Air cleaner alternative - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

psaboic · #1 09-10-2019, 12:18 PM

Now that the wife's ML350 is fixed I want to address a pet peeve on my 83 300D. The air cleaner design sucks! I'm tired of replacing rubber mounts all the damn time. I would like to put a cone type filter directly on the turbo intake, and route the PCV hose from the valve cover into the metal drain tube that goes back to the oil pan, and ditch the damn metal monstrosity. Has any one done this? Can't be too hard, but part numbers, brands, links, or a DIY would be great. Thanks.

Squiggle Dog · #2 09-10-2019, 12:46 PM

Lots of people have done this. I've had it with the factory air cleaner myself. I installed one of Kent's heavy duty air cleaner brackets a few years ago and made some unbreakable rubber mounts. The rubber mounts held up, but the bracket is cracked. And this is with a smooth-running engine with new genuine Mercedes engine mounts and shocks!

But, I want the air filter in an enclosed housing and to draw in cold air. Something like in the picture below.

However, I have a W116 and the battery location at the front of the engine compartment leaves hardly any room for an air filter box.

I was looking at something like a Spectre air box.

Squiggle Dog · #3 09-10-2019, 12:53 PM

Here are some examples of what others have done. Mine did have a cone-style filter when I got it, but it was angled backwards as a "hot air intake" and the filter melted from the turbo heat. So, I found and installed an original style air cleaner, which has been nothing but problems.

Squiggle Dog · #4 09-10-2019, 01:00 PM

More ideas:

Squiggle Dog · #5 09-10-2019, 01:06 PM

More:

Diesel911 · #6 09-10-2019, 11:23 PM

Here is mine.
Washable Air Filter and Intake Mod , With Larger Breather
Washable Air Filter and Intake Mod , With Larger Breather - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

I did a test where I drove around with a Termometer and a temp probe about where the new Air Filter setup was going to be. What I found out was that while when you were stopped the under the hood air temp would go up to like 160+ degrees very soon after you start moving the under the hood temp dropped to with in 5-10 degrees of the outside temp.

My conclusion was that when the under the hood temp rose when I was stopped at idle it made no possible difference in performance.
Once the Car was moving the under the hood temp drooped fast enough and low enough that I don't believe there is any difference in performance. Meaning that having the Air Filter drawing the Air from under the hood had no detrimental effect.

During the winter idling at an intersection and having the under the hood temp rise 160 degree + air and drawing in that hot air is actually a added bonus. In warm weather it makes no difference.

Diesel911 · #7 09-10-2019, 11:24 PM

I forgot to mention what type of Air Filter you can fit under your hood is going to depend on the routing of one of the Air Conditioning Hoses.

psaboic · #8 09-11-2019, 12:29 AM

So does anyone have part numbers etc for a filter that will clamp to the turbocharger like the stock black plastic pipe does? or would it be best to use the stock black plastic pipe to mount to the turbo, and mount the conical air filter to the other end of the black plastic pipe?

Squiggle Dog · #9 09-11-2019, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psaboic

So does anyone have part numbers etc for a filter that will clamp to the turbocharger like the stock black plastic pipe does? or would it be best to use the stock black plastic pipe to mount to the turbo, and mount the conical air filter to the other end of the black plastic pipe?

Clamping to the turbo is probably better than clamping to the U-shaped plastic pipe; which is what the previous owner of my car did--which placed the cone-shaped air filter right above the turbo, which melted the filter.

97 SL320 · #10 09-11-2019, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psaboic

I want to address a pet peeve on my 83 300D. The air cleaner design sucks!

Are you using metal covers over the mounts that others call hear shields? Looking at the design, these are actually snubbers that reduce shear loads. Also, be sure the mounts are not stretched when installed, these mounts have very poor strength in tension and not so good in shear.

Have a look at McMaster - Carr for " anti vibration mounts " and you will find lots of info.

psaboic · #11 09-11-2019, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Are you using metal covers over the mounts that others call hear shields? Looking at the design, these are actually snubbers that reduce shear loads. Also, be sure the mounts are not stretched when installed, these mounts have very poor strength in tension and not so good in shear.

Have a look at McMaster - Carr for " anti vibration mounts " and you will find lots of info.

Yes, the metal covers are intact and in place......always have been. I'm just tired of the damn rubber mounts lasting about 3 months or so. And yes, the engine gets a valve adjustment every 15,000 miles and idles very smoothly.

oldsinner111 · #12 09-11-2019, 06:43 AM

The plastic insert on my w126, and w140 had places that blocked airflow for rain. I broke the plastic off,and made a hole in duct to drain water.More air,and radiator cooler too.

martureo · #13 09-11-2019, 08:11 AM

Can I point out that the stock air filter setup is a cold air intake whereas these options are hot air intake?

Yeah, the stock setup can be annoying, but its going to be a better option for the engine. If you're missing the heat shields on the rubber mounts then you'll certainly have to change them more often.

Diesel911 · #14 09-11-2019, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

Can I point out that the stock air filter setup is a cold air intake whereas these options are hot air intake?

Yeah, the stock setup can be annoying, but its going to be a better option for the engine. If you're missing the heat shields on the rubber mounts then you'll certainly have to change them more often.

This is from post #6 of this thread: I did a test where I drove around with a Thermometer and a temp probe about where the new Air Filter setup was going to be. What I found out was that while when you were stopped the under the hood air temp would go up to like 160+ degrees very soon after you start moving the under the hood temp dropped to with in 5-10 degrees of the outside temp.

My conclusion was that when the under the hood temp rose when I was stopped at idle it made no possible difference in performance.
Once the Car was moving the under the hood temp drooped fast enough and low enough that I don't believe there is any difference in performance. Meaning that having the Air Filter drawing the Air from under the hood had no detrimental effect.

During the winter idling at an intersection and having the under the hood temp rise 160 degree + air and drawing in that hot air is actually a added bonus. In warm weather it makes no difference.

Once you move even at City traffic speeds the under the hood temp plunges close to the out side temp. At least it does that where my Air Filter Ended up.

Squiggle Dog · #15 09-11-2019, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

Can I point out that the stock air filter setup is a cold air intake whereas these options are hot air intake?

If you have the filter contained in a metal housing and run a tube from it up to the front of the car, as in the first picture I shared, it should work like the factory cold air intake. Actually, if the air filter is in front of the turbo and far enough from the engine, the air shouldn't be all that much warmer, especially if the car is moving and outside air is flowing into the engine compartment.

But, I'd be careful about a setup which places the air filter over the turbo or exhaust, though that's how the factory setup was, other than it having a tube which draws in cold air from the front of the car.

The W116 is difficult when it comes to fabricating a custom air intake, as the battery is located at the front of the engine compartment, and the cold air intake is located behind the headlight--and if you convert to Euro headlights, it seals off the air intake, choking the engine of air unless you disconnect the plastic tube and let it float over it so it sucks in air from under the hood.