i was a bit surprised to find some mining-related option codes in the long list. has anyone seen such an engine or vehicle?


604K from 25.10.1996 " ENGINE, UNDERGROUND OPERATION (ELECTRIC PUMP)"
M05 ENGINE USED FOR UNDERGROUND MINING OPERATION
Z38 UNDERGROUND MINING VEHICLES

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'77 240D, 504H, OM617.952, etc.

MB car diesels are used in boats, forklifts, generators, refrigeration, all sorts
(but as for your question, no)

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

Underground mines are very hazardous places, lots of gasses present and if an explosion happened, it could be catastrophic for the people involved and the mine itself.

I did some work for a coal mine a few years ago and at the time the only vehicle left in the US that was MSHA approved (mining equivalent of OSHA) was the Cummins-powered Ram pickup with a special MSHA pack. They have special sealed relays, special spark-less switches, sealed batteries, special alternators, special spark-arresting exhaust systems, an automated intake flapper, etc. The idea being that the vehicle must be designed to prevent any sort of spark that could ignite any gas present in the mine. As a result only diesels were rated since a gaseous fueled engine inherently creates a spark.

They were in a panic at the time, because Chrysler ended the MSHA option in 2010 and they had no source of new vehicles. Not sure what the current status is since this was back in 2012.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

wow, very interesting details on the mining version of that cummins engine. they must have been $$$ with the number of alterations and the smaller size of that market.

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'77 240D, 504H, OM617.952, etc.

Deutz ( German industrial engine manufacturer ) has been making underground engines for a very long time.