When did YOU learn the virtues of a diesel engine? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ara T. · #1 12-23-2006, 01:55 AM

Hey Matt, your Cummins sounds like a mean mother. Im curious, how much money does it take to tool one of those up like you did? And would you say it is a relatively easy to get power out of an engine like that?

Matt SD300 · #2 12-23-2006, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

Hey Matt, your Cummins sounds like a mean mother. Im curious, how much money does it take to tool one of those up like you did? And would you say it is a relatively easy to get power out of an engine like that?

As little as $300 will get 400Hp/800tq out of a Cummins 12V with the Bosch p7100 injection pump (94-98.. not 98 1/2)...mods are very SIMPLE..

Ara T. · #3 12-23-2006, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt SD300

As little as $300 will get 400Hp/800tq out of a Cummins 12V with the Bosch p7100 injection pump (94-98.. not 98 1/2)...mods are very SIMPLE..

Nice. How about longevity? Is everything overbuilt enough to withstand the increased turbo pressure and last a reasonable amount of time? 200K miles at least?

And in response to the original thread. I like the 617 just because it's so easy to take care of. No spark plugs or wires or any of that crap. Since there are no funky sensors to go wrong I know that it will start every morning. If it doesn't start, it is easy to troubleshoot and a random no-start would be unlikely. I would actually prefer a 560SEL/SEC though.

aklim · #4 12-23-2006, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

Nice. How about longevity? Is everything overbuilt enough to withstand the increased turbo pressure and last a reasonable amount of time? 200K miles at least?

And in response to the original thread. I like the 617 just because it's so easy to take care of. No spark plugs or wires or any of that crap.

Since there are no funky sensors to go wrong I know that it will start every morning. If it doesn't start, it is easy to troubleshoot and a random no-start would be unlikely. I would actually prefer a 560SEL/SEC though.

Not for $300, it isn't. Not even if you granny it every day.

Edit: I suppose it might be OK if you set the torque way up there and don't hit the spot except for that time or two. Pretty unusual tho.

No spark plugs but now you have an injection pump. I'd rather take care of cap and rotor every now and then as opposed to an injection pump. I have seen competent techs screw up an IP and if they can, what more me.

Maybe because I was immersed in cars when they went to fuel injection but I don't know why people are so paranoid of the sensors. Yes, there are more things to go wrong but there are better benefits to it too. We don't have to warm up the car and it can go without too much trouble in different altitudes. My ATVs for instance are FI and I don't have to rejet for different altitudes. I don't have to choke it. I just turn the key, wait for the humming to get done (2 seconds) and crank and then drive. With my carbed units I had to choke it to start, slowly set the choke as it warms up, etc, etc. Also diagnosis is much easier since there is something that points the way instead of playing around with this and that. My first car had a carb. Couldn't wait to get rid of it for modern fuel injection. Something acts up and I can see it on the scanner for a large part which gives me a picture of what is going on. Actually, I have had more problems with my carbed appliances than my FI stuff all put together. If my lawnmower would go FI, I'd sell it for the FI model as long as I get to put a scanner on it.

rs899 · #5 12-23-2006, 08:38 AM

I learned about them from a farmer. We had purchased a 20 acre farm, and had to cut the pasture. Bought an old Case 530D and put that thing to work in front of a 6 foot bushhog. Then I needed to start commuting 100 miles a day, so I bought my diesel Rabbit pickup (and the first wife didn't want "her" pickup dirty with car parts). I admired Mercedes diesels, and flirted with buying a few, but only much later (with a more tolerant second wife) bought her a 300D to replace a throw-away old Dodge, then myself a 240D stick.
Then I was hooked.

Rick

Angel · #6 12-23-2006, 10:04 AM

This wasnt more than 4 years ago...
I was driving to school (after 6yrs of navy subs) in a VW Corrado (snicker).

The corrado was a great highway car, but as any VW guy knows, corrados are problematic, and mine was getting the best of me.

There was a guy at my school, son of the local MB factory rep, who had a china blue 240D, real tall guy, and offered it up for sale. I was going to school for mechanical engineering technology and beginning to dislike short-lived computers. I was also engaged to a lovely women from my hometown/neighboorhood so the thoughts went like this:

"I'm in school, she doesnt make a whole lot of money. She currently drives a new car (97 Neon...blah) and will expect to remain doing the same. I have a 1990 and don't care if I get something older. I'm Not gonna spend money on 2 new cars"

- I'm not even sure I like having 2 cars at all (she is now a stay at home mom, its just more fuel/maintenance/insurance/hassle. Nice to have my own car, but man could we save some money.

"Any non-new car will require fixing, so I'd better get a car that is either easy to fix, or something I'd enjoy fixing". It looked like I wasn't going to enjoy fixing any car, so the MB diesels came up, not complicated, not enough power to collect lots of speeding tickets, good reputation for reliability. My father had an 81 rabbit diesel to commute in and my grandmother rocked the hills of state college in a 240D so I looked for one of those until that guy at school had one for sale. 263k on the clock, winter tires, working A/C, I jumped on it.

I'm not sure where I want to go now. The 240D is getting older faster, I found all the rust repair that I missed when I bought it, and for 28mpg I could get a honda civic, run cheaper fuel AND be able to hit 90mph. I'd love a W124 diesel, but money hasnt gotten any better with mom at home and a new 7 month old little guy so putting more than $3k into a car isnt making me thrilled- mom and little guy are wayyyy more important. (mom rocks a 2005 subaru though, not sure I want her to trade it so I can get a "better" car. Unfortunately, the 240D shows no signs of stopping, which makes it harder to get rid of. But an '87 300D (POWER) or an A2 Jetta diesel (above average economy) or my brothers W124 300E std-shift (cheap) do look pretty appealing.

Yeah, it wasnt that long ago, but I am diggin diesels. -John

Shorebilly · #7 12-25-2006, 09:18 AM

Folks,

My first real job was at a Gulf "Service Station" in the early '60's. The boss' cousin, a mechanic there, was/had been a trucker.....he used to buy me beer, and tell me about Diesels, and Quadruplex transmissions....I heard him, but I thought, then, that Diesels were grimy, smelly, and useless for Hot Rodding!!!

Then I went to the University of the US Army, RVN, and I became impressed with those old style "deuce amd a half" and 5 ton trucks....the whistlers....and their multifuel capability.....

After surviving my military experience, I attended school for Marine Engineering. Part of my education was Motor/Diesel propulsion and auxiliaries. I graduated and received my USCG 3rd Engineer Steam and Motor License.....but I still thought that Diesels were an inferior means of Power.....leaky, nasty, smelly.......as compared to Steam Turbines and Boilers!!!

As I advanced in my career, and upgraded my License.....I wound up as Chief Engineer Steam and 3rd Engineer Motor....never sailed a day on a Motor Ship.....only used the Motor part of my License while working on the GTS Admiral Callihan......a Gas Turbine.....because the USCG classifies a Gas Turbine as an internal combustion engine!!

Then, I decided to equalize my License, so I went back to school....studied Diesel Propulsion in great depth.....wrenched on a Sulzer training engine....learned about the economic advantages of Diesel propulsion, as well as most of the considerations required in their operation. Got a ride on a Diesel, Sulzer, Container Ship as Observer C/E for 30 days....and then sat for the USCG testing to become C/E Motor......

Now, I had a nice job on an old Steam Ship as C/E.....my company only had 2 Motor Ships, on charter to the Military....so I didn't think much about Diesels, excepting my Emergency Diesel Generator.....until my company purchased some used late '60's era Motor ships from the Germans.....my boss sent me to ride with the Germans as observer, because I was the only C/E available with the License.....he sent several other Steam Chiefs back to school......and eventually I became C/E of a Motor Container Ship. My German counterpart, and I became friends.....and I rode in his Diesel Benz while visiting in Berlin......I was hooked from that point......even though those 700 series BMW's would pass us on the Autobahn!! I purchased the wife an '85 300TD new.....had it serviced at the dealership......she didn't like it.....I was then driving a Buick "Grand National" Turbo.......we divorced, and I got the wagon, she got the Buick......and I got to keep my '53 Ford street rod......

For the remainder of my career I was primarily a Motor Chief.....but was the only Chief in the company who would sail on either Steam or Motor ships.....because as an Engineer, in my opinion, the objective was to keep the "Lights Burnin' and the Screw Turnin'", regardless of how the fuel was burned.......

I retired a bit over 10 years ago as C/E of a RO/RO (Roll On/Roll Off) ship.......have worked in a couple of jobs since retirement one was a Fuel Injection Tech.......I also have delivered Yachts......and worked around some Offshore Racing Power Boats.....now I do my best to live a sustainable lifestyle, Solar, Bio-Diesel......non GMO farmer.......

I hope that y'all weren't bored with this essay....but you asked....

SB

I could go on typing for hours with ship "Sea Stories".....what's the biggest piece of engine that you have seen thrown through the crankcase wall???

Matt SD300 · #8 12-24-2006, 01:57 AM

[QUOTE=aklim;1366293]Not for $300, it isn't. Not even if you granny it every day.

Get a education on a Cummins 5.9 12V with a p7100 IP ...

aklim · #9 12-24-2006, 02:02 AM

[QUOTE=Matt SD300;1367050]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Not for $300, it isn't. Not even if you granny it every day.

Get a education on a Cummins 5.9 12V with a p7100 IP ...

Fine, you explain it then. Is the truck built with that much margin that you can power it up to that level and not beef something else up? How much power stock? How much now? How much will the lower end of the engine take if you really use it or run it hard? How much will the trans take before it breaks? How much will the rear end hold up? Can you make it all work for $300? Aren't you doubling the output? If so, was the engine designed to do that? What about the trans and the rear end? What are your pistons made of? With that much boost and fuel, I would think that any sustained run might start to wear it thin. I know that I cannot keep the powerstroke EGT at say 1300 for too long. So, if your EGT is getting high, won't you melt the pistons? How will the IP help cool down the EGT?

Don't know if it is that dodge has way, way overbuilt the truck but I doubt it. I have broken enough parts to know that $300 won't get you that sort of power all the way to the ground without something giving. Like I said, it might if you were to granny it and not really push it hard.