Hello All ....New Member
I have a few questions

300SD 1981 and I am trying to improve performance and my turbo knowledge is limited to gas .......anyway , so faf I have run straight exhaust after finding the middle thingie ?? clogged up and the muffler restrictive..
Wrapped the turbo in kevler wrap on the exhaust side
made a adapter and using a k&n filter with a heat shield from the turbo

made a oil seperator from the valve cover and into intake stream

aftermarket boost controler and EGT welded and blocked

am I going in the right direction and missing stuff ????
Thank All of you

1) Take off the K&N and put the original filter back on. It flows better than the K&N, is a cold air intake and filters smaller particles. There are a lotof threads on this site discussing it.

2) Take the kevlar off the turbo as it could crack the housing

3) The straight exhaust is OK

4) Make sure that you do not push more than 13~15psi with the turbo

5) Do a valve adjustment

6) You can turn up the ALDA to get more fuel off the line and enrich the fuel under turbo pressure -- do a search on ALDA to see what I mean.

7) Install boost/EGT gauges. Keep temps under 1100 degrees

8) split the turbo from the intake and plumb in an intercooler.

Once you have done the above, you can search the site for threads on tuning the injection pump. You can turn up the fuel as long as exhaust temps do not go up too high.

You can also install propane and methanol injection systems.

Just remember that this engine is always going to be pretty limited in output.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

well, cleaning your banjo bolt fitting and boost control line, and adjusting the ALDA are a few things...this subject has been covered numerous times, however.

__________________
1999 E320 4matic really nice Wagon 135k
1981 300TD loud, rattling family car 180k (TGI sold!)
1985 500SEL gas guzzler 220k (sold)
1978 300D my first Turtlediesel (sold)437k

LUVMBDiesels is correct, that hot air intake K&N is a significant downgrade over the stock cold air intake.

Thank You very much....I am looking for a daily driver that will just pull off and not slow down traffic behind me ....not a hot rod ....When I traded for it I could floor it and make 0 boost in the garage ...now I can make 5 PSI on a 1 second WOT without any problems
I know you guys are correct ...on a gas turbo . wrapping the hot side is a good thing
not good on a diesel ???....I will add a EGT
Thank You David

Boost is based on engine load, revving it without a load is meaningless.

the way you said it was, you wrapped the turbo. thats no good, might crack from mad heat

i think you mean, you wrapped the exhaust pipe right on the back of the turbo? down pipe? if so thats good to go



your highest egt so far?
change your 2 fuel filters, 1 small mini, 1 med size black one

__________________
1985 300D - 599,xxxk - blue interior #265 Monark Nozzle, AL129X, 15" Ronals, Gen II Big Brakes hunting
1985 300D - 491,xxxk - in prog-{A-A IC, 3" exhaust, psi\pyro, 28*BTDC, Hella Euros, IP Limiter removal
1985 300TD - 783,xxxk - parts car,used new engine with ALDA cap inplace
1987 Kenworth T-600 8LL 425 CAT Mech. - 6,000,000+k - DEI exhaust wrap, punched through resonators, 1 recent rebuild,

I went with straight exhaust also because of soot clogged muffs.
You can't really hear it in a S Klasse.
Today I took a 94 Mustang stock intake with K+N filter(larger area now than stock 617 filter),and modified it to fit the turbo.
I had wanted one of those flea bay so-called cold air intakes,but they seem hot to me.With the lenght I have I'm right in the cold air.I then cut the stock oil seperator from the stock 617 air filter housing,and plumbed new hoses.No funky smell and no oil stains.
I really wanted to get rid of that breaking rubber air mounts.
Now pedal reponse is amazing.Cost $0.Done in 38 degree weather.If I'm not busy deppresion kicks in.
Vet,recovering from disk surgery.Oh yeah foam oiled over K+N.

A piece of radiator hose between the filter housing and valve cover would have fixed that.

It shouldn't be since there was no filter restriction to start with and there is no throttle to respond to.

Hey forced. I'm trying to be like you. I'm not being mean either.
I did to want to hear that turbo spool.It just looks better.
One day I will powder coat my valve cover,to dress engine area up.
Dang I did not no we had spell check.
I really like what you've done with your car.

I agree but if you use a large enough k&n and have some knowledge of sheet metal
fab. it will be cold air without that smoking hot turbo directly below it...
I feel the stock filter is lousy due to placement above the turbo...???
and I agree on the turbo load ...you are correct but on a problem car
looking for restrictions and issues I think garage WOT is a tool to help find these problems.
I respect all coments ...Thank You David

The key is, K&N is junk- it should be avoided entirely.

Read this: http://home.stny.rr.com/jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

I agree Forced,thats why I add a foam sock with oil.I have a diesel mechanic buddy in L.A. that told me if I use a sock,its ok.

Apparently your buddy in L.A. doesn't know what he is talking about.

I notice a photo of your large paper element.So should I get a Mustang paper element?
I'm not going back to the stock Mercedes air cleaner.
I will watch for dust.