Strange Engine Modification, Ideas?
 

Just bought the car last week (therefore haven't had time to
clean the engine) and found this interesting climping job:
Does anyone know why they might have done this and what
they, in fact did to what?

Looks like the EGR was disconnected - I think the rest of the group would agree - a good thing on a diesel.
Fred

Forgive me guys,

But first *WHAT TYPE OF CAR* are we talking about?

Secondly, I think from 1981-1993 Mercedes used primary an egr valve in diesels to allow exhaust gases from into the intake at cruiz conditions (1800 rpm to about 2600) to reduce NOX.

Generally, it is regarded as 1) an expensive valve 2) carbon from exhaust does no good for engine 3) may reduce NOX at a sacrifice of other virtues.

Disconnecting: Primary, to avoid attention, people stick a small bearing or "BB" into the rubber tubing on the EGR valve or somewhere in the rubber to the EGR valve. Other's which are experiencing a bad egr valve are forced to put a metal shim where it bolts to the manifold.

Hope that helps!

Michael

By the looks of the vacuum routing on the valve cover, seems like a 1982-1984 300D or SD.

Sorry for the confusion
 

Yes the car is a 300TD, 1982.

My signature should have been updated. Sorry for the confusion.

looks like someone disconnected the EGR and plugged the end with some "stuffing".

Looks more like it was cauterized with very hot pliers.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

What is an EGR?
 

Thanks

EGR- exhaust gas recirculation. It's been used since the late sixties to return some exhaust gases back to the intake to allow them to burn again.Primary benefit is to reduce emissions at the tail pipe.Glad my diesel doesn't have one:)

I think the purpose is to introduce a relatively inert filler to lower combustion temperatures which reduces oxides of nitrogen emissions.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD