Hello all,
I was reading Msyoder's post about his broken turbo, sorry to hear that, and I had a question but I didn't want to hijack his post.

Someone asked him if he had removed his trap oxidizer and I wanted to know what this is and why would anyone want to remove it?

Thanks

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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The trap oxidizer was something that worked sort of like a catalytic converter. It was used from about 85 to 87 or 88 on diesels sold in the US and was put there to meet California emissions.

They were known for disintegrating and when this happened it would destroy the turbocharger and sometimes do even worse damage than that.

MB went through a campaign to remove them at no cost to the owner. In fact the owner got an ENTIRE new exhaust system from engine to rear bumper at zero cost.

Have a great day,

Trap Oxidisers were the Diesel equivalent of a Catalytic Converter to help emmissions control. They were fitted to 1986 & 1987 603 series engines in the 300D & 300SDL models and maybe later years for the 300D. They were installed between the Exhaust manifold and the Turbo in the exhaust system and look like a big canister mounted horizontally.

Problem was that the material that was used inside the Trap Oxidiser was prone to breaking up over time and causing damage to the Turbochargers. There was a M-B Recall for all models fitted with these Trap Oxidisers where the T-O was removed and replaced with a straight pipe. In some cases if there was any evidence of Turbo damage the Turbo was also replaced.

There are a few cars out there still running around with the T-O installed and it is generally reckoned here that these are just problems waiting to happen.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

I stumbled on these pretty decent before and after pics of trap oxidizer replacement........."www.dhc.net/~pmhack/mercedes/300sdl871.htm"

My mother was driving our 87' 300SDL on the freeway in 2001 when it experienced a sudden loss of power and so she put the pedal down in an attempt to maintain speed so that the car behind her didn't plow into the car. At that point (according to her) the trap oxidiser IMPLODED and sent a gigantic cloud of carbon out the exhaust pipe. She was able to get the car off the road and called a tow truck and had it sent to the dealer into have the recall work performed. We weren't notified of the recall at that point! I was unaware that the trap oxidizer was capable of exploding like that but fortunately the trap was removed and the turbo was not shredded to my knowledge We did get one of those letters stating lifetime warranty on the exhaust system after the dealer replaced the trap.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Anyone got a pic of one of these on a 617 motor?

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Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

It's that big ugly elephant turd cleverly hidden under the manifold.

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1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

My SDL had the recall done by the previous owner back in the nineties, so I have no such letter. Any chance you could scan and e-mail a copy ??
I wasn't aware that M-B was still covering these items under the recall.
Was your mother the original owner?

I can ask my folks....they're vacationing right now. We probably still have the letter from MBUSA....I didn't memorize it . Yes we were the 1st owners until the beginning of last year....234k reliable miles. The 1st 3k was put on by the fleet manager of the Oakland, CA Mercedes dealer in 1987....he was pissed with his job there so he sold it to my folks (who were looking at a W124 300E) for what the gasser would have cost I am told

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I remember seeing a 124 300D back at the old shop that ran like crap, smoked like a pig and wouldnt go over 20mph. The owner (70 year old lady) had been pulled over by the cops for driving too slow and putting out nothing but thick smoke. After pulling the exhaust off and starting it one more time.... POOF! Bob came out from his bay, actually more like came out from the black cloud that was now occupying his entire stall. It was like a small explosion and black smoke and dust was everywhere! what a sight, it was hilarious!

oh and after it had a new exhaust put on, the car ran fine

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

There is an article in the March / April 1997 issue of The Star magazine about the infamous Trap Oxidizer.

Frank King, the long time technical editor of the Star Magazine, wrote a long two page article on this Trap Oxidizer.

He basically says that it was introduced in 1985 on California versions of models with 617.592 and 617.591 diesel engines, and was also done in 1986 to California cars with 603.961 engines. In 1987, use of trap oxidizers was extended to cars with diesel engines 603.960 and 603.961 in all 50 states.

"The component was a filter known as a trap oxidizer, designed to meet California emission standards. Located between the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger, the trap oxidizer is a monolithic labyrinth of ceramic rods housed in a steel cylinder.

Due to the extreme range of temperatures to which the trap oxidizer was subjected and the vibration inherent in the application, the ceramic monolith did not have the expected service life. Sometimes pieces of the ceramic, ranging in size from dust to chunks, broke off and were blown into the turbocharger. The abrasive ceramic particles could damage the turbo blades. As a result, Mercedes-Benz instituted an extended exchange or warranty policy. Owners of affected cars were protected from repair expense due to trap oxidizer failures.

Mercedes Benz developed a new device called an oxidation catalyst with sufficient durability to replace the trap oxidizer.

Owners who have had the job done report a noticeable performance improvement after installation of the oxidation catalyst, probably due to the decrease in exhaust back pressure."

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Car isn't worth buying the setup for it. I just gutted the trap and re installed it!

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles