OM617 - The Best of the Best
 

I thought this would be a good thread to discuss 'the best of the best' as far as:

1) Routine maintenance items for starting, driving, efficiency.
2) Aftermarket or setup changes for the 617 to have the 'best of the best' for starting, driving, mileage, performance...

My own history is I have a '85 300D that I drove from 280 to 340K and it still ran great. I am now installing a 617 into a Toyota and am attempting to implement all of this 'best of the best' into it for the best possible setup but also the best band/buck so not throwing $$ away..

My take..

Routine Maintenance:

This is where I have little experience other than some basic things. My take is (a lot of info supplied from Intarweb):

1) Valve adjust.
2) Good glow plugs, clean pre-chambers, healthy filters.
3) 5W-40 oil in winter.


Modifications / Aftermarket Modifications:
This is where I think I can help as I have experimented with a lot of this stuff.

1) dual batteries. HUGE. Also if a single battery Sears Platinum is now a rebadged Odyssey battery, among the best out there. Used one (or two) of these. They are close to about $200 a pop, worth their weight in gold.

2) Air cleaner. The stock air cleaner is aweful and restrictive. Using an aftermarket conical filter seems to open these up completely. Completely delete the stock air cleaner. Do not use K&N products as they allow too much dirt through but there are several competitors that are good, or simply use a larger paper filter. But also see #4 below as this is a contradiction.

3) EGR delete, also a healthy upgrade and generally long term makes engine healthier cleaner.

4) Placing the glow plugs on a push button system. They are quite annoying when it glows when the engine is warm.

5) Here is a good one a lot of people haven't seen. I have always been remarkeably unimpressed with the 617's lack of ability to start in real cold weather without a block heater over night. Many of us do not have a place to park it overnight with a heater and the 617 is a constant source of problems. Several people on my board discovered this gizmo (that could be plumbed into an air cleaner) that is the 'secret weapon' low amperage draw device that allows Perkins engines to start so well in the winter.

$20 from a Ford tractor parts dealer or online:
http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11749

It heats a cigarette-lighter type device at 10 amps draw and then flares diesel fuel over it. It creates a vaporized diesel fuel mix with warm air that allows the engine to start. It obviously has to be positioned correctly but the stock MB 617 air cleaner would be just fine provided there is adequete room beneath it.

Photo attached:

Other suggestions/comments?

Getting rid of the boost conroller? Other ideas/comments? I also greatly liked the shifting recommendations to remove overly firm shifts.

clean banjo bolt on back of intake