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Chrysler 300C: 3.0 CRD (OM642) Oil Cooler Seal Failure in the Engine V

3.0 CRD (OM642) Oil Cooler Seal Failure in the Engine V is a common fluid leaks fault on the Chrysler 300C on the 2006–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Chrysler 300C.

Vehicle
Chrysler 300C
Engine
3.0L
Years
2006–2012
Fuel
diesel
System
Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Chrysler 300C as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Chrysler 300C faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Fuel filter or Alternator or Starter motor yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 300C CRD's Mercedes-sourced OM642 V6 diesel carries its oil cooler in the valley between the cylinder banks, and its seals are the engine's best-known weakness — owners call it the dreaded O-ring leak. Diesel weeping from the fuel filter pipework directly above accelerates the perishing. The seals themselves are cheap but they sit under the whole intake, so it is a big labour job, and left leaking it oils the alternator and starter and masks every other leak on the engine.

What you would notice

  • Oil pooling or wet staining in the valley between the cylinder banks
  • Oil drips at the bell housing or on the driveway
  • Oil smell after a run
  • Slow oil loss between services

How to check it

Where to look. Centre of the engine — oil cooler in the V between the cylinder banks, under the intake

With a phone torch, look down into the V of the engine from above for pooled oil or wet black staining — that valley should be dry. Check the driveway where it parks and ask about oil top-ups. Ask directly whether the oil cooler seals have been done; on a CRD of this age an invoice for that job is a strong plus. If a workshop inspection is possible: inspect from beneath for the leak trail and confirm the source is the cooler seals rather than the filter housing above.

Parts involved: Fuel filter, Alternator, Starter motor.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the oil cooler seals been replaced, and is there an invoice?”
  • “Does it lose oil between services?”
  • “Any diesel smell or leaks around the fuel filter?”

Now check the Chrysler 300C you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Chrysler 300C buyer questions

Is 3.0 crd (om642) oil cooler seal failure in the engine v serious on a Chrysler 300C?

We rate it major and common on the Chrysler 300C. The 300C CRD's Mercedes-sourced OM642 V6 diesel carries its oil cooler in the valley between the cylinder banks, and its seals are the engine's best-known weakness — owners call it the dreaded O-ring leak. Diesel weeping from the fuel filter pipework directly above accelerates the perishing. The seals themselves are cheap but they sit under the whole intake, so it is a big labour job, and left leaking it oils the alternator and starter and masks every other leak on the engine.

How much does it cost to fix on a Chrysler 300C?

$1,200 to $3,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Chrysler 300C years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2012 Chrysler 300C. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With a phone torch, look down into the V of the engine from above for pooled oil or wet black staining — that valley should be dry. Check the driveway where it parks and ask about oil top-ups. Ask directly whether the oil cooler seals have been done; on a CRD of this age an invoice for that job is a strong plus. If a workshop inspection is possible: inspect from beneath for the leak trail and confirm the source is the cooler seals rather than the filter housing above. Look here: Centre of the engine — oil cooler in the V between the cylinder banks, under the intake