nokta.
Engine pros, cons, and issue notes are compiled from OEM service notes and independent expert assessments. Fitments come from verified application records; thin families are not published.