My 2005 Sprinter update

[KenOVM]

Fast approaching 75,000 miles and no problems to report. Its alittle disturbing when I meet up with others and they ask:
"have you changed this", "has that broke down", "any trouble with that"!

It makes some wierd noises sometimes but nothing persistent. I figure its just the norm. You know those little noises most vehicles make?

The pundits said fuel mileage would go up when the engine broke in Maybe thats the norm for North American diesels, I am guessing MB's don't do this? still getting 22-24 MPG's

[KenOVM]

Been almost a year since I posted the first update...

Now at 194,000 and all is well ..no mechanical breakdowns no brake jobs just oil changes....still 22-24

[KenOVM]

239,000....and still going strong!!


about 49,000 miles in 3 1/2 months!!!

[Loose_Cannon47]

Been almost a year since I posted the first update...

Now at 194,000 and all is well ..no mechanical breakdowns no brake jobs just oil changes....still 22-24

I don't think I'd complain...at least it's consistant...and the "no mechanical breakdowns" is something
you can take to the bank...I guess they got all those initial bugs fixed...

Loose

[KenOVM]

yeah they got some bugs out and then they turn around and come out with a new design change out the engine and drive line for 2007...why do they do that!!!!

I am thinking of going back to gas for the next Sprinter....

[wshort]

What, switch to gas and miss out on paying 50-60 cents more
a gallon for diesel.....

[KenOVM]

The new 6 cylinder diesel is only getting about 21-22 mpgs where as the gas is around 20mpgs....it doesn't make sense to have diesel. the price / gallon is usually lower except midsummer.

[Loose_Cannon47]

Probably won't get the lifespan out of the gas motor as opposed to the diesel...not an issue if yer planning
on getting rid of it while the warranty is still good...

Loose

[wshort]

[quote="KenOVM"]The new 6 cylinder diesel is only getting about 21-22 mpgs where as the gas is around 20mpgs....it doesn't make sense to have diesel. the price / gallon is usually lower except midsummer.[/quote

A lot of the van drivers I talked to were only getting around
17mpg in gas vans, think my daughter gets about 12mpg in hers.
Everything in a diesel costs more to maintain and replace,
would think gas engine would be the way to go in a van, have
heard of guys getting 500,000 miles out of them too.

[KenOVM]

" A lot of the van drivers I talked to were only getting around
17mpg in gas vans, think my daughter gets about 12mpg in hers.
Everything in a diesel costs more to maintain and replace,
would think gas engine would be the way to go in a van, have
heard of guys getting 500,000 miles out of them too."

A sprinter? I was thinking gas sprinter Walter.

My old 99 dodge van 3/4 ton with the 318 is out here and still running .at almost 600,000 miles and runs like a charm!

[Loose_Cannon47]

My old 99 dodge van 3/4 ton with the 318 is out here and still running .at almost 600,000 miles and runs like a charm!

You can get that with a good maintenance routine, and frequent oil changes...most gas motors don't
get such good care...a good Class-8 motor would probably do 2 million under similar conditions...

Loose

[wshort]

" A lot of the van drivers I talked to were only getting around
17mpg in gas vans, think my daughter gets about 12mpg in hers.
Everything in a diesel costs more to maintain and replace,
would think gas engine would be the way to go in a van, have
heard of guys getting 500,000 miles out of them too."

A sprinter? I was thinking gas sprinter Walter.

My old 99 dodge van 3/4 ton with the 318 is out here and still running .at almost 600,000 miles and runs like a charm!

Isn't a sprinter just an oversized van with heavy duty parts?
Actually those things look a little scary with that extra height and
seemingly not wide enough track. Would be a little nervous
driving in a nasty crosswind.

[KenOVM]

They aren't even that Walter if one is running team the payload is reduced lower then a CV! About 22-2300lbs legally. The advantage is double stacking with 70" highth. and 3 full 48x48 skids. Its not about weight so much.

Yeah they tend to sway abit kinda like yours with that big braod side...They put on an undersized swaybar that can be replaced and the van settles right down nicely i am told. I have on the airtabs that really helps alot with that problem.

A Sprinter is not an entry market van for a novice...most lose thier preverbal shirts trying to maintain it...No money down BIG monthly payment and then find out thier carrier of choice has not enough loads to support it...

[KenOVM]

Turned 250,000 miles on the 9th so about 11,000 miles this month How many paid? I haven't a clue...Well I do but too lazy to look it up....*LOL*

[wshort]

Turned 250,000 miles on the 9th so about 11,000 miles this month How many paid? I haven't a clue...Well I do but too lazy to look it up....*LOL*

Damn Ken your catching up to me, mine is a 2005 model put in service
aug of 2004 with 310,000 miles or so on the odometer now, of course
have had some pretty major repairs done this year, at least $10K WORTH.

[KenOVM]

My engine light has come on 3 times in the last 10 days....so I am going into Tucson in the morning to have it put on the computer while it's still on to read the code....

I've lost about 2 miles a gallon the only thing I can figure is fuel filter or worse maybe an injector going bad....I've heard from other sprints that they've had some go south at in and around the 250 mark...I am at 259,000

[Loose_Cannon47]

Yea, 2 mpg is a bunch in that rig...hope it isn't too costly to get resolved...good luck, Ken...

Loose

[KenOVM]

90 bucks to read the code and 17 dollars tax...$107....Dealers....blah gotta wait for an hour or two. I should backcharge them waiting time!*L*

[Loose_Cannon47]

90 bucks to read the code and 17 dollars tax...$107....Dealers....blah gotta wait for an hour or two. I should backcharge them waiting time!*L*

Lets see...if they pay the mech $20, that leaves $70...do that times 4 or 5 and they've paid for the reader gizmo...
after that, it's all gravy...$17 tax?...jeesh, that's almost 18%...sounds like someone is gettin' screwed...hope they
find your problem...

Loose

[wshort]

No kidding, $107 for some twit to snap on a connector and read codes
on a laptop, damned thieves......
maybe I ought to invest in a bunch of readers and software at that
rate.
Would think they could standardize that stuff so one device could
read all with differing software for each engine of course.

[KenOVM]

hey....she beat me in here....faulty glow plug...did an injector flush and some little things....600 bucks.....and a fuel filter...

[KenOVM]

Hit a 20-30 mph head wind all the way across the desert so I can't tell if my mileage is any better.....

[KenOVM]

It's back....! Did about 562 miles from El Paso to San Antonio on a tank of fuel....26G tank. 23.3 mpg. Like money in the bank.

[KenOVM]

It may not be back....maybe just luck BUT fuel mileage is still down. Now I think I smell exhaust in the truck when sitting still....Think now it's an injector seal...seems others have been around the 250,000 mark when their seals went away.

[Loose_Cannon47]

It may not be back....maybe just luck BUT fuel mileage is still down. Now I think I smell exhaust in the truck when sitting still....Think now it's an injector seal...seems others have been around the 250,000 mark when their seals went away.

Yea, but the dealer feels better...he was able to get close to the bottom of your pocket...I suppose yer too far away to
take it back and demand that they actually fix it...if we did our jobs like that ("well, I THINK I got your freight delivered"),
we'd ALL be out of a job...

Loose

Loose

[KenOVM]

Other guys that own sprinters say a leaky seal does not set off the engine light. And glow plugs are another 250,000 mile obstacle.
BUT they should have check the injectors while they were under there.

[Loose_Cannon47]

Other guys that own sprinters say a leaky seal does not set off the engine light. And glow plugs are another 250,000 mile obstacle.
BUT they should have check the injectors while they were under there.

Yea, i didn't see where a faulty glow plug would affect the mileage...I thought those things only came on at start-up...
unless it was leaking around the thing...hope ou can get it fixed soon...

Loose

[KenOVM]

They did do an injector flush. Calling dealer 2morrow to see what they say....I am expecting something like: "You'll have to have our tech have a look at it...What time can you bring it in?

If I were a betting man I'd say it'll be the #5 injector, right up against the firewall and a real B to get out....any takers? :cool:

[Loose_Cannon47]

If I were a betting man I'd say it'll be the #5 injector, right up against the firewall and a real B to get out....any takers? :cool:

That's why I don't gamble...you can bet it will be the hardest one to get to...

Loose

[KenOVM]

Called the dealer...they can't get me in till Thursday afternoon...BUT I told him the story....He said if I am mechanically inclined...The top of the engine theres a plastic cover with 4 bolts. Take it off and if there is sludge and crap around the base of the injectors then yup that the problems...he also said that if I run too long that sludge hardens like rock and they have to chip it off. They have one now it's been 2 days off chipping. The good thing it's not like a gaser the fuel isn't leaking into the engine as some expect. So off to the garage/barn and remove a cover...and if I can start cleaning the goop out....to save some money.

[wshort]

I think these mechanics just keep replacing stuff til they find out what's
wrong, all to the tune of $105/hr for some dimwit.
I'm still waiting for my truck, oil leak is supposedly fixed, some
oil manifold leak, but the coolant leak they want $334 to replace that
stupid plastic overflow jug, $174 for the part rest for labor and
overpriced coolant (1 gal $22).
In the mean time going broke.....

[KenOVM]

*patting myself on back* Got that cover off and bingo the #1 injector is varnished over the other 4 look clean and new. Not much gunk in there so we'll go back to work and get it done in Marysville Ohio...good dealer there as well. Phew....feels kind good to be able to tinker abit! :D

[Loose_Cannon47]

Walter, that plastic thingy cost 75 cents to produce in China...hell of a mark-up...

Ken, can't ya just douche that injector with some spray cleaner?

Loose

[KenOVM]

334 bucks for an empty plastic jug? lordy be... :yikes:

[wshort]

334 bucks for an empty plastic jug? lordy be... :yikes:

Yeah owner said to hell with that would patch it himself.

[KenOVM]

Been busy today trying to get the damn thing started...after 2 days a arctic temps guess I shoulda run out a started it a couple times! But I didn't.
Put an electric heating pad over the injector system and my propane heater underneath and wrapped the front end with moving blankets and left it like that for about 4 hours.....bingo...it fired up! We are in service as of 8am this morning, heading east in the morning!

[Loose_Cannon47]

Good deal on the start-up, and congratulations on not burning it to the ground in the process...now go haul some freight...

Loose

[wshort]

Yeah see your nasty weather is heading our way shortly on top of
the vile temp change from yesterday to today almost a 40 degree drop.
Truck is still in the shop so not worrying about it being frozen solid
whilst waiting for a run, predicting 6 inches or more of snow by friday
not a pleasent outlook....
Owner has too much crap parked in parking lot for me to plug the
truck in, hopefully that will not be a problem and I get to escape over
the weekend......

[KenOVM]

I got a bad case of the "I don't wannas" this morning!

[wshort]

I got a bad case of the "I don't wannas" this morning!

I get those most every morning.....

[KenOVM]

Was at the dealer to-day...oh joy...turns out I have a bad oil separator and its blowing oil on the injector by the oil trail...and it is the glow plugs...not all bad news...will take 3-4 days to order them in....so we are back on the board for awhile....

[wshort]

Was at the dealer to-day...oh joy...turns out I have a bad oil separator and its blowing oil on the injector by the oil trail...and it is the glow plugs...not all bad news...will take 3-4 days to order them in....so we are back on the board for awhile....

Welcome to the bend over at the dealer's club.......

[KenOVM]

Glad it wasn't an injector...they are 550 bucks apiece!! Times 5=$2750

[wshort]

We've had 2 of the 6 replaced, luckily while it was still under warranty.

[KenOVM]

Can get a brand new engine for 12,000 with all new parts! The Sprinter engine comes complete...

[KenOVM]

Odometer hit 280,000 miles on the way home.

Had 4 good fill-ups MPG 23.7, 24.4 26.15 and 27.34!!! The 27 was in that storm where we never hardly got above 45 MPH....They are both all times high...:)

[wshort]

Odometer hit 280,000 miles on the way home.

Had 4 good fill-ups MPG 23.7, 24.4 26.15 and 27.34!!! The 27 was in that storm where we never hardly got above 45 MPH....They are both all times high...:)

I'm turning green with envy......lucky if I can get 8.5 out of this hog

[KenOVM]

that was with southern fuel...once I fueled up in the north the mileage dropped down to 21mpg's....seems winter treatment has been bumped up.

[wshort]

I think I must have fuel termites in my tank, get crappy mileage on all.

[KenOVM]

you've been mostly in the north thou...you find your mileage less then last year?

[wshort]

Hard to tell anymore as I can rarely afford a fillup to check it properly but
my guess is that I'm getting worse mileage than before, seems like I'm putting
a hell of a lot more fuel in than before. This thing really sucks going against the
wind as it's not very aerodynamic and it sure don't like going up long grades anymore
either.
Overall I would guess to say it's getting at least .5 mpg less than before.

[KenOVM]

Surprise,surprise..brake wear was only about 50% !!! But looks like rotors will wear before pads...Had the front end checked out, a little wiggle in one bottom ball joint everything else was tight and all bushings looked fine....tranny fluid was good....belts and hoses looked good....replaced a couple light bulbs and had old codes cleared properly...just a little over a 100 bucks!!

[wshort]

awfull expensive lightbulbs there.

[KenOVM]

Hey now there were 3 bulbs out!!! *L*

[KenOVM]

Going to turn 300,000 miles tomorrow...doing an average of about 25.59 mpgs with a high of 27.78 to a low 23.4 over 8,300 miles. And seems to be running well...

[Loose_Cannon47]

Sounds good...most of the class-7's are about due to be put out to pasture at 300k...your sprint will
likely hold on much longer...and put quite a bit more money in your pocket...

Loose

[KenOVM]

Unknown factor IS nobody really knows (over here) just how long these things will go...
I read over in Germany the Sprinters would go 600,000 before major service, they didn't say what exactly what major service includes....and I'd have to assume they mean kilometers. Which be about 360,000 miles.

[jack_Berry]

Going to turn 300,000 miles tomorrow...doing an average of about 25.59 mpgs with a high of 27.78 to a low 23.4 over 8,300 miles. And seems to be running well...

them air tabs must be working.


kenovm said
Which be about 360,000 miles. ------so sometime next week it has a blues mobile like moment?
__________________

[KenOVM]

them air tabs must be working.


kenovm said
Which be about 360,000 miles. ------so sometime next week it has a blues mobile like moment?
__________________

Airtabs, power service (the gray jug) and slowing down.

Hate waiting for that "major failure" to happen.

[KenOVM]

Talk about timing.....my turbo resonator(muffler) went south on the way to the dealer...still able to run just no boost pressure....

So ....Resonator, fuel filter, 2 struts, 2 lower ball joints, rotors, pads, brake sensors, repack bearings and an alignment almost 1600 bucks...with 316,911 miles all except fuel filter was original equipment!! I'll take it.
The pads he took off ended up only about 50% used up BUT had separated from steel and were starting to chip.....rotors were well wore out though.
He checked out my belts and hoses...drive train felt good he said...

:chug:Good to go!

[wshort]

Damn Ken you're catching up with me I've got 337215 miles on this 2005 International
that was put into service august 2004.

[KenOVM]

Damn Ken you're catching up with me I've got 337215 miles on this 2005 International
that was put into service august 2004.

So with all those miles, who drove that truck before you????[smilie=to funny.gi:

Well you had a lot of downtime...

[wshort]

So with all those miles, who drove that truck before you????[smilie=to funny.gi:

Well you had a lot of downtime...

Smartass.......

My ex son in law put about 16,000 miles on it before I took it over.....

[KenOVM]

You know if I didn't say it Loose sure would have!!!!

Blame it on the heat!!! :)

[wshort]

You know if I didn't say it Loose sure would have!!!!

Blame it on the heat!!! :)

You're right he would have, guess he must be driving or napping at the moment....

[wshort]

Oops forgot to add that the owner had some slackers in the truck at the end of 2005
when I was off for 4 months after my hernia operation, they put on about 20k miles at
best.
So around 300k miles with yours truly as Captain of the ship....

[KenOVM]

Don't forget the Captain also goes down with the ship!!!

Loose is probably in the mountains passing by Yellowstone....

[wshort]

Don't forget the Captain also goes down with the ship!!!

Loose is probably in the mountains passing by Yellowstone....

Well that's happened a few times already , but have managed to get her refloated
and sailing again thanks to the poor owners formerly deep pockets....

Loose probably mentioned food and got eaten by Yogi Bear in Yellowstone.....

[Loose_Cannon47]

Loose and Jean are at the TA in Boise...drove straight thru from the El Paso area last night...up the back
roads (short route)...we took the truck OOS so we can get some uninterrupted maintenance done in the
morning...we'll probably DH to Reno, unless something comes up in the meantime...

Loose

[Loose_Cannon47]

BTW, we've put 172,500 on the KW...since April of last year...

Loose

[eyecandy]

I saw that the Extended Sprinters have some space taken up by the duel wheels in the back. does that make much difference in loads that you can take? is it better to go a little less on Cargo weight to get that extra room? and the Extended Sprinters are 11,000 in cargo weight, so we have to keep a log right. and What is the difference in the Frieghtliner and Dodge Sprinters?