Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-29-2014, 03:00 AM   #21
Bronze Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 48
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

interesting...

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde ... 255AATAe3O

It may be years before the long term effects of using B5+ are known - but I personally would avoid it's use.
bobcat66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 03:06 AM   #22
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 178
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

I guess we over here in my part of Canada are really deprived--no Biodiesel around here as far as I can determine. I just fill up at the same pumps as the 18 wheelers! I guess Stateside there are a lot of rules and regs re fuel we dont have, YET!!! I noted that Davydd said to keep the engine oil "topped up". I guess that mean close to full. If overfilled one gets a warning "HI" which means overfilled--at least in my older rig anyway.
Fastpaddler1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2014, 04:09 AM   #23
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,913
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

Actually with the biodiesel, they are concerned with the level getting too high from fuel getting into the oil during the DPF regeneration. Fuel diluted oil is not good for engines.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 04:22 AM   #24
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Kansas City, Ks. Suburb
Posts: 896
Send a message via Yahoo to bobojay
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

Quote:
Originally Posted by booster
Actually with the biodiesel, they are concerned with the level getting too high from fuel getting into the oil during the DPF regeneration. Fuel diluted oil is not good for engines.
Correct, this is the whole issue. The bio diesel itself is not going to damage the engine unless the sump gets too much fuel in it from over aggressive & numerous DPF regens. That's why MB's spec sheet says if you use B10 to 20 multiple times, to keep an eye on your oil level
__________________
Bob & Sharon
2019 Winnebago Travato K (2018 Chassis)

Past RV's: 2013 WGO ERA 70A, Chevy PW Lexor
Itasca Navion, 29' Jayco 5th Wheel
bobojay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 01:32 PM   #25
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,913
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

Minnesota just passed the 10% rule for biodiesel. Lots of folks with concerns, it appears, according to an article in the daily paper. It will 5% in the winter due to gelling issues. Like the MB documentation listed, they talked about a lot of things beyond the oil dilution, such as corrosion, filter plugging, emission stuff plugging, etc. On thing that came up in all the articles I have seen was related to the fact that they say the biodiesel does not age well, which could be a factor for the RVs that sit a lot, when compared to daily use or commercial vehicles. We have the same issues with ethanol laced gas, so hopefully they will have a biofuel preservative like we use for the ethanol gasoline.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2014, 06:11 PM   #26
Platinum Member
 
Davydd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 5,963
Default Re: Biodiesel - MB Sprinter Warranty

As of July 1 it is officially 10% biodiesel. The comments are starting to come in the editorial pages of the newspaper.

Does this mean every trip I start out I have to drive over to Hudson, Wisconsin for my first fill? I imagine I will only put in enough diesel to get to the state border only if I have to since almost all my B trips go out of state.
__________________
Davydd
2021 Advanced RV 144 custom Sprinter
2015 Advanced RV Extended body Sprinter
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter
2005 Pleasure-way Plateau TS Sprinter
Davydd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 05:37 PM   #27
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Tempe AZ
Posts: 7
Default

Thank you for this discussion, has there been any new developments in the past couple of years?
I live in the Phoenix area and have only found B20 in my area. Does anyone know of B5 sources in Arizona or how to locate them?

Thanks!
DutchMountain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 06:40 PM   #28
Bronze Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 24
Default

Are you saying you want to use B5?
classbbud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 07:49 PM   #29
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 251
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchMountain View Post
Thank you for this discussion, has there been any new developments in the past couple of years?
I live in the Phoenix area and have only found B20 in my area. Does anyone know of B5 sources in Arizona or how to locate them?

Thanks!
I spent the winter in Mesa. How did you determine the B% of diesel there? I didn't see it marked on pumps I used.
__________________
2015 RT CS with E-Trek
obgraham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 09:08 PM   #30
Bronze Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 24
Default

According to this website, there are only seven stations within a 25 mile radius of Phoenix that carry biodiesel. Alternative Fuel Fill Stations and Prices
classbbud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 10:12 PM   #31
Platinum Member
 
Davydd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 5,963
Default

It is my understanding that biodiesel up to B5 the pumps don't have to be labeled biodiesel. Over B5 up to B20 the pumps are labeled but there is no percentage given. I know everyone panics over that, especially in Minnesota where B20 is allowed, but I found out the only biodiesel in the Minnesota market is B10.

I have attended presentations by Mercedes Benz reps a couple of times now and they don't seem overly worried about B20. Yeah I know what their boilerplate warranty stuff says. Their advice is watch oil levels carefully and change oil more frequently than the maintenance intervals. At the same time their service intervals have gone from 10,000 miles to 20,000 miles. Until such time someone says their warranty is voided because they used biodiesel I am not worried either. I haven't seen such on any RV board.
__________________
Davydd
2021 Advanced RV 144 custom Sprinter
2015 Advanced RV Extended body Sprinter
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter
2005 Pleasure-way Plateau TS Sprinter
Davydd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2016, 11:08 PM   #32
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Tempe AZ
Posts: 7
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by classbbud View Post
According to this website, there are only seven stations within a 25 mile radius of Phoenix that carry biodiesel. Alternative Fuel Fill Stations and Prices
Could those must be 100% biodiesel? Even the Pilot stations show B20 blend on the web but I called them and they said it depends on the time of year. So that may explain the signs with B20 as it may be a maximum. Most of the time the folks maning the stations are unsure.
DutchMountain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 02:50 PM   #33
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 299
Default

It's interesting how diesel is becoming more and more complicated (IMO) with the DEF and now biodiesel questions and state regulations. Might be much to do about nothing but spending that kind of money on a van and having states changing regs it reminds of leaded and unleaded gas. Also, I lived through small outboard motor issues with the ethanol changes; not fun especially when going down to the boat, loaded up and not able to start the motor... Good times indeed. Stabil solved the problem because the boat was only used on weekends it caused problems. The comments about RV's not being used all the time and having issues with diesel sitting in the tanks sounds similar. Do they have Stabil style diesel additives?

Given the premium price over gas engines there seems to be more and more reasons to just stay with a gasser. Not as cool as a diesel at cocktail parties but it seems to be making a lot more sense to me. I have heard Mercedes may introduce a gas Sprinter; that would be a nice alternative and given the Ford and ProMaster options it makes sense that they should.
Keyne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 04:03 PM   #34
Bronze Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 24
Default

"The comments about RV's not being used all the time and having issues with diesel sitting in the tanks sounds similar. Do they have Stabil style diesel additives? "

I use PRI-D.
classbbud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 04:10 PM   #35
Platinum Member
 
Davydd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 5,963
Default

Gas or diesel never entered into my equation. I bought the Class Bs that most appealed to me and they happened to be diesel Sprinters. There was no choice.
__________________
Davydd
2021 Advanced RV 144 custom Sprinter
2015 Advanced RV Extended body Sprinter
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter
2005 Pleasure-way Plateau TS Sprinter
Davydd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 04:32 PM   #36
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,380
Default

It is interesting that some people seem to get obsessed with what type of engine is in the van instead of focusing primarily on all the other stuff that will have more impact on how much they will like actually using the van...

I bought a used Roadtrek diesel Sprinter because it was a good choice for our needs at a good price with the engine being a secondary factor at best...
gregmchugh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 06:19 PM   #37
New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Tempe AZ
Posts: 7
Default

There doesn't seem to be as much of a reason to go with diesel these days except for potential longevity. I chose my GWV for the floor plan: large wet bath, large refrig, roomy kitchen and great flex storage behind and under. the couch. But I wanted the Sprinter with all the safety features that were not widely available from Class B upfitters at the time: Blind spot assist, collision warning, breaking assist, lane departure warning, and even the auto headlights. Hopefully all RVs will include these soon.
DutchMountain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 06:43 PM   #38
Site Team
 
avanti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,321
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchMountain View Post
Hopefully all RVs will include these soon.
I'm sure they will. The problem is that by then there will be another generation of safety and convenience features that will become objects of desire. IMO, that is the tragedy of GWV's demise. They seem to have been the only non-custom upfitter that offered top quality and high-end features without coupling them with over-the-top luxury finishes and doodads.

To avoid thread-hijack:
I, too, was indifferent between diesel and petrol. Like the others who have commented, I just wanted the right layout in a cost-effective package. Whether gas or diesel is "better" varies over time with fuel prices and the state of the ever-evolving emissions technologies. It rarely drifts far from a flip-of-the-coin.
__________________
Now: 2022 Fully-custom buildout (Ford Transit EcoBoost AWD)
Formerly: 2005 Airstream Interstate (Sprinter 2500 T1N)
2014 Great West Vans Legend SE (Sprinter 3500 NCV3 I4)
avanti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 07:02 PM   #39
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 299
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregmchugh View Post
It is interesting that some people seem to get obsessed with what type of engine is in the van instead of focusing primarily on all the other stuff that will have more impact on how much they will like actually using the van...

I bought a used Roadtrek diesel Sprinter because it was a good choice for our needs at a good price with the engine being a secondary factor at best...
A lot of the floor plans are very similar so if you have a choice between a gas or diesel in the same floor plan and even from the same manufacturer (e.g. 59G or K from WGO in gas or diesel) then the choice makes sense. All things being equal they could choose and actually enjoy the van more by not buying a diesel given the other variables with a diesel (cost, local regs, etc.). I find it fascinating on this forum that a simple questions gets seen as obsession. It seems to me people are coming here to inquire and learn to make their own choices not obssess. LOL
Keyne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2016, 07:59 PM   #40
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,913
Default

As much as the diesel or gas shouldn't really make a difference, and doesn't to many people, it actually did to me, but not for any of the more common reasons.

I do nearly all the repairs and service on all our vehicles, which is a very big monetary saving for us, as we keep our vehicles a long time. That makes the practicality of being able to do the same with a new vehicle pretty important. I don't know a lot about diesel service, or have any of the necessary tools or test equipment, but all of that could be learned or purchased, within reason. But would be quite expensive for only one vehicle. At the time we were looking at class B's, about all there was for diesels were the MB models, and I think that slanted things more toward the gas than other things, again based on service and repair. At the time, there were lots of things I found that I just didn't care for, like lots of proprietary stuff so locked into dealer testing, extremely expensive parts with little in the aftermarket, non rebuildable rear axles and transmissions, and to some extent also the engines, etc. If a gas model had the same things come up, it would also have been out for us.

Now, with some other diesels becoming available, things might be different for us, but we are happy with what we have so not even checking it out.

Sometimes the gas/diesel decision is not really based on gas or diesel, as was mentioned by others in relation to floor plans, etc, and that can include a coincidental relation between a diesel and it's manufacturer's prices and policies.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 08:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.