G350TD Engine Reputation

To the originator of this enquiry,

Sorry, I do not keep log calls or any communications. The enquirer phoned in.

RE: The reliabilty of the 350TD engine, initially reports as unreliable, due to engine failures and blow ups. This was due to head gasket failures.

Mercedes Benz gave a very neutral report on this subject, thier PR working in top gear. Effectively, they maintain that any second hand engine is dependant upon the maintenance and service adopted.

An Americian G-Wagen forum acknoweldged problems with the engine but expensive repairs could be done or those who had an engine rebuild maintained no problems.

But, the most informative responce was from the German G-Wagen club forum. The failures were the Head Gaskets blowing, leading to other serious damage. Mercedes Benz introduced a series of modifications to address the problem. They introduced a larger volume of flow of coolant pump, changed the antifreeze to T30 spec., a heavy duty Head Gasket and seals, modified Head.

Further more, the engine being a powerful turbocharged unit demands certain driver care and behaviour, that is building up the driving in relation to engine operating temperatures from cold and at the end of journeys particularlly long distance/high speed driving.

That means no sudden temperature increases or decreases, idling the engine to even the runing temperature before switching off. Although, no cost values were discussed, it has been indicated the these modifications and repairs were costly, some owners doing only a small measure of modifications before the drastic event as a preventitive measure.

The conculsion: if it has been modified, with preference a new modified head, give driver attention and check operating temperaturers whilst driving, it is a reliable engine, otherwise, any abuse would mean an unreliable one.