Mercedes Sprinter Oil Cooler Gasket (Viton) – Elring | NCV3 & VS30 3.0L OM642 | #6421880580 (2007–2023)

The OM642 oil cooler gasket is one of the most failure-prone seals on the 3.0L V6 — the original orange seal degrades rapidly with heat cycling, the early purple version wasn't much better, and a leaking oil cooler gasket on a Sprinter contaminates engine oil with coolant in a way that causes catastrophic engine damage if left unchecked. This is the Elring updated Viton oil cooler gasket in the current purple formulation for NCV3 and VS30 Sprinters equipped with the 3.0L OM642 V6 diesel engine — the correct, superseding version that addresses the known failures of earlier seal designs.

What This Part Does

The oil cooler gasket seals the interface between the engine oil cooler and the oil filter housing assembly on the OM642. The oil cooler is a plate-type heat exchanger integrated into the oil filter housing, where engine coolant flows past oil passages to remove heat from the oil before it circulates through the engine. The gasket maintains separate, sealed boundaries between the oil circuit and coolant circuit at this interface — when it fails, oil and coolant migrate across the boundary, creating the milky oil or oily coolant contamination that signals immediate engine danger. The OM642's original orange seal was notorious for failing at relatively low mileage from heat cycling, leading Mercedes to develop two successive updated purple Viton formulations. Part number 6421880580 is the latest and most durable version, identifiable by two round circles in the outer middle section of the seal profile.

Common Symptoms of a Failing Oil Cooler Gasket

• Milky or creamy engine oil on the dipstick or oil filler cap — coolant contaminating the oil circuit
• Oily film, bubbles, or discoloration in the coolant reservoir — oil contaminating the coolant
• Unexplained coolant loss with no external leak elsewhere in the cooling system
• Engine oil temperature running abnormally high from reduced oil cooler efficiency
• Oil seeping externally from the oil cooler housing perimeter

When to Replace

Replace immediately when oil-coolant mixing is confirmed — continued operation with contaminated oil destroys bearings. Also replace proactively when the oil filter housing is removed for any service on high-mileage OM642 engines, as the original and early-generation seals are known to fail. Always use the current purple Viton version (6421880580) — never reinstall the orange seal or early purple version. When replacing the oil cooler gasket, always flush both oil and coolant circuits, replace the oil filter, and inspect the oil cooler core for internal damage.

NCV3 & VS30 OM642 Specific — VIN Verification Required

This gasket is for NCV3 and VS30 Sprinters equipped with the 3.0L OM642 V6 diesel engine. Always verify your engine code and VIN before ordering. Contact us and we'll confirm fitment before you buy.

Fitment

• 2007–2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 / 3500 – 3.0L OM642 (NCV3/W906)
• 2007–2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 / 3500 – 3.0L OM642 (NCV3)
• 2007–2018 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 / 3500 – 3.0L OM642 (NCV3)
• 2019–2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 / 3500 – 3.0L OM642 (VS30/W907)

✔ Current updated purple Viton version — supersedes early purple and orange seal designs
✔ Always flush oil and coolant systems after oil cooler gasket failure
✔ Cross-reference: supersedes 6421880480 (early purple version)

Part Numbers

• Mercedes OEM: 6421880580 / A6421880580 / 642-188-05-80
• Supersedes: 6421880480 / 642-188-04-80
• Manufacturer: Elring — 524.270
• SKU: 6421880580ELR