Fuel for Thought

One Of Those Breakable Parts

After my original vehicle warranty ran out I started doing my own oil and fuel filter changes. Knowing what I know about Sprinters now, I would be doing my own service from Day One. The hardest part is figuring out how to get to the fuel filter. Online tutorials make it a piece of cake. With the right tools on hand it only takes me about a minute to have access to the fuel filter. The first time I had to remove the fuel water sensor from the fuel filter I knew I would eventually break one, somehow.

I will do an oil change in any parking lot, but I really try to be close to home or a shop when I’m doing the fuel filter in the remote case that I break something like the water sensor (in reality there is very little that can go wrong). I also ordered an extra water sensor just in case, and I’ve been carrying the same one for about six years. I finally needed it earlier this week.

Last week’s super cold weather compiled enough symptoms to convince me to have the van looked at. On the way across Michigan to Hoekstra’s in Grand Rapids, I decided to change the fuel filter to make sure it wasn’t contributing to the performance issues. Probably a combination of cold temperature and old plastic helped me snap off one of the mount tabs. As I contempted the likelihood that the sensor would stay in place with a broken tab (more than likely it wouldn’t need that tab), I remembered the extra sensor. Easy replacement, easy decision.

I’ll keep the sensor in benchstock along with extra belts, pulleys, and tensioner.

eb