MajorCommonEngine

Chrysler 300C: 3.0 CRD (OM642) swirl-flap failure and oil-cooler seal leaks

3.0 CRD (OM642) swirl-flap failure and oil-cooler seal leaks is a common engine fault on the Chrysler 300C on the 2005–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 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: 2005–2012
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

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 Intake manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 3.0 CRD diesel 300C uses the Mercedes OM642 V6, which has two classic weak spots. First, oil vapour from the crankcase drips onto the intake 'swirl flap' motor and its butterfly valves, which then jam or break up - debris can be sucked into the engine, and it triggers limp mode. Second, the oil cooler sits in the valley of the V and its seals perish (often attacked by diesel dripping from the fuel-filter lines above), causing oil leaks. Both are common, known jobs on this engine and worth checking before buying.

What you would notice

Limp mode / reduced power with an engine light
Oil leak or oil smell around the top/valley of the engine
Rough running or hesitation
Rattling or sticking felt through the throttle response

How to check it

Where to look. Swirl-flap motor on the intake manifold; oil cooler in the V (valley) between the cylinder banks

Ask whether the swirl flaps and oil-cooler seals have been done (many owners delete/upgrade the swirl motor) and for receipts. Look around the top and rear of the engine for oil weeping. On the test drive watch for limp-mode power loss. Have it scanned for intake/swirl and EGR codes.

Parts involved: Intake manifold.

What it costs to put right

$600 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 swirl flaps/motor and the oil-cooler seals ever been dealt with?”
“Does it ever drop into limp mode or leak oil?”

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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Chrysler 300C & SRT8 Forums 'Buyer's tips - CRD' thread
Chrysler 300C & SRT8 Forums 'Oil cooler seals step by step' thread
Chrysler 300C & SRT8 Forums 'Swirl motor - cheap replacement solution' thread

Chrysler 300C buyer questions

Is 3.0 crd (om642) swirl-flap failure and oil-cooler seal leaks serious on a Chrysler 300C?

We rate it major and common on the Chrysler 300C. The 3.0 CRD diesel 300C uses the Mercedes OM642 V6, which has two classic weak spots. First, oil vapour from the crankcase drips onto the intake 'swirl flap' motor and its butterfly valves, which then jam or break up - debris can be sucked into the engine, and it triggers limp mode. Second, the oil cooler sits in the valley of the V and its seals perish (often attacked by diesel dripping from the fuel-filter lines above), causing oil leaks. Both are common, known jobs on this engine and worth checking before buying.

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

$600 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 2005–2012 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.