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  #1  
Old 09-26-2009, 01:49 AM
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My No Engine Fan Experiment, W124 300D,

is going pretty well.

I had to go to work today but I hadn't yet received my new fan or fan clutch yet.

I did a test run last night in 58-60F weather and the engine never overheated at highway speeds and when I was in traffic I just turned the defroster on max heat though it wasn't really necessary.

Then today I drove about 150 miles in weather up to 77F.

I never even got close to overheating.

I will say that this is with a new water pump, thermostat, radiator, Zerex G-05 coolant mixture and RedLine Water Wetter.

Is this supposed to work?

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  #2  
Old 09-26-2009, 03:31 AM
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My E300TD as no fan for the last 5 month and its fine. All going well, never overheated.
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  #3  
Old 09-26-2009, 08:11 AM
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I drove my car for about a year with no fan (P/O removed it for unknown reasons) and I only ever had problems when sat in traffic for more than 5 minutes. The temperature would slowly creep up, and I would have to turn the heater on and rev the engine (no aux water pump either) to bring it down. I've since fitted an electric fan which I can turn on with a switch from the drivers seat.
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  #4  
Old 09-26-2009, 02:13 PM
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Ah, I see that you two are both in the U.K.

I don't think my set up would work anytime in Texas except now as we enter fall and into winter.

In the summers here I would definitely have problems with temps in the 100-110F range.

Still, I'm quite proud of myself and my car for making it without them if for a short time.
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  #5  
Old 09-27-2009, 12:35 PM
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I've had my '87 300TD for two weeks, mis-read the casting and thought I had a "non-number-14" head. Only to look again and find out it is, in fact, the dreaded 14...

After all the reading I've done here, I'm afraid to set my ratchet on the intake manifold for fear of cracking the head, let alone even whisper the words "drive it without a fan."
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  #6  
Old 09-27-2009, 07:32 PM
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[QUOTE=fullcircle;2302724]I've had my '87 300TD for two weeks, mis-read the casting and thought I had a "non-number-14" head. Only to look again and find out it is, in fact, the dreaded 14...

After all the reading I've done here, I'm afraid to set my ratchet on the intake manifold for fear of cracking the head, let alone even whisper the words "drive it without a fan."[/QUOTE]

The above post is so true i feel the same with my w124 with #14 head..but over 300,000 miles and going strong if it goes in the future im still impressed most my american cars are on theyre way out around 150,000..

Arlo
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  #7  
Old 09-27-2009, 08:42 PM
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I think that there are many of use who've seen a #14 head go past 250,000 and some here (3 that I remember) past 500,000miles. I even disassembled two at 250,000miles and found no cracks.

Laying a ratchet on the intake, exaggeration noted. However in the same breath I'll say that I don't think many of us with #14 heads are willing to risk running without a fan. Russian Roulette has a good outcome 5/6ths of the time, ...
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  #8  
Old 09-28-2009, 12:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babymog View Post
I think that there are many of use who've seen a #14 head go past 250,000 and some here (3 that I remember) past 500,000miles. I even disassembled two at 250,000miles and found no cracks.

Laying a ratchet on the intake, exaggeration noted. However in the same breath I'll say that I don't think many of us with #14 heads are willing to risk running without a fan. Russian Roulette has a good outcome 5/6ths of the time, ...
ditto, 305k on $14 head no issues (knock gently on aluminum head casting).

running without fan? sheesh. more like 3 chamber bullet russian roulette!
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  #9  
Old 09-28-2009, 12:58 AM
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The #14 head was only on the '87 300D right?

You now have me worried.

I have a 1993 300D and I am pretty sure that I have a coolant leak at the passenger side rear corner of the head gasket.

It's a small leak but it's a leak nonetheless.

After about ten thousand miles I have to add maybe a pint of coolant.

Occasionally I smell coolant and I can see the residue left behind from the evaporated coolant there.

I haven't ever seen it wet as it must dry immediately as it runs down the block but I am pretty sure it's a head gasket leak.

Which leads me to my next question...

Has anybody tried that aluminum power radiator/head gasket sealant that you put in the coolant?

I have used it in the past on a VW Jetta TDi that had a small radiator leak and a Honda Accord with the same problem.

In both cases it worked but I am hesitant to use it on an MB.
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  #10  
Old 09-28-2009, 03:29 AM
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guys, what is all this talk about a #14 head? is this a notorious cylinder head for the 6clyinder 300d's that only came out in '87, that tended to crack? i heard this engine was a very fast and reliable engine, could be wrong though
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  #11  
Old 09-28-2009, 07:35 AM
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That's the casting number on the cylinder head. 86 and 87 model year cars came with them, and they are prone to cracking, and will crack in a hurry if you overheat the car. The latest and greatest cylinder head is a #22

-Jason
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  #12  
Old 09-28-2009, 08:32 AM
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By bringing in my discussion of the #14 head I did not mean to instill any more fear or anxiety. I have no experience with this engine. I have spent many hours researching the '87 603's using this forum, however. As was stated in this thread and in a few other places, there are many #14's that have gone hundreds of thousands of miles without incident. My take on this (admittedly with a dash of hope) is that it is like air travel: we don't hear about how many planes take off and land safely, day in and day out.

It cannot be denied that there is an inherent weakness in this head given the number of revisions made to it. But knowing that it is a weakness is a good thing in that any overheat condition should be avoided. Yes, a #22 head would be nice, but that wouldn't change the sound idea of good maintenance and observant driving, in my opinion. I'll keep my fan.
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  #13  
Old 09-28-2009, 02:39 PM
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I have been running a Spal 16" electric fan for the past 20,000 plus miles
w/o any problems with over heating.
I have read all the fear and nail biteing about how not running the stock fan
will over heat the engine.

My temps all run in the normal range while driving on the high way. In town
driving the temps have surprised me, as they really don`t climb as I thought they would.

I have a sensor on the thermostat housing that will kick on the fan when
the temps get up there. I have had it come on maybe 6 times.
I also have a back up switch on the dash board to turn on the fan.

I have a infra red temp probe to check the engine temps in various placed
on the engine, and temps always good.

Charlie
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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

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Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

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  #14  
Old 09-28-2009, 08:15 PM
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notice any power difference w/o the fan?
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  #15  
Old 09-28-2009, 08:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1lowdiesel View Post
notice any power difference w/o the fan?
I doubt its much different, the fan is freewheeling most of the time and doesn't use much power. I can't really tell on my 300E when it engages, though I can hear it. Never really heard it fully engage on the 300SD's....they rarely ever get to those temps.

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