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Dodge Sprinter Maintenance

85 messages,  Last post on Apr 16, 2013 at 5:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Sprinter, Engine, Van

Messages Page 1 of 9

#1 of 85 Sprinter Maintenance by green_hornet

Mar 11, 2007 (2:03 pm)

We're considering an RV based on a Sprinter van - can anyone list typical maintenance & intervals for the first 100K? Of note is oil specs, capacity, transmission maintenance (filter/fluid only, I hope). Are the oil filters difficult to get? I'm not a commercial mechanic, but I'm familiar with diesels, turbos, and maitain our family vehicles to a typical 200+kmi and want to make sure if we get this RV that we maintain it well.

#2 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [green_hornet] by kurt6

Mar 11, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: green_hornet (Mar 11, 2007 2:03 pm)
To answer all your question go to fl-sprinter or dodge website maintenance (you need Adobe Reader 6.0)
 
Any Sprinter dealer has oil filters at $9 each.I execute myself all maintenance and service on my Sprinter,however stay away from any transmission service,you need special Mercedes training and equipment.According to Mercedes recomendation you need one lifetime transmission service at 80K cost between $300-$400.

#3 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [kurt6] by green_hornet

Mar 11, 2007 (9:01 pm)

Replying to: kurt6 (Mar 11, 2007 8:08 pm)
Thanks - I see the reference in the manuals on the tranny maintenance, too. And it took awhile to get to the oil specs. Easy to find the weights, but most european mfrs have a non-SAE methods of specifying their oil quality. Nice enough, though, they put a list of qualified oils in the Dodge Owner's Manual. Is there an easy way to clear the maintenance light without paying Doge $50?

#4 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [green_hornet] by kurt6

Mar 11, 2007 (10:14 pm)

Replying to: green_hornet (Mar 11, 2007 9:01 pm)
<<<<<Is there an easy way to clear the maintenance light without paying Doge $50?>>>>>
 
Key in position 2 press mil button two times,turn key back to position 0,press mil button again one time hold and turn key back to position 2 again,keep holding key for 10 second and U've clear maintenance record.Remember operation must be completed in fast 15 second.
 
Oil:Myself always looking for a bargain I found the best deal at Wal-Mart,inhouse full 100% syn 10-30 10q $25 pluss $9 filter and U've saved $100 from any Sprinter service shop.(Wal-Mart do not know your location???)
 
Remember 2 very importune facts,do "NOT" losse copper washer on drainplug and place big O ring in provided gruff.Big O ring is sealing on "OD" not on compression against bottom flange.

#5 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [green_hornet] by kenbaker

Mar 13, 2007 (12:13 pm)

Replying to: green_hornet (Mar 11, 2007 9:01 pm)
SAE CI-4+ is the designation you are looking for, fully synthetic is required if you are looking for the ASSYST system to calculate miles til next change.
 
It is becoming more and more evident according to users of the vans and others with the same automatic transmission that you would want to check the transmission fluid level once in a while (not just waiting until 80K miles) and that the first change should be earlier (say 40-60K miles).
 
Finally, you should expect to change fluid at 60K intervals forever as well.
 
No, this is NOT required, but it seems to be best advice, especially for the higher loads of an RV chassis.
 
Thanks,
KenB

#6 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [kurt6] by kenbaker

Mar 14, 2007 (8:52 am)

Replying to: kurt6 (Mar 11, 2007 10:14 pm)
to amplify what kurt6 is saying... the o-rings seal the filter/holder the correct way for o-rings: on the cylindrical surface of the part they slip into, so "tightening" of the cap/filter/holder into the filter holder is NOT necessary or recommended. All you are doing is screwing it in CAREFULLY, and stopping when it bottoms out. NO torque or "partial turns after touching" are required.
 
I have just found that the correct oil for 2007 diesels will probably have to be CJ-4 (replaces CI-4+) in order to be compatible with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF - a catalyst-like self-regenerating section of the exhaust system.
 
On a side not, My beloved Sprinter (dad's "baby" says my daughter) was savaged yesterday while parked in the lot at my work place... someone cut out the muffler section, pipe/resonance chambers/mufflers, and drove off with the section... Presumably they though it had catalysts and that they could sell it for salvage (about US$90 at recyclers in OKC, OK).
 
Replacement cost will be about US$1300...
 
KenB

#7 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [kenbaker] by green_hornet

Mar 14, 2007 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: kenbaker (Mar 14, 2007 8:52 am)
Bummer about the resonator...is it covered by insurance? And thanks for the info. I assume much of it will be in our manual when we pick ours up this weekend. The excitement builds...our checklist is already four pages long!

#8 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [green_hornet] by kenbaker

Mar 15, 2007 (8:39 am)

Replying to: green_hornet (Mar 14, 2007 9:15 pm)
all is covered... I still can't afford to lose the value/use of my van since it is so new...
 
The resonator I refer to is on the exhaust side (the "muffler" is the muffler, a resonator chamber, and a particle filter I think)... This is ONE BIG PART, Dodge #5119 762AA in the PDF of 2004 Sprinter parts as found on the Berry Dodge site. One part US$1000+...
 
Checklist? of questions? of curiosities? Please share it sometime...
 
KenB

#10 of 85 Re: Sprinter Maintenance [kenbaker] by green_hornet

Mar 16, 2007 (11:39 am)

Replying to: kenbaker (Mar 15, 2007 8:39 am)
Our 'acceptance' or 'delivery' checklist of items to check. We're probably gonna drive the delaer crazy, but we'll post our dealer experience when we're done. btw, the checklist is now 7 pages. As we think of things, we add them to the list, and have garnered an initial basis from ones available in a simple internet search. Can we post files? 7 pages is a long post. It's also for RV acceptance - so there's a lot more to check than an auto-van type list.

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