Intake cleaning worth it? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

snookwhaler · #1 02-28-2009, 08:51 AM

I have been contemplating pulling my intake manifold and cleaning it since it appears the EGR system has always been operational until now. How difficult is the job on these cars?

I have owned a couple VW Passat TDI's and I pulled the intakes on those and was shocked at how "caked up" the intake was. I could barley get my pinky finger in some of the passages that originally were very large. The difference in power on the VW's was dramatic.

Is this something worth doing on this car? Or should I just leave it alone?

Also, is there someone that makes a block off kit for the intake and the exhaust EGR holes?

oldsinner111 · #2 02-28-2009, 09:38 AM

If I were going to replace leaky gaskets,yes why not.Surely a cleaner intake without using the egr,would flow air better.

compu_85 · #3 02-28-2009, 11:46 AM

The Mercedes motors don't gunk up to the extent that the TDIs do.

-Jason

Biodiesel300TD · #4 02-28-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

The Mercedes motors don't gunk up to the extent that the TDIs do.

-Jason

I second that. The TDI's are really bad for intake clogging. The 123's don't have that issue. That's not to say there is nothing in the intake, but it's not going to look anything like the TDI's do after several years. I've seen a TDI manifold that you could put a pencil through the hole there was so much carbon buildup.

Marty600 · #5 02-28-2009, 12:48 PM

I pulled mine when rebuilding the injectors, engine was running pretty good, but yet you will find PLENTY of oily carbon deposits--so much so, that my local friendly automotive machine shop would not place it into his hot tank, he declared that the diesel by-products would contaminate the solution too much...so based upon your mileage, do it.
Fish a copper wire through and fasten scrap cotton rags -w- kerosene and pull it back through, like a old gun cleaning kit would have you do. You will need a lot of rags!

auspumpen · #6 02-28-2009, 01:47 PM

I've owned both tdis and MBs, and the EGR promotes atrocious buildup in each

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

snookwhaler · #7 02-28-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auspumpen

I've owned both tdis and MBs, and the EGR promotes atrocious buildup in each

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Thanks everyone. Thats enough for me... It's coming off.

Exhibit C tells the story. How many miles are on that engine?

Is this a difficult job on the MB? Assuming the gasket cannot be re-used like on the TDI?

Thanks,

AJ

tubular031 · #8 11-02-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snookwhaler

Thanks everyone. Thats enough for me... It's coming off.

Exhibit C tells the story. How many miles are on that engine?

Is this a difficult job on the MB? Assuming the gasket cannot be re-used like on the TDI?

Thanks,

AJ

I just finished this job this past weekend. I saw all the crap in the EGR hole and also wanted to remove the turbo to replace all the oil seals and oring at the pan. Its not too hard but is a pain! you need to remove the DP and the U bolt by the trans. there is a bolt under the turbo that is a pain to access (see pic with the red arrow below). I pulled the exhaust and turbo as one piece. I used brake cleaner and chizzled as much as I could get at. Mine was really nasty. The holes in the head were really ugly too but I just left them alone. Maybe someday Ill pull them off again and see about steam cleaning or bath the intake in some super cleaner.

You will need a new intake gasket (17 or so) from phil. I also got the turbo install kit which had the intake gasket and a bunch of other gaskets.

Here are a few pics I took. I did not take any of the clean(er) parts and re assembly. I got busy and forgot...
http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/tubular031/82-300SD/IntakeExhaust/

Here is that bolt under the turbo that is pretty hard to get at.

snookwhaler · #9 11-02-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubular031

I pulled the exhaust and turbo as one piece. I used brake cleaner and chizzled as much as I could get at. Mine was really nasty. The holes in the head were really ugly too but I just left them alone. Maybe someday Ill pull them off again and see about steam cleaning or bath the intake in some super cleaner.

You will need a new intake gasket (17 or so) from phil. I also got the turbo install kit which had the intake gasket and a bunch of other gaskets.

Yep... Thats it!

I thought it was pretty easy compared to the TDI.

But, I worked on turbo prop aircraft for 10 years as a mechanic. Doing stuff like this is pretty simple after working on aircraft.

Anyone with a good decent tool box, a good back and common sense can accomplish this task with relative ease.

markho · #10 11-02-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubular031

I just finished this job this past weekend. I saw all the crap in the EGR hole and also wanted to remove the turbo to replace all the oil seals and oring at the pan. Its not too hard but is a pain! you need to remove the DP and the U bolt by the trans. there is a bolt under the turbo that is a pain to access (see pic with the red arrow below). I pulled the exhaust and turbo as one piece. I used brake cleaner and chizzled as much as I could get at. Mine was really nasty. The holes in the head were really ugly too but I just left them alone. Maybe someday Ill pull them off again and see about steam cleaning or bath the intake in some super cleaner.

You will need a new intake gasket (17 or so) from phil. I also got the turbo install kit which had the intake gasket and a bunch of other gaskets.

Here are a few pics I took. I did not take any of the clean(er) parts and re assembly. I got busy and forgot...
http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/tubular031/82-300SD/IntakeExhaust/

Here is that bolt under the turbo that is pretty hard to get at.

being an 82' the crud doesn't look at all too bad.

charmalu · #11 02-28-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auspumpen

I've owned both tdis and MBs, and the EGR promotes atrocious buildup in each

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

My 85 was just like that when I upgraded to Federal (for testing) for a long term study on the effects of deep breathing vs stuffy sinus conjection.

.

Mine was over 200000 miles and was really ginked up. About everyone I see at PNP have been the same. I like things clean, If the german engineers wanted it gunked up, they would have instaled gunk from the factory

.

Charlie

Sev · #12 11-02-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auspumpen

I've owned both tdis and MBs, and the EGR promotes atrocious buildup in each

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

oh, WOW! dude i am so glad i got rid of that crap and that cali doesn't smog diesel cars. heh

Diesel911 · #13 02-28-2009, 01:57 PM

One of the Members said he used one of the Foaming Oven Cleaners to clean out the gunk (Manifold off of the Engine of course). If you search there should not be too many posts/threads with the words Oven Cleaner in them.

Question?
On a 123; if you pull off the EGR is there enough room to put a Mirror down the hole and get a good look at the inside of part of the Intake Manifold?

Jeremy5848 · #14 02-28-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

. . . Question?
On a 123; if you pull off the EGR is there enough room to put a Mirror down the hole and get a good look at the inside of part of the Intake Manifold?

Seems to me that when I removed my EGR valve (for testing purposes only), I was able to look in and also to do a little cleaning. It was pretty gunked up right in the area of the EGR but not so bad further in.

The intake on the OM606 engine in my '96 E300D was badly clogged; not as bad as some of the descriptions here but bad enough. With the EGR no longer functional, the pipes now stay clean except for a little oil film from the turbo.

Ditto for the OM603 engine in my '87 300D Turbo.

Jeremy

Jeremy5848 · #15 03-01-2009, 01:13 AM

See post #1 in this thread for pictures of what my '96 E300D (OM606) was like at 251,000 miles. The PO had malfunctioning flaps replaced by the dealer but I doubt that any cleaning was ever done.