Was my trap/oxidizer replaced or not?
 

I took this out of an unrelated thread to start a new one. Let's clear up the trap oxidizer mess up.

Ok, my VMI shows:

On 5/21/92 it was taken in for Trap oxidizer dirty/clogged

campaign number 1996120001 was completed on 12/3/96.

Is this the trap ox campaign?

But then it also shows that on 4/2/2002 it was taken in for Trap oxidizer insufficient eff.

Note that one was before the campaign and one was after the campaign and BOTH were warranty work.

Note also that I have part # 126 490 34 14

From the looks of the photo it looks like its been changed but what's that dark thing down inside the OC? I think while you're at this point, get a exhaust shop to fab you a pipe so you can get rid of that nasty thing. You won't have to worry about it after that.

It's all put together now. That was last December when I was rebuilding it.

Well if you ever get the idea. You will notice a difference if you get rid of that thing.

Maybe this will help:

1985 California wagon (300TDT), bought by me 3/89 in Los Angeles with 58K miles and owned by me since. I do all the regular maintance but took the car to the dealer at the regular 30K mile services to get trap replaced. I have every service record from when the car was sold new in 10/85, including records of my own work.

90K mile service on 3/96: replaced trap oxidizer with same (called "soot filter", P/N# 617-142-02-94)

120K mile service on 11/00: replaced trap oxidizer with catalyst (called "catalyst", P/N# 126-490-34-14). Service invoice reads, "replace trap oxidizer with an oxidation catalyst as per MBNA service campaign bulletin #96-1121, D.C. 0 14355 53 7.

All trap related service was done under warranty. The turbo and exhaust systems were not replaced as they were (and are still) in good shape. I verified with the service manager at 150K miles that the new catalyst did not need to be replaced. Note that the new and old traps look exactly the same. On the OM617 (unlike the 603) engines if there is a visual difference between the two traps it is very minor.

Hope that answers your questions.

According to Irv you have your answer.

If you call a MB dealer and ask them they can tell you definatively.

The VMI also shows "brief description" of the campaign, 961121. This is the same number referrenced by Irg.

So it seems I may have had the campaign done in 1996.

So what was the warranty service done on the trap ox in 2001 at 108,000 miles?

Will they still service a clogged trap ox under warranty?

It looks like you got your trap replaced very early in the campaign (I must have just missed it at my 90K service) and perhaps they had to replace some of the early units. If you have a decent dealer they can check it out and I believe if it has failed again it is still under warranty. The history is pretty good about MBNA supporting this warranty. Your part # indicates that you have the current catalyst.

Local dealer is servicing a clogged trap under warranty.
A customer at my friend's shop just brought in their '85 300D (CA model) with a plugged up trap oxidizer (or CAT whichever). The car was hardly able to drive up a nearby steep highway. Even with a head start it dropped down to a slow speed making driving dangerous.
Like a 240D would pass it easily! Best remedy is get rid of the mess. That is why I went out of state to buy my '85 300TD.

As covered in earlier threads the catalyst basically only accumulates the soot unit it gets hot enough to burn off. If you do short hop city driving only it's going to get pretty clogged up. Also if it gets loaded with soot and then starts to burn it off the cat can get too hot and melt the substrate. The bottom line is if you have a trap/cat you want to be sure you get out on the highway at speed at least once a week or so (in fact that's not a bad thing for the rest of the engine too). I've had a completely stock trap exhaust system for the last 15 years and never had a problem but I drive in a warm climate and 70/30 city/highway. If I lived in a cold climate with mostly city driving I think I'd consider removing the trap altogether. Given the fact that these cars were really only sold in areas with a relatively warm climate and lots of highways (or freeways as they call them in LA) they were probably not designed to make it through a cold winter of nothing but city driving.

My regular commute has been a short 5.5 mile distance mostly in stop and go (El Camino) drive. My engine just gets up to 83 degrees and a minute or two later its time to shut the engine off (that will change in the next 6 months to a 15 mile drive).
The person that had the plgged trap I mentioned previously only drove the car locally, and I am certain not at freeway speeds, so the trap was definitely plugged as a result.
I suggested the shop propose to her that it be replaced with the staight pipe (Federal exhaust) but you know where that idea went (out the window because that would cost $$ while the factory campaign is free).
Maybe I should make an offer to buy the car from them (like I need another diesel Benz, but it is a really nice looking car with only about 150K miles on it) as I have a Federal manifold already.
DDH
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 106441
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 296650
1983 300D 243280
1985 300TD 223470
1987 300D 262300

Well then, I'm off to the dealer on my next weekday off.