Mercedes-Benz OM906LA 6.4L Turbo Diesel Truck Engine for Sale — South Africa

This is a 2004 OM906LA, the 6.4-litre inline six from Mercedes-Benz's 900-series of medium-duty diesels. The family dates from 1996 and was designed around a simple idea: a strong pushrod block, three valves per cylinder, a unit pump for each cylinder and a turbo with intercooling. The result is an engine that pulls hard low down, with torque from about 810 Nm in milder ratings up to 1,150 Nm in the strongest.

By 2004 the OM906LA was the main six-cylinder choice in the Atego and appeared in the Axor and in North American trucks under the MBE900 badge. It is also common in buses. That spread is useful when hunting for a replacement, but it also means that ratings, sumps, front covers and control units differ between installations.

Things worth checking on any used example: oil pressure and blow-by, the oil cooler and head gasket for cross-contamination, the unit pump connectors and wiring, and turbo play. Coolant that has been neglected can cause liner and cooling passage problems, so look at the condition of the coolant passages too.

Fleet workshops tend to like this engine for its straightforward layout and the fact that most diesel specialists already know it well.