Is it OK to run engine without air pan U tube on the turbo?????
 

Car is 1979 300SD 116

This is my first Turbo and my question is this.....

Can I start and idle the engine without the U Tube (and airpan) installed??

The turbo impeller will push air out but is it dangerous to do this?? Other than avoiding the spinning impeller are there any other things to be aware of??

Like I say this is first Turbo for me.....

Can I observe the expected air movement in this way?? If so how much??

It will not cause any harm if it is not dusty that day. Just watch out for the compressor wheel moving at several thousand RPM. It will suck air in, not blow BTW.

Thank you. Yes it will suck not blow...you are so correct.

So mechanics do this on a regular basis when working on the engine????

Be careful that the turbo doesn't inhale anything harmful (rags, dirt, leaves, tools, fingers, etc.). It won't be spinning fast with the engine idling but even so . . .

Just out of curiosity, why would you do this? It seems like a poor idea even if you keep rags and fingers out. That's what air filters are for. I don't think anything is observable except the fact that its turning.

I have run the engine in the 300SD for short periods without the air cleaner or U tube while I was checking for turbo return line oil leaks. You have to make sure that EVERYTHING is well away from the inlet.

Never take it on the road without an air filter in place.

While I work on an engine in my Garage I like to have all the obstruction of the airpan etc stripped off. It is all about access and being able to diagnose without having to have obstruction in my way. Maybe it stems from when I used to have carbs. The first thing that I ever did was remove all "unnecessary" hardware. On my other Benzes that have old York air conditioners, guess which thing got permanently removed within weeks of my ownership....

Thank you all for the replies........
 

Thank you all for the replies........

I like to take my socks off before I wash my feet.......the analogy I use to baring the engine down before I am ready to work on it.