Forum Discussion

ernie1's avatar
ernie1
Explorer
Nov 16, 2022

2018 Sprinter has tendency to overfill on fill up

My 2018 rv built on a 2017 Mercedes Sprinter chassis will periodically spew diesel out of the fill spout because it is overfilled and the nozzle doesn't shut off. If I'm not close enough to the vehicle to grab the filler hose and shut it off, it will continue probably until the service station's tank is totally emptied. To be clear, I'm not bumping the filler lever to maximize the fill. The nozzle's lever to provide an automatic fill is in the latched position and it is supposed to unlatch when the tank has reached the proper level. I've even tried using the slower fill position on the filler nozzle but I still have the same results. Another point is that this problem has presented itself even when the vehicle was new so it's not an issue with it. There were a couple of incidents where I was monitoring the fill by keeping my hand on the filler lever and the diesel came pouring out anyway.

What I have also noticed is the problem happens more frequently in rural areas where I think the local agencies that are monitoring these stations are not doing their jobs and allowing them to use faulty equipment.

My purpose for this posting is to ask if others that have a similar vehicle if they are or have experienced this problem.
  • I always set the trigger lock on the first notch, lowest flow possible. I do not leave the nozzle alone, I stay with it. I avoid the large diesel nozzles like the plague, I use the auto diesel pumps with the smaller nozzle.

    I had a Winnebago View on a 2006 T1N Sprinter chassis (the 5 cyl model) and yes, you had to watch it. I do the same with my '03 RAM 2500, fill it slow as possible and listen for it to come up in the filler neck, and use the auto fuel pumps.

    Charles
  • Mine shuts off automatically at $100 so I never come near filling it!





    In reality I do what Charles does unless there's no place at the auto's islands, or I want to use the truckers squeegee.
  • mines a older one never had that happen ,I,ve never used the truckers lane.but fill wide open on the hold open .
  • Tvov's avatar
    Tvov
    Explorer II
    A lot of aftermarket commercial bodied trucks have a similar issue. I had a 1987 F350 dump truck that I would lift the bed in order to fill the tanks... otherwise I had to "trickle fill" it and listen for the sound of the tank filling up, and check the fuel gauge to see if it was all the way full.

    This is usually due to the path that the fuel filler tube took due to the custom body. At fuel pumps, you may notice contractors carefully filling their custom bodied work trucks, it is annoyingly common.

    With my F350 it had nothing to do with the fuel pump or fuel nozzle.

    You might be able change the location or rebuild the fuel fill tube on your camper.

    Otherwise you may be stuck just trying to fill carefully.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    It happens with my DP too..... one method of minimizing the spillage is to make a few wraps of paper towels ( usually found at teh pump) around the nozzle before inserting it into the filler tube.