What exactly is a Diesel Purge? I've done a search. No reward for all of my scrolling yet. Help a soon to be 240D owner?

Thx.

Take a look here : http://dieselgiant.com/injectorcleaning.htm

Lubro Moly Diesel Purge, believe it or not, is composed of about 2/3rds plain old Diesel fuel, and the rest of EHN (Ethyl-hexyl-nitrate), whose common use is as a cetane booster in Diesel fuel. At least the composition is according to what is stated on the bottle. I didn't know that EHN has any detergent properties to clean up the fuel system, but many people have used Diesel Purge, including myself, and quite a number swear by the product. There might be other stuff in DP that is not listed, since it might be considered a trade secret.

You run it straight off the can to the engine; NOT dumped into the tank. But if you do the latter, don't worry, you have just added a very concentrated (and expensive) cetane booster.

I have performed the procedure twice on my 300TD and once on the 300D. Though I am far from an expert on the benefits, real or otherwise, it has seemed to help with the smoothness of idle and possibly performance. I also made the device shown in the link using a clear jar, feed line and hole for a return line. I followed the filter change outlined and feel it to be a regular maintenance issue. Now I stock extra cans. A waste? Who knows but at least I feel I am doing something positive for the fuel systems.
Steve

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Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.

I am skeptical of Diesel Purge and other kinds of magic chemicals that do wonderful things with very little effort. I have not used it, though, so I am reserving judgement for now. But there is confusion by most people as to how it actually works. Does it clean the injectors like a solvent? Unclear given what TDIMeister says. Does it burn really hot and get rid of the gunk that way? Unlikely given that fuel doesn't actually burn in the injectors.

I would like to see some pop pressure and spray pattern before and after tests before I go and use this stuff. I mean, it is cheap and most people claim it does no harm, but others suggest that it stirs up the sediment in the IP and sends it all through into your engine.

And if all you are accomplishing is cleaning your injectors, then you can do that manually with a greater effort, but also likely with a greater benefit. If you look in the FSM under injector cleaning, it tells you (or rather, it tells a Bosch certified mechanic) to remove the injectors and clean them with the right sized picks and brushes and so forth. It doesn't tell you to just pump some chemicals through the fuel system.

Also, the chemical solvents contained in most diesel additives and conditioners (and brake cleaner etc) are very toxic. They are "known to cause cancer and birth defects." I try to stay away from them if they aren't neccessary. Here is a link to a thread on the infopop forum that discusses this:

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/159605551/m/984100485/r/519107585

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Jackson

1984 300d 223k
1994 Jeep Cherokee 2.5L 88k

"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've added some special modifications myself." -- Han Solo

"Would it help if I got out and pushed?" -- Princess Leia

I think all that diesel purge is just plain useless expense. Run you diesel like it was built to run, do the maintainence you should do, and forget the diesel purge and save the expense. I have been running diesels for over thirty years and never found the need for a bottle of the stuff - but I think some owners feel they are give the old Mercedes a treat. It doesn't need it!

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Hmm, a mixed bag.
But it answers my initial question. . . and leaves me with a bunch more.
Diesel Purge then is not a technique, but a product which claims to clean my injectors?
I just watched Dieselgiant's video of the acceleration he got out of his 300CD with a valve adjustment and Diesel Purge. Pretty impressive. Still, I suppose if I were going to do it right I'd dismantle the injector and labor with the pick and brush.

BTW the forum here is a boon. I would never have bought an MB without it. Thanks to all who contribute.

TOM

ATF is said to be another injector cleaner.

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

Hi profit margin products pay for more advertising to create their own demand. This is a feel good product. Go wash your car and you will do it more good.

Read the factory shop manual for factual information on injector cleaning. Check recommendations from other diesel engine manufacturers if you are not convinced.

As a general rule, that is my opinion when it comes to most additives and "miracles in a can."

But I have never seen an ad for Lubro Moly products. If I had not heard about DP here, I would have never heard about it. So if they are spending all their profit on marketing, it doesn't show.

The first time I used Diesel Purge, it went in clear and came out black. So it must have been cleaning something. And my engine performance was most definitely improved. The second time I used DP, 6000 miles later, it went in clear and came out the same way. There was no noticable improvement in performance.

If spending $8 for a can of DP is going to lead to financial distress, don't take the risk. Just think, for that kind of money, you could fill you tank to the 1/8 full mark!!!

Unlike two thirds of the armchair respondents to your question;.... I actually have used diesel purge!
On a 240d it smoothed out the idle significantly;... I had to turn down my idle screw a lot because it started idling at 1500rpms from 700rpms and now it starts much much quicker and accelerates smoother.
No noticible power gain.

I was impressed & i don't impress easily.

(Diesel purge will not adjust your valves, or replace your motor mounts, or reset the injection timing, or shrink a stretched chain.)

I may be at the far extreme - but - it worked very well for me.

I purchased the 300SDL, with 165K, from the original owner who is 70ish, and never really ran the car hard (Italian Tune-Up). The car was sluggish - very sluggish. I tried the DP and came out far ahead of the game. Performance picked up dramatically with just one application. Enough to really impress me on how the car should perform.

I now use Diesel Kleen - Gray in Summer, White in Winter - on a regular basis and the car runs much smoother.

Stephen

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98 K2500 Suburban 6.5 Luxo Barge

"We cannot change the wind - But we can adjust our sails"

Rubbish! The factory manual was written decades ago and you leave no room for technological or procedural advances. Diesel puge works great! I have used it on almost every benz that has come through my shop and it always makes an improvement.

If you want to go by the factory manual ONLY then don't use modern diesel oil, or tools or fuel or etc. Insisting on living in the 1970's with its outdated technology is ridiculous. Move with the times and use the best products that is available at the timeI dont even think they had diesel purge in the 1970's....

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

You sell the stuff, what else are you going to say?

Engineering standards organizations refuse to set standards for purge products. Diesel engine manufacturers don't endorse this product and rarely endorse similar products. They do endorse modern oils etc, useful products, they work. That is the difference.

Salesmen heartily endorse purge products.

Good rule to follow: always believe the guy that wants your money.

So make your case DG, technically.

Where in the Factory Shop Manual (FSM) is the procedure for cleaning the injectors wrong?