So I have the 85 Cali air cleaner on my 84 300sd engine and was wondering if its giving me more air than a cold air in take system would? It's way bigger than any Spector air filter I can get my hands on at work. What you guys think?

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84 300sd 2.47 dif 360k
26 mpg needs lots of love
given to me in pitty

89 civic hatchback auto 140k
33mpgs soon to be low to mid 40's
been in the family since mile 1

85 300d with unknown knock. driven over 30k with knock and still going. sold for $800

The general advice (from those who seem to know) is that the air in on a stock OM617 isn't worth messing with. It isn't like a spark ignition engine with a throttle.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

i am swapping the 85 CA one out because i want a more chic filter, not for increased performance.

The original filter setups are superior in filtration than any aftermarket solutions. Changing it will only cause more wear on the engine. I would leave it alone.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Just swap it out for the federal version so you don't have to pay all that money for those large filters on the Cali version.

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

I had no choice but to eliminate the CA air filter on my car. I'm using a CA version OM617.952 in my SL. As you can see, there is just no room for the CA filter. While this setup is not technically a cold air system, you can see that almost the entire filter is outside the sweep of the fan meaning that the dominant air source is cool outside air not hot air from the radiator or the engine compartment.



I fabricated a backing plate from aluminum plate and a fitting from a Ford Taurus. The filter housing is from a Ford Escort.



The system worked great for 15k miles, but I began to get concerned about the sizing of the filter. The CA version of the MB filter flows 450cfm and the one I was using only flowed 250cfm.

I did some research and determined that there was actually a conical paper filter with the same base dimensions that flowed 350cfm.



So I went to the junkyard and picked up a filter housing for the larger filter. It fit perfect.



But then I got to wondering about actual flows in practice, so I picked up a flow meter that provides positive measurement of filter element restriction.



I tested it against both filters and there was 0 measurable restriction. So I went even further in my testing. There was a horribly dirty 250cfm filter in the second housing I picked up so I stuffed that in with the tester installed and believe it or not, there was 0 measurable restriction. Shown on the left is the filter I was planning on replacing as too dirty.



So the conclusion is, for the turbo 617 engines even a 250cfm filter element is entirely adequate for normal operations. Obviously it will require replacement more often since it has about half the actual filter area, but the filter can appear really, really dirty and still function without measurable restrictions. And compared to the CA filter, it's cheaper than dirt.

Now, if you go this route, then you introduce the issue of what do you do about a proper oil separator and where do you plumb it... for which good solutions are readily available.

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Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

Can you post a picture how the hose air hose from the housing to the Turbo is connected?

I know when the Cali Manifolds are replaced with the Federal one`s, they sit lower, so this also drops the Turbo down.

Looking at the curved outlet pipe at the bottom of the filter base, the top of it is the same height as the top of the Turbo inlet.
What hose was used? the stock Cali hose? was it cut down to fit or was the curved pipe at the filter base cut down to fit?

Everything I read, the stock MB Filter flows plenty of air. Installing after mkt K&N type filter don`t filter as well. Plus it will pick up more dirt from what is blowing around under the cood compared to what comes in fhrough the snorkle air inlet tube.

Did you buy the car this way? I assume so since you want to change it.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

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

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I like your twin Turbo, twin Air Filter set up, that SL must really fly.





Now every one will want one.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

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

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I put an 83 engine in my 85 CA car. I currently have the federal filter on it, but am thinking of putting on the CA filter because I don't like the way the filter dances, even with a new bracket and rubber mounts. I did install my stiffer(?) 85 rack damper bolt and jack all the way, but little change. I will wait until I pop test and balance the injectors. The CA filters cost ~$45, but I grabbed a newish one for $1 from a junkyard car. I have long wondered if one could stack 2 common, cheap filters to fit tight in the housing.

That would be nice if it would work on the lower mounted turbos of the Federal cars.

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

in case you haven't seen it:

catch can & cold / hot air intake how to


yes, i am pimping my handiwork

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

Possible cheaper alternative for the Cali filter.

85 cali aircleaner filter


.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

350CFM is a perfect fit for the 617. IIRC thats the same as the stock federal.

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1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42