W126 Mercedes 300SD - OM617 EGR Delete Kit - From Lerms Customs

[@a_life_painted_with_color]

About four years ago now i hot tanked my intake and exhaust manifold, cleaned up my EGR and tube assembly, walnut blasted and adjusted the valves, rebuilt the turbocharger. Night and day difference. I should do videos, my W123 is a rocket now.

[@Youwillhearjuno]

Yes

[@jackorlando7]

This is the most precious move you can make. The EGR must be deleted on every diesel engine.......It is very much necessary, if you like your car.The EGR is killing slowly but surely the engine.It is non sense device.

[@CopperheadGamingChannel]

Very good kit I’ve had one on my 94 s350 for a year now

[@kevinblanchard611]

Nice! You might want to put a clamp on your crankcase breather tube,I see it wiggling around.

[@bradalloway3232]

Agreed that is a complete kit. Id like to see what you have done with the vacuum lines not associated with the egr that were on the switch. I'm thinking (before morning coffee) they went to the transmission.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I have some old footage that I never put into a video and I have the vacuum diagram documentation. Should be about to put something together.

[@w124mercedes7]

I have a 1987 300d I took care of the problem but putting a 1/16 aluminum plate between egr and intake. I removed the intake and cleaned about 1/16 of greasy soot from inside. Thoroughly cleaned intake and its done. And still looks stock incase deq inspection. 😆

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Hey Robert. That thought ran across my mind as well. Ultimately I just decided to get rid of all the components because we don't worry about inspections in this part of the country and it's all just in the way. I kept it in a box to sell on with the car one day if ever I decide to do so.

[@NCbigmike87]

How did you cap off the vacuum lines to the right of the egr

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Short length of vacuum hose plugged up with a golf tee. Cut off unused portion of golf tee. They are magnificent for plugging vacuum ports. The rubber vacuum line caps you buy at the local parts store will crack and leak.

[@NCbigmike87]

@@ImpalamansGarage do you have any videos of removing the turbo and exhaust manifold? Your videos have been so helpful for me

[@Johnathan_Waters]

Isn't the "plug" just a common "freeze plug" or am I missing something here? nice kit regardless!

[@ImpalamansGarage]

It is exactly like a "freeze plug". Just smaller. So simple. So easy.

[@billlucas4332]

Why put a plug in the exhaust manifold? Would a plate under the egr (leaving it in place) be sufficient? Bill

[@ImpalamansGarage]

You could do that. I don't see why it would not work.

[@Warex06]

Great video! I swapped an om617a into my ‘81 w123 300d, which was originally the naturally aspirated om617. I used Lerms Customs SLS pump block off plate, since the turbo engine was sourced from a wagon, & my car is a sedan and doesn’t have SLS. Seeing this, I likely will order the EGR delete kit too

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Thanks for stopping by !

[@eternalbeing3339]

Wait, you removed the vacuum spider valve completely? I read that it is supposed to control transmission shifting. I am looking at mine and it connects to the vacuum control valve as well. What did you do with those connections?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

You are talking about the vacuum valve on top of the valve cover? Yeah it's gone. The VCV on the rear of the fuel pump is what controls vacuum to the transmission vacuum modulator. I've had no issues with this setup.

[@eternalbeing3339]

@@ImpalamansGarage thats what i needed to know. Thank you 👍.

[@johnh.2412]

Do you get more power now? Is the engine running smoother? Quieter? Less or more exhaust smoke? Can you please list any benefits you have observed, thanks

[@ImpalamansGarage]

No change in performance what so ever. The EGR is spring loaded and sealed against the intake manifold. The part that was broken was the vacuum actuator that pulls the valve open to allow exhaust gas to flow into the intake. I suppose if the EGR had been fully functional there might have been some perceivable difference after its removal. I could have left it like it was but the engine looks better without it and it makes it easier to service stuff on the front of the engine. In other words, it's not in the way any longer. This is a very easy job.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I suppose the primary benefit is you will no longer be getting carbon build up inside the engine. (Assuming your EGR is in working order to begin with.)

[@johnh.2412]

@@ImpalamansGarage Thanks for your informative videos, i've owned my 300SD for 31 years and didn't know all the things i've learned from you, my mechanic is probably wondering where i'm getting all these ideas from LOL

[@CatLady999]

I got this kit from Lerm's Customs. Great kit. I also did the ALDA delete, using the ALDA delete plug from Lerm's Customs. Big difference. Removed overboost protection valve, and looped it. Removed air flow mixture plug from airbox. Get those gains.

[@joserasak]

well done, now consider to calibrate all injectors. you have one or more with less pressure. this is why this engine in not stable at idle.

[@rb.867]

What size freeze plug is it you used? You didn’t mention the size

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Well I did not measure it. It came with the kit from Lerms.

[@rb.867]

What size freeze plug is that??

[@hanseich]

I get why you’d remove the EGR for all the spot that is being reintroduced into the engine, but isn’t there some cold engine performance gained from having an EGR? Or was it entirely emissions related, already in the 80s?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

In my opinion, designers of emissions systems will add fluff verbiage to the device's description to hopefully convince the buyer not to remove it. I've seen no ill effects thus far.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Additionally I can understand wanting to keep an engine bay 100% original. I totally get that. That is why I keep all original parts I remove from the engine. It can be reinstalled later.

[@hanseich]

@@ImpalamansGarage great. I’ll remove it, and for now on, both you and I will just meet with our W123s on offroad tracks. LOL.

[@razmigtanashian]

I'm thinking of buying this kit as well, but just wondering how is it that the exhuast plug doesn't just fly out when the car is running? Does it flare out and grab against the walls of the exhuast hole?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Yes. It is a tight fit. You will want to tap it in so that the edge of the plug is slight below the top of the whole but don't go to deep. Also keep in mind that an exhaust system pressure really isn't that high - only around 3 to 5 PSI. (20 to 30 kpa) The exhaust has a huge hole to go out through already taking the path of least resistance.

[@greenagoo]

Is this reversible so I can go through emissions every 2 years? My state sucks

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I don't see why not. Just be careful about removing stuff as not to break it. I would talk to someone at the emissions testing place. Sometimes older cars that are not driven much do not have to be tested. PA is like that.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Also I'd like to see a modern emissions station detect the difference between an EGR equipped OM617 and a deleted one. I'm calling BS that they can do that. Go take a look at the Motortrend Retro Review of the Mercedes 300 SD and watch the massive plume of smoke from the tail pipe as they run it through the paces.

[@greenagoo]

@@ImpalamansGarage Good to know. I'll have to look into it. DEQ here is dumb (Oregon) but not as bad as some places. Might just send it and hope for the best. Any power you can get on these things makes a difference I feel lol

[@NordicDan]

6:50 man I'm too OCD about getting that nastiness outta there. I'd either get that manifold hot tanked or blast through as many cans of throttle body cleaner as it takes! Also I wonder if, for extra insurance it would be wise to retain that exhaust manifold clamp and secure a washer or a small machined disc over the exhaust plug. Could even laser etch the Mercedes insignia onto it LOL

[@ImpalamansGarage]

The plug won't come out. Only reason to cover it would be for esthetics.

[@NordicDan]

@@ImpalamansGarage Fancy Mercedes insignia.....

[@ryankc9oza118]

Hes got great stuff

[@rb.867]

I contacted Doomsday Diesel and he said you should always remove the intake and give it a good cleaning because power is lost due to restricted air flow when it’s loaded with carbon and oil deposits

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I thought of doing that honestly. Then I thought how much of a PITA it would be and said nah..... lol

[@rb.867]

I thought the same thing,LOL

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

Great info. 👍

[@deletedaccount612]

Shame they had to put on EGR’s. I have a 05 Jetta BEW TDI and the intake was completely blocked with soot, I would suggest cleaning it as much as you can as you will get a MPG boost. I gained 4mpg for simply cleaning out my egr and upper intake, still need to clean the rest of the intake but didn’t have time or patience to deal with the rusted out clamps and corroded screws.

[@wernerdanler2742]

Nice job man! You could'a sprayed that inlet out with some brake cleaner or something similar. It would probably smoke for a bit but hey, it's a diesel.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I wiped it out a little off camera. Decided not to film it. I was just glad to get the stupid thing off my car.

[@wernerdanler2742]

@@ImpalamansGarage You know, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that crap hasn't coated the whole inside of the manifold obstructing the air flow to the engine pretty badly. I bet if you, when you get around to it, take that manifold off you will get a ton of that crap out of it. What do you think?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

@@wernerdanler2742 We are on the same page. I'd like to clean it out. I'd suspect the whole inside of the manifold is coated in carbon.

[@kevinblanchard611]

@@ImpalamansGarage I've been putting this off because of the lousy kits out there. Thanks for the determination. I'm sure the intake mani is a mess I can't wait to yank mine and pour some lighter fluid in it and burn all that crap out of it!

[@hanseich]

Not only the manifold, but also around the valves and the valve seats. It’s nasty. I’ve seen it on a VW, must be the same here too.

[@bonzaibarty]

Should of used anti seize on the 2 bolts

[@chrisbourgeois175]

@Impalaman's Garage I wouldn't call the Custom Monogram, amateurish! Wink wink! LOL

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Yeah someone gave me the idea!

[@ryankc9oza118]

Would you be able to do a quick video on your vacuum capping? I'm going to be installing this kit

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I have some old footage that I never put into a video and I have the vacuum diagram documentation. Should be about to put something together.

[@ryankc9oza118]

@@ImpalamansGarage thanks. Your channel is helping me work on my 300sd

[@peterkok2528]

Yeah curious to see where and how you capped your vacuum, especially on a automatic transmission model

[@ImpalamansGarage]

@@peterkok2528 I made a subsequent video on that. Check out the next one in the video list.

[@rb.867]

Can you measure it please??

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Hard to get down there on the engine and measure but I got a tape measure down there and it appears to be about an inch. You could get 2 or 3 sizes and try each.

[@rb.867]

Okay Thankyou very much!

[@hanseich]

I’ll have to find a separate plug as well, as Lerms’ website is offline. I’ll just measure it with some calipers. Very helpful to know they are called freeze plugs. Didn’t know that at first.

[@FreeYourBrains]

why in the world would not change that bad design air filter housing with a simple K&N filter, I don't know.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I ran K&N on a couple of other cars for years. They're junk. There is a reason they breath more air: They don't filter as much. That is basically it. All they do is end up pulling in more dirt and ruining an engine. As far as the power increase goes, it is inconsequential. Finally there is the longevity verses cost aspect. The cleaning solution and re-charge oil is overly expensive compared to simple replacement filters.... not to mention the cost of ruined cylinder bores. Do yourself a favor and run regular filters.

[@johnbower5732]

I don't understand what you did with all the vacuum lines from the 3/2 valve on the valve cover. Can you draw a diagram or give a detailed explanation please? Thanks Red....and don't call me a dumbass. Lol

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Have you watched this one yet regarding vacuum? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jauXkJiDp7-eb9E

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Check out that other video and send me an email if you have a question.