Did this on the 617.952 motor today before the rain moved in. This probably works on all 616 and 617s.

This was easier than I thought it would be. Setting up properly is about 80% of the job.

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Thank you for that! I have to drain/flush/fill the wagon in the next week or two (or more), and that info will be nice to have.
So the turbo drain and all the other stuff isn't in the way I guess.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I don't recall seeing the turbo drain tube, probably because I approached the job from directly behind the rotor. Nothing in the way besides the tie rod.

When I first looked at the bolt it was WTF! But it ended up to be surprisingly easy.

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83 300D 328k mi (623) Light Ivory - daily driver
82 300D 166k mi (881) Thisle Green - fixer upper
82 300D 282k mi (473) Champagne - parts

Is this where the block heater goes? If so, the removal of the bolt is not as bad as has been reported in the past.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Above and behind the drain plug. (I got this pic from another site)

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83 300D 328k mi (623) Light Ivory - daily driver
82 300D 166k mi (881) Thisle Green - fixer upper
82 300D 282k mi (473) Champagne - parts

The stock block heater is where the wire is coming out. BTW, if this one burns out (happened to me ) you can install a 'tank type' engine heater (JCWhitney sells them) by replacing the drain plug with a hose connector and do some plumbing. I'm very pleased with the results, I bought the 1500W version which heats the engine to 60C (!) in less than a half hour (!).

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

I forwarded your DIY write-up to the webmaster and has been posted to the Wiki page.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Done!

HERE IT IS

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

I tried removing the radiator drain plug, but all it did was spin. Is it common for that plug to break?

As I recall that is about a nickel sized round plug below the front Bumper sheet metal. The plug is plastic and has screw driver marks across it both ways. It also has a lot of thread on it as I recall. If you turn it long enough I am pretty sure it will come out. If you can turn it and it doesn't come out, I am pretty sure it will leak like crazy.

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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!

hey everybody, pay attention to the pic of the drain plug (and washer) THERE IS A WASHER THERE!!!! you will most likely loose it when the gush of sludge comes spraying out. it's a 13MM aluminum crush washer. it may be best to have a few on hand before you pull the plug.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yep, I turned loose my Dewalt cordless on that plug, turned, turned, and turned some more. Nothing really happpened. I'll try some more, and maybe get the eze-outs out.

What's the thread size of the block drain plug? I'd like to make a fitting to go in that hole for flushing the engine. Hose water would flow into the block and out at the pressure cap opening on the overflow tank. With the thermostat out you could flush the whole system.

I have a radiator hose heater now but would like to have a block heater. Once I get the trap catalyst off of the engine (for testing) I'll be able to access the plug. With the trap cat in place, it's almost impossible to see, much less remove, the plug in the block.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

very nice pics... it looks the same on a 616 engine by the way

Did not have to get the eze-outs, but did out a 1/8" drill bit in the drill, and poked a hole in the plug, after I realized I had snapped the plug cap. Did get the o-ring out, and have saved it. I then drilled a couple of holes in the plug, and used a flat head screwdriver to twist the plug out. THen, just running clean water thru the radiator, got a lot of nasty junk out. Once I get a new plug in, I;ll flush with the citric flush.

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1983 300SD - belongs to son
http://bonniesituation.blogspot.com