W123 Diesel Exhaust Systems
 

Are diesels easier on the exhaust systems than regular gassers? Is it worth the expense to do a Stainless system on these or will OEM be good enough for many years? Both my 123's seem to have good systems and neither looks like they've had work done recently. I plan to keep both registered and running using the not too good loooking sedan for snow and crap.

I have never seen a diesel exhaust system rust out from the inside like a gasser exhaust does. They seem to stay pretty well oiled on the inside. No acids in the exhaust like on a gasser. My 300D is 19 years old with the original exhaust. It has a tiny rust spot on the leading edge where mud builds up on it, but that's all. I imagine it's a bit different in the rust belt, but even up there I doubt it would be worth going to stainless.

TVD,

I believe my '80 300SD with 244,000+ has the original exhaust system. I know nothing was replaced since I had had it since 1990. I Never use this car in the winter.

However, I had to replace the exhaust system except the mufflers on my '79 300SD. But this car was always used in PA/NY winters. The body is rusted badly so it makes sense the exhaust system rusted also.

P E H

I replaced my muffler mounts not very long ago, a week later the header pipe broke free of the flange (looked like it didn't rust out, but was rocked to death) and caused the exhaust to drag (I stopped immediately, cut it loose and took it home). I welded that back together for a temporary fix, now the flex section is breaking open. Everything on the header pipe back looks nearly new, header pipes and rubber mounts are the only things I ever hear of failing on these exhaust systems so I should be doing real well pretty soon!

My '83 TD still has it's original exhaust, front to back. The date of manufacture on the muffler is 01/83.

Diesels don't tend to rust the exhaust system from the inside out like gassers do. They are, howver, still susceptible to salt and slush getting to them from the outside. If you drive in bad weather on salted roads stainless is probably worth the extra cost. If you garage it most of the winter then the stock system will last you for many years.