I didn’t notice the warning at the pump about B20 and to check the owner’s manual until after I had already completely filled the tank, I filled it 80% full with this stuff!
How is this going to affect the engine? I’m mentally preparing for the worst.
I’m also imagining: Should I siphon this out of my tank and put it into gas cans and advertise it for sale? It cost $105 🤦♀️😭 I’m imagining if I try to resell it for quite a bit less than that, I’d be helping someone out and they’d be helping me out to get rid of this. ☣️
Don’t worry man, just don’t do it again. If I remember correctly bio diesel has a little more oxygen in it than regular diesel. This can shorten the life of some rubber components in the fuel system, but that is over years not just one tank.
So I’m just a hobbyist mechanic (with a technical background though), but I absolutely wouldn’t worry about this.
Of course you should follow the guidelines from the manufacturer, but this is very far from using super vs diesel, for example.
I would just drive with that tank, no questions or worry.
As I said, just an amateur opinion, though.
(Leaving a comment because my instance doesn’t let me see any of my posts unless there’s a comment.)
Try posting in https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php. Make sure you post in the correct “Talk” forum based on whether you have a T1N, NVC3, or VS30. That way you get the most accurate replies.
Thank you for the resource. also how do I find out the specifics of my vehicle (T1N, NVC3, or VS30)? Where would it be written anywhere under the hood? The owner’s manual that came with my vehicle when I bought it brand new is very generic and covers all different kinds of sprinters which pisses me off. My owner’s manual is not specific to my own specific vehicle.
which is what I’m dealing with right now because someone suggested I keep a new fuel filter on hand just in case, but I’ve got different options based on the specifics of my vehicle, All I know is that it’s a 2018 and I don’t even know if it’s a 4 cylinder or a 6 cylinder 🤦♀️ How do I determine if my vehicle is 4 or 6 cylinder?
You can use a VIN decoder to get a bunch of info about your vehicle, including the engine type. Here’s one hosted by the US NHTSA, but I think it will work even if you’re outside of the US:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vin-decoder
Basically, all the numbers and letters in your VIN aren’t random and actually mean something and you can cross reference them with various data tables to find out what they mean. A VIN decoder helps you do that.
Thank you! That gave me info that my vehicle is a SIX CYLINDER 🤪 Goofy face because I hate that I didn’t already know that. When I bought this vehicle, it came with no information whatsoever aside from a generic owner’s manual. Only someone who is a vehicle fanatic / mechanic would be able to know all the crucial details of this vehicle. So every time I have an issue I have to go to the internet and find people like you to tell me things about my own vehicle. Mercedes is ridiculous.
Here, I found this thread for what it’s worth:
SPOILER: The occasional tank of B20 is fine. Don’t worry about it.
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/116488/
Read the entire thread, but this comment is particularly informative:
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/116488/page-4#post-1357147
Original reply:
Go to the forums and look at the year ranges. They’re right in the forum secyion titles. A 2018 would be an NCV3.
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?forums/105/
Mention the year in the post and that you assume it’s an NCV3. They’ll correct you if it’s wrong. (For instance, 2006 had some overlap between the T1N and the NVC3).
THANK YOU!! 🙏
That’s an excellent write- up he did regardy Southern California converting to B20. I will follow his advice. If I have no choice but to use B20, I will keep a close eye on the oil level and do more oil changes and pay close attention to my fuel filter.
and ah yes the sprinter forum. I tried joining that years ago but they never sent a confirmation email. I voted in my list of passwords years ago. I have a login and everything and they still recognize me. still trying to get in! Technology clearly hates me.
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If you don’t know what it is, why even reply? A two second search would have told you that B20 is 20% biodiesel, and B5 is 5%. If Mercedes says “Don’t use B20”, then you shouldn’t use B20.
https://www.ezoil.com/resources-diesel-biodiesel-basics
The grades are for bio diesel.