Common Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Maintenance Mistakes
With over a decade of experience, in performing conversions on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, we at HQ Custom Design are able to observe the pros and cons associated with using original OEM Mercedes-Benz parts versus cheap aftermarket products on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. Unfortunately by seeking a more affordable immediate alternative solution to maintenance, but with prolonged usage the potential damage can by far exceed all of the accumulating savings, and just end up costing significantly more later on. Within the following post, we list out some of the common mistakes have observed that owners / operators tend to look for alternatives when it comes to maintaining their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, and how these half-measures just end up costing more…
How to Approach Regular Maintenance on Your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is made using sophisticated and refined German engineering that requires both proper and timely maintenance to prolong the lifespan of your van. Each Sprinter van comes equipped with manufacturer suggested maintenance manual that any owner / operator should refer to, which could also be found and downloaded from the Mercedes-Benz website. While the Mercedes Sprinter is built to be reliable and to last, like any vehicle this is only achievable if issues are not neglected, not addressed via supposed half measures and that all maintenance or repairs are performed from a professional and Mercedes-Benz authorized mechanic.
Cutting Corners Maybe More Cost Effective, but Ends Up Costing More Later On
We at HQ Custom Design, we like to shed some light on our knowledge regarding not maintenance scheduling specifically, but how and why owners tend to cut corners when it comes to performing routine upkeep on their van. In terms of rationale, we understand and agree that mechanical parts and labor tend to be rather expensive when it comes to the dealership performing the work. Even more so, maintaining a similar vehicle such as a Ford Transit, Dodge ProMaster, or Chevy Express would end up costing less overall, however in terms of value and performance the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is unrivaled within the market.
Always Use Original Mercedes-Benz Oil and Fuel Filter When Performing an Oil Change
When it comes to oil changes for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, we cannot stress the vital importance of using original Mercedes-Benz oil, as it solely and specifically designed for the Sprinter’s diesel engine. In terms of consequences of choosing not to use original oil, this may easily result in your engine building up sludge. Such sludge will continue to accumulate around the interior flaps of engine to slowly start harming the performance to the point that it will cause the flaps to get stuck, therefore causing the engine to stop functioning altogether.
To be more direct here, in addition to using original oil, the fuel filter used should come from manufacturer as these are designed for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, and from a performance perspective these tend to work better than aftermarket products. In general compared to gasoline, diesel tends to contain more impurities, which makes ever so more important to remember to change the fuel filter, as can directly affect engine performance by not allowing enough fuel to pass through due to it clogging up.
Do Not Ignore Steering Wheel Vibrations
Furthermore, if the operator feels any sort of vibration on the steering wheel, this needs to be addressed immediately. Foremost, this could be caused from the tires that should be checked to ensure there are no damages to them, in addition to checking whether the tires are at proper pressure levels. Although, if the issue lies ends up lying within the front end of the vehicle then the Sprinter needs to visit a repair facility, as there could be more damage than maybe a simple fix, and choosing to be negligent instead this could end up inflating the underlying issue.
Aftermarket Brakes and Rotors Are Often Cause Heavy Vibrations on the Entire Sprinter Chassis
By the same token, when comes to changing the brakes and rotors, we tend to observe that owners use cheaper alternative aftermarket products that result in the brakes squeaking noise wise, overheating, and most cases brake dust can appear visible on the rims. Aftermarket brakes and rotors are the main cause of the entire Sprinter chassis heavily vibrating that ends up ruining the front end of the vehicle.
How HQ Informs our Clients on How to Approach Maintenance & Upkeep
For all our Mercedes-Benz Sprinter upfits and conversions, we remind our clients to vigilant of any issues surrounding their van and to communicate any problems to us immediately first and foremost before contacting a Mercedes-Benz dealership or another third party. We will be able to assess the issue and understand whether the underlying cause lies within our warranties, in addition to recommending and working with our clients to a specific repair facility. It is important to communicate with us throughout any outside repair process, as a dealership or another third party can easily cause additional issues attempting to solve whatever issues themselves without reviving our input and guidance prior to attempting to perform a repair.
To start building your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, please contact us via sales@hqcustomdesign.com, call us at 201-592-6939 or send us inquiry to start a conversation regarding your custom project!