the ALDA? I have read alot about doing both, just wanted to know what the concensus is for this. Are there any negative effects of removing it completely? And is there any benefit to simply adjusting it and leaving it on?

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

The way I understand it, if you remove the alda, you effectively eliminate the turbo and you might as well remove it also.

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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!

Not in the least. The ALDA limits the amount of fuel the ip injects until their is a sufficient quantity of air being supplied to the engine to burn the higher amounts of fuel. It also limits black smoke, which is caused by too much fuel being burned without enough air. If you eliminate the ALDA, you basically have full fuel all the time. The car will be much more responsive off the line. I can't speak from personal experience, just what I've read. I haven't taken the alda off the '84, but when I get the '85 put back together, the ALDA is not going back on.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

My suggestion on the 617 is to leave it in place and adjust it as necessary.

My suggestion on the 603 is to remove it, however, understand the risk that you have no overboost protection if you do so.

And the result of an overboost would be?

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

I suggest you remove the ALDA only if you have boost and EGT (Pyrometer) gauges.

I have been without an ALDA for a few months now and I love the results.

bad

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'83 300D Turbo
Current: ???K mi - 19.2mpg -> 17.4mpg -> 22.9mpg ---> ODO Died
bought at: 233.8K mi - 10MPG For $1.00
3.5 cylinders work: 320 320 100 340 280
Got insurance? FarmersReallySucks.Com

Depends on how bad.

The turbo has the capability of sending the boost well up over 25 psi. Damage to the head gasket is nearly a certainty at these levels.

The boost gauge that Lance mentioned is admirable, however, will you be watching it 24/7? It would only take a few seconds at 25 psi to do some damage, IMHO.

I run the '86 without an ALDA or a boost gauge and understand the risk that I've assumed. I rarely run the engine at maximum boost so I'm not all that concerned about it.

The existing boost pressure switch on the intake manifold wired to a very loud radio shack buzzer under the dash could get your attention quick enough though...........

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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

That's an excellent idea.

Ditch that power robbing piece of s--t!!! I run my 86 with nitrous, stock turbo and mods in my sig with no problems.

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87 300SDL 300,000mi stock with some exceptions, no alda, blocked egr, factory airbox and flapper replaced with aem filter, nitrous oxide injection , biodiesel fueled, 0-60 in 8.1sec. 1/4 mi 14.4sec.

A good thing would be to torque the head bolts to yield before going too far

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87 300SDL 300,000mi stock with some exceptions, no alda, blocked egr, factory airbox and flapper replaced with aem filter, nitrous oxide injection , biodiesel fueled, 0-60 in 8.1sec. 1/4 mi 14.4sec.

I think brandon314 used to run boost around 22 psi and never had issues. That being said I wouldn’t want that much pressure on my engine. I think the turbo would start to make a serious howl if an overboost begins to occur which would cause you to take a look at the boost gauge (if you have one installed)

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Brandon314 has run his engine up to 26psi boost and 5500rpm plenty of times.

The damage won't be instant, at least, it wasn't in my case. I ran my KKK turbo (Described by the manufacturer as a heat pump above 18psi) at 20+psi for minutes at a time when my boost gauge's line got cracked. I was adjusting the boost level and it would not get past 10psi no matter how I adjusted it. Found the cracked line, fixed it and the 20psi gauge promptly pegged during the next test run.

That engine is still running to this day. It's probably one of the top 5 fastest W123 diesels on this forum right now.

Well, I consider him damn lucky. You really have to have prayer to allow the head gasket to survive that abuse.

Did he, by chance, recently replace the gasket...........I'd think a new gasket has a much better chance than the factory gasket.