Mercedes Diesel Sprinter motorhome

See the link below regarding MB saying you CAN use B20 fuel in your Sprinter.
https://mercedes-benz.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/10832/0/filename/Illinois+biodiesel+brochure_Final.pdf

We have had our 24V since Aug 2014 and we now have 49,000 miles on it. The only problem we have had was 2 Nox sensors which were replaced under warranty. Easiest oil change I have ever done, and the oil is on sale at NAPA at least once a year for $5.49 a quart (Mobil 1 or Valvoline Synpower). I'm sure other oils meet the Mercedes specs but they have not paid to have them tested and approved.

In Oregon there are 4 Mercedes sprinter dealers that have sprinter mechanics, so this can be a problem for some but since we have family in the Salem area we go to Salem even tho it is 260 miles on way.

As far as Bio-diesel, you can use bio-diesel as long as it is B-5, or if it says bio-diesel without a B rating it is okay also.

Hope this helps.

Haven't there been concerns relative to fueling the MB with biodiesel? In other words, biodiesel not allowed, but pumps in not so many words state they may contain a biodiesel blend without specifically stating one way or another? I saw this at the forestriver.com forums under the sprinter forum.

HawkTX wrote:
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.

People have a real tendency to get wrapped up in their shorts on some things. Yes, MB has a specific oil spec that they require. Is the oil sometimes hard to find - yes. I believe the spec is now MB 229.52. You can get this oil from NAPA or you can order online. Not a big deal. And a lot of the OP's are correct - pull into a MB dealer for issues on the Class C and they will turn you away as they are not equipped to service most issues and generally do not have doorways and lift ceilings set up to handle class C's. However, if you do a search for Sprinter dealers / service, you will find a listing of BOTH MB and Freightliner dealers across the US that are authorized service centers. I carry a copy of this in my rig, plus have it stored on my phone for reference, if needed.

Chassis porn!!!! lol

pnichols wrote:
Now for off-topic grins .... someone maybe should show the underside of a Ford E350 or Chevy 3500. ;)

Ewww. :)

Now for off-topic grins .... someone maybe should show the underside of a Ford E350 or Chevy 3500. ;)

Call it what you like, but when you cannot remove the cab, or firewall/cowl/floor whatever, from the frame because it is welded together it is generally considered unibody. Everything painted white is one huge inseparable piece, just as is the cutaway cab and chassis on a View/Navion, etc. You can see the step well, lower half of the door pillar, RH seat mounting box. Its basically just a cutaway cab they left a bunch of major pieces off of.

In autos there is a spot welded "frame" added to the body, and yes the body carries the load, but that is impossible here. Look under a regular Sprinter van (which is unibody) and you find a very similar looking frame welded to the body.

Here is a 2006 3500 undersides. Basically the same frame rails, sans the upper cap, they welded the lower channel of the ladder frame to the bottom of the van body.

Its all about parts interchangeability, make as much stuff interchange as possible, fewer special parts to make.



Charles

CharlesinGA wrote:

Dakzuki wrote:
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.

Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.

This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.

http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg



Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.

Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.

Charles

That is not a unibody. The scuttle area is likely stressed sheet metal primary structure but you are looking at a ladder frame.

Dakzuki wrote:
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.

Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.

This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.

http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg



Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.

Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.

Charles