Engine Overview and Common Failures
The weight of the OM651 engine according to the catalog is 203.8 kg. The engine number of the OM651 is located at the junction of the block and the oil pan. Fuel system: Until 2011, the main versions were equipped with a Delphi fuel system with piezo injectors, which were prone to leaks, often leading to hydraulic shocks and piston burnout. There was even a recall campaign for their replacement with simpler electromagnetic ones. Engine modifications with the Bosch fuel system have no reliability issues.
Bearing rotation: Many owners of vehicles with this diesel engine have experienced bearing rotation. The cause of this is the thinning of overheated oil due to heat exchanger clogging or a drop in lubrication pressure due to variable-capacity oil pump failure. It is possible to insert a plug into the control valve of the pump, and it will work at maximum capacity.
Timing belt failure: The combined timing drive consists of a roller chain and several gears. The chain can serve up to 300,000 km, but its hydraulic tensioner often fails much earlier, and replacing this tensioner is quite labor-intensive and expensive.
Other breakdowns: This diesel engine also causes trouble with cracks in the plastic intake manifold, which attach to the cylinder head, as well as an everlasting oil cup leak through the gasket. Weak points of the engine also include the bi-turbo version's turbines and the plastic oil pan.