Yeah, disabling the intake flaps is a dumb idea.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

It's even more apparent on the later engines. The OM642 lives or dies by the swirl flaps.

We had the swirl flap motor die on the 08 ML320, which throws you into limp mode. If you just do the resistor override trick it clears limp mode but then it definitely loses performance and about 3-4 MPGs.

When I did the oil cooler seals a few weeks later and replaced the swirl motor it got its mojo back.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

I find it interesting resonance technology was first applied by MB with the 606, as crude as it was, but obviously measurably effective as it was moved forward and was refined, improved and advanced to point that it became essential to the OM64x lineage and then coupled with two stage turbo technology on the 2.1L which is cranking out the same HP and Torque as the early OM642s.

Amazing how the 100 year old compression ignition process keeps pressing the edge of its thermodynamic limits, yet the SeeYouNextTimes at the CARB seem to think VW diesels are bad for the envoirment, even though the equivalent gasoline burners churn out 5 time the CO2.

Neo-comunist politics at its finest.

__________________
Mark
========
THE WHITE FLEET
2016 GLE300d 4-MATIC 38K BROWN!
2012 S350 Bluetec==94k WHITE

2007 ML320 CDI==166K WHITE (FOR SALE)

Under new management:
2005 E320 CDI--140K--WHITE
1995 E300-Diesel-133.5K--THE CAR IS BLUE
1986 300SL--97.5K (European) AND WHITE. Back in Europe!
1991 190E 2.3-73K California Perfect.--WHITE
1995 E320-Wagon-159K--WHITE (recently scrapped)
1987 300D Turbo-213K--WHITE
1987 190D 2.5 Turbo-288K--WHITE

Diesel gate was more about NOx rather than CO2.

Back on topic, I've noticed my 606 doesn't sing like it used to. Might need to check those valves.