Idle
- Thread starter horses2
- Start date
2005 models, the ones with the new EGR valves, you can idle those a long time. Days, even. It's best to use an idle stick and run the RPM's up to 1100-1200 or so, however. Just cut a piece of wood long enough to jam between the gad pedal (diesel pedal?) and the underside of the dash. You can also buy a for-real Idle Stick at many truck stops. I know most of the large TA's carry them. At an idle speed of 600-800 it's not good for even the new EGR valves, and the AC output will be at minimum at lower idle speeds. Alternator charging amps will be down at lower idle, as well.
Of course, at lower idle, the fuel consumption is just a third of a gallon per hour, and at 1200 RPM's it's about half a gallon per hour. Still better than the one gallon per hour that the other vans and big trucks get. Hah! hehe
Also be aware that at idle, especially at the lower speeds, but even at 1200 RPM's, after a few hours the exhaust will become thicker and blacker. After isling for a long time, like overnight or all day, when you first move out the exhaust will be like that of a city bus, very thick and black. But that dissipates after a few miles on the Interstate. It's just built up soot.
In addition, keep in mind that the brilliant minds at Mercedes had a brain fart when they designed the tail pipe, cause it's back under neath the van and it points straight down. Every camper conversion I've seen the tail pipe has been modified to shoot out the side. Shooting straight down has a couple of side effects One is, the underside of the van will get loaded with soot if you idle long and often. Not really a problem, though, as most of that gets blown of during regular highway driving. The problem comes in when some of the sooty exhaust gets trapped under the vehicle, and seeps up under the engine compartment, and gets sucked into the cabin air filter. Two things result. One is, you get soot coming in through the air vents, because the cabin air filter can't trap it all. The other is, the cabin air filter will become clogged with soot, because while it can't trap it all, it can certainly trap a whole bunch of it.
Be prepared to change the cabin air filter once a month, or every other month. If you have a clogged cabin air filter and fail to change it out, not only will the air output from the AC, heat and vents be nearly nothing, you run the risk of burning out the fan motor.
Changing the cabin air filter is very easy, though. And you can get them online for around $22, instead of $40 at the dealer.
So, idling really isn't a problem with the 2005 models, you just have to be aware of a few things if you do it.
Of course, at lower idle, the fuel consumption is just a third of a gallon per hour, and at 1200 RPM's it's about half a gallon per hour. Still better than the one gallon per hour that the other vans and big trucks get. Hah! hehe
Also be aware that at idle, especially at the lower speeds, but even at 1200 RPM's, after a few hours the exhaust will become thicker and blacker. After isling for a long time, like overnight or all day, when you first move out the exhaust will be like that of a city bus, very thick and black. But that dissipates after a few miles on the Interstate. It's just built up soot.
In addition, keep in mind that the brilliant minds at Mercedes had a brain fart when they designed the tail pipe, cause it's back under neath the van and it points straight down. Every camper conversion I've seen the tail pipe has been modified to shoot out the side. Shooting straight down has a couple of side effects One is, the underside of the van will get loaded with soot if you idle long and often. Not really a problem, though, as most of that gets blown of during regular highway driving. The problem comes in when some of the sooty exhaust gets trapped under the vehicle, and seeps up under the engine compartment, and gets sucked into the cabin air filter. Two things result. One is, you get soot coming in through the air vents, because the cabin air filter can't trap it all. The other is, the cabin air filter will become clogged with soot, because while it can't trap it all, it can certainly trap a whole bunch of it.
Be prepared to change the cabin air filter once a month, or every other month. If you have a clogged cabin air filter and fail to change it out, not only will the air output from the AC, heat and vents be nearly nothing, you run the risk of burning out the fan motor.
Changing the cabin air filter is very easy, though. And you can get them online for around $22, instead of $40 at the dealer.
So, idling really isn't a problem with the 2005 models, you just have to be aware of a few things if you do it.
60MPH
Expert Expediter
well I don't have a sprinter but my duramax comes from the factory with the high idle switch set at 1200rpm, I thought it was a bit high so I called the dealer and they said they could turn it down to any rpm above idle I wanted, but none of the techs could tell me what to set it at. they said if gm set it at 1200 at the factory thats probley where you should leave it. I have noticed when you idle it to 1200rpm with the switch on about 10 mins. or so the clutch fan will in engauge and will stay on until you turn the switch off I have also noticed that the coolant temp runs about 5 degrees higher than it does running down the road "still under 210 degrees" which is safe from what the techs told me and the a/c works a whole lot better with it idled up. as for fuel consumption I burn about 1/2 gallon at idle and about .8 to .9 of a gallon at 1200 rpm hopes this helps
60 MPH ALL DAY-EVERY DAY
60 MPH ALL DAY-EVERY DAY