TURBO'ing a 240D - Is it possible?
 

I would like to buy a 240d that's local to me. I know the seller personally, and they took good care of the car. But I drove it, and compared to my 300d turbo, it's a dog Is it possible to add a turbo from a 300d onto the 240d? What modifications would be required to make?

BAD idea
 

Possible but not wise as the engine will give up in short order .

Turbo charged engines have many differences, one being lower compression ratio .

During the Diesel craze many tried this, all died sooner than later .

If you cannot handle the glacial acceleration of a 240D , don't buy one, it'll drive you bonkers .

Turbo engines have piston cooling jets. NA engines don't


OM617 has the same compression turbo or NA I believe

No, it does not ! .

In case of OM617 the turbo has slightly HIGHER compression ratio. Usually it's the other way around

617.912 (NA): 21:1

617.952 (turbo): 21.5:1

sources:
https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/Engine/615/00-010.pdf


https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/Engine/617/00-020.pdf

Most of the replies you’re going to get will look like the above. You’re also going to get the, why not just transplant a 617(lulz)?! If you read the archives however (on this site and others) you’ll find many who have performed this upgrade and had no issues – some for over 10 years!

I’ve been thinking about it myself for a long time. From what I’ve gathered, as long as you keep the boost on the low side (8-9pounds), you should be fine.

To perform the upgrade, you need the oil filter housing plate (with turbo oil feed port) from a turbo w123, you need a turbo manifold with the 5th cylinder blocked off, the turbo apparatus... you’ll have to tap the oil drain pan for the oil feed return line, and you’ll have to remove and “turn up” your IP (all required settings are readily available in the performance forum).
Oh, and you’ll need to install an EGT gauge.

If Ive missing something, feel free to chime in.

Possible you do run a risk. But hey, I bet it’s a really fun project. Seems it’s also a lighter front end (read: better handling) than a 300d with a 617.

By the time you add up all the changes needed to accommodate more power including rear end ratio and larger radiator you may as well buy the car you want instead of modifying this one....or Swapping in a turbo 5 cylinder will be cheaper and will use all mercedes designed parts.

Back in the 1980's while living in Bartlesville, OK, it was common to see W123 with 240 Turbodiesel logo on trunk lid. Looked factory so I researched it and found MB didn't market a turbo 240D. Those cars (probably 3 or 4) had been modified for fuel economy studies by the Bartlesville Department of Energy facility. Don't know what happened to those cars but certainly government documentation was produced from that study.

so turbo'ing a 617 netted about 32 hp (NA version makes about 95hp)....so turboing a 67hp engine isn't even going to break 100hp....not at all worth it. If you want 95-100hp just put a NA 617 or 602 in there.

Pretty nuts when you consider a OM651 has 2.1 liters of displacement and readily makes 200HP/369 torque. :)

At one time there was kits to turbo the 240D's but it was a smaller turbo.

I am doing an image google search for Mercedes 240 Turbocharger kit and pictures are showing up from the super turbo diesel forum and I believe the benz world forum.

The superTD forum has old Rayjay (the maker of the turbo) kit for 240D.

Old Rajay Turbo Kit 240d

Whoa there -we're not making a falcon 9 here.
Why would one need to install a new diff?
If I'm missing something obvious, I'm happy to be corrected and learn,
but the guys I spoke to did not install a new diff nor a new radiator.

Meanwhile, I priced everything out and the most expensive component is the turbo. The rest are cheap JY parts (possibly even the turbo).

I think the point is that driving a turbo'd 240 is a different experience than driving a turbo 300.
I love my car with all of it's manual components and I would never want a 300D. I can certainly understand there a handful of people who'd like to keep the handling of a 240 but gain a marginal amount of pep.

Yes. I've linked and summarized posts by successful 616 drivers in years Mostly graminal95 if you look up his posts

Sorry I don't know what a falcon 9 is. a big plus of having more power is reducing the engine speed on the highway which entails changing the diff. which is not very hard and not too expensive.

Then why were you initially listing it as a difficult additional mod? In addition to a radiator (unnecessary), even that is plug and play. Honestly you can choose the diff for your application, but the stock 240 diff works just fine with a turbo.

A turbo makes all the difference in the usability of a 240. The engine is overbuilt and can easily handle it.

If you buy a 240D be prepared to love the glacial performance, otherwise just get a 300D turbo.

The 240D makes me laugh every time I drive it.