A few months back I went to my local NAPA and asked about a monovalve for my 82 300D. They offered me a (MTC?) for like $10.00 - $15.00. I said I saw one on your web site, and that was the one I wanted! It was a Bosch
1 147 213 007, and they had it the next day. It was $104.00.
After reading around on here, and noticing they are getting rare, I decided to get a spare. I picked up another one today. Both the boxes looked a little battered... ...not smashed, but more like they had been moved around on the shelf a bunch of times.
My question is: Seeing as these are of undetermined age, and I plan on holding on to it for "who knows how long", would anyone consider slathering it in 100% silicone grease, and putting it in a plastic zip-lock, and putting it back in the box - to preserve it?
Any other suggestions for extending the shelf life of the rubber components on this thing would be taken into consideration - and appreciated. Thanks, Matt

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82 300D Turbo 124,000 mi.

Wow. That's taking parts "stash" to a whole 'nother level.

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

Could you buy the MTC and compare the spring tension to the Bosch kit? If the Bosch turns out significantly stronger, that would tell us the MTC is inherently flawed.

I believe rubber deteriorates with exposure to UV, ozone and temperature changes. If you keep it in a mason jar and can it (draw a vacuum), keep it at room temperature, I'd think that would prolong it's shelf life.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Silicone grease is used to keep bungee cords from failing and is about the best way to preserve any rubber. Additionally keep it out of sunlight, (UV) and away from electric motors, (ozone producers) put it under a pyramid and in another 30 years it should be good.

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92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

Being such a common failure item and the same part used across all models for years, I'm not worried about not being able to obtain that part.

....but I do have a spare lying around somewhere.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Aerospace 303

or

Vinylex

Both inhibit UV and SLOW down rubber's exhalation of the VOCs

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

I just called a few NAPA stores around me and they said it wasn't being made anymore after 2012... I'm in need of one BAD

don't think bosch makes the part anymore. Chinese aftermarket is junk, you may run through a couple before one works. I wish Bosch would make this again, it wasn't that much more and worked

For those interested, I could ask how many my local guy can get a hold of.
I did not make this clear in my first post, but this part is not the entire monovalve - but only the insert; the part that usually goes bad.
Also, like I mentioned earlier, these could have been on the shelf for quite a while, by the appearance of the boxes.
I will check how many I might be able to get, and get back with you guys; it won't be until Saturday. I might buy out the whole lot, if he'll cut me a deal!!!
I live 25 miles West (and slightly North) of downtown Tampa. They (NAPA) are getting them from someplace (I assume their warehouse[?]) out of Tampa.

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82 300D Turbo 124,000 mi.

Some people fill their tires with nitrogen instead of air, claiming the rubber lasts longer. The only way I see to get silicone on the rubber is to either spray silicone foam in the vent hole (cans come w/ a straw) or immerse it in DOT 5 silicone brake fluid (not 5.1).

A few years ago when I was getting desperate about the mono-valve, I bought a used valve (plastic housing and all) on ebay for later M-B. It looks like it could be made to fit fairly simply, though I ended up buying the replacement innards ($85, MTC I recall and think it just started failing - excessive heat).

the $10 MTC monovalves pretty much fail yearly.

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

For those worried about the replacement price, one for an 86+ car does actually work (my post 10) and is affordable. A guy posted on BenzWorld recently w/ photos. Rather than fool with working it onto the firewall, he installed it where his aux pump used to be (extended the cable, I assume) and replaced his original w/ a piece of hose. I might try that, since my aux pumps are long gone (may RIP in M-B design hell).