Is it okay to leave the Interstate running for up to an hour? I trust the ac in the sprinter more than I do the generater in the conversion. I am talkingabout leaving it running while going into a store, etc. jim
My motorhome is not like yours, however, I would never trade running my CAT when I can run a 3 cylinder Kabota on the generator I really don't understand why you would 'mistrust' your conversion. If that's the case, I think I would hunt another.
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Is it okay to leave the Interstate running for up to an hour? I trust the ac in the sprinter more than I do the generater in the conversion. I am talkingabout leaving it running while going into a store, etc. jim
Hi Jim,
I've left my Sprinter idling with the air on for several hours at a time.......no problems with overheating or anything else. Just DO IT!!!
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Try that here in Texas and it will go to Mexico without you.
Not to mention it's illegal to leave your car with the keys in or running and unattended. I don't know about the Sprinters, but on the Ford diesels it'll cause some damage due to the egr system sooting up (from what I hear from other owners).
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Not to mention it's illegal to leave your car with the keys in or running and unattended. I don't know about the Sprinters, but on the Ford diesels it'll cause some damage due to the egr system sooting up (from what I hear from other owners).
That is true of the newer diesels but not the old first generation PSD's. One of the reasons I have one Dunno about the legality or illegality, I have two keys, one in the ignition when the engine is running the other in my pocket. BTW they are different.
Aaron
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You can even lock your keys in a running gasser and the load on the cooling system is so much lower than driving that it will run out of gas with not one bit of trouble. Unlike problems caused by frequent starts to earlier generation diesels, I have heard from several good sources that you will cause more problems leaving newer generation diesels running. So I would echo 62 overlander's opinion that the 'olde wisdom' no longer applies. Sounds like you need to make other plans if you leave your spouse or pet inside. Hmm... I never heard of a Sprinter pulling a toad ...
You can even lock your keys in a running gasser and the load on the cooling system is so much lower than driving that it will run out of gas with not one bit of trouble. Unlike problems caused by frequent starts to earlier generation diesels, I have heard from several good sources that you will cause more problems leaving newer generation diesels running. So I would echo 62 overlander's opinion that the 'olde wisdom' no longer applies. Sounds like you need to make other plans if you leave your spouse or pet inside. Hmm... I never heard of a Sprinter pulling a toad ...
Tow capacity for the van or class B Sprinter conversion is 5000lb. with 500 lb. tongue weight with or without WD. I see no reason why it can't tow a toad within the weight limits. Don't know WHY one would want to as the Sprinter is very manuverable in tight spots, but I guess it's a matter of preference.
__________________ Lew Farber -Certified Master RV Tech (currently on Forums sabbatical) WBCCI #1032/VAC (assoc) #1032 AIR # 10325 CHARTER MEMBER: FOUR CORNERS UNIT
Tow capacity for the van or class B Sprinter conversion is 5000lb. with 500 lb. tongue weight with or without WD. I see no reason why it can't tow a toad within the weight limits.
Want to see an interesting comparison? Find the EU Sprinter specs They are rated quite a bit higher for use over the pond. I suspect it may have a bit to do with the way the trailering/towing laws are written over there as well as the tort system limiting litigation. However, I have seen the Sprinters and sprinter type vehicles hauling some amazing loads in Europe.
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Don't know WHY one would want to as the Sprinter is very manuverable in tight spots, but I guess it's a matter of preference.
If I had one of the Winnebago MoHo's on the Sprinter chassis, I could see the possiblity of a toad. We have considered that route, with the toad being a Ford Focus wagon. BTW with the Sprinter in the MoHo configuration the towing is reduced to 3500#, IIRC it is in some cases with the conversions too.
Aaron
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It's not a good idea to let a diesel run at low idle , new or old, for extended periods . If you notice the truckers at rest stops that leave them running step them up to high idle , 1200-1500 RPM .
I have the model below. I let mine run while I unhitch and until I pull away from the trailer. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes. I do this to let the turbo booster have a chance to cool down after pulling a load before I shut it off. After my daily commute with no load on the turbo booster for 5-10 minutes or the last 7-8 miles from the interstate to my house I don't allow that cool down. I figure it has had that cool down in the last few minutes of the commute at lower speeds. I think unnecessary idling would put undue ware on the engine. If there is family or pets in my truck, I will let it idle for the A/C the same as I would my wife's gas Expedition. But for just a few minutes, not for an hour.
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I would not worry about leaving it running. If you plan to do it on a regular basis, I would add a Hobbs hour meter and check your maintainance requrirements.
The vehicle fleet I work with includes F250 Fords and GMC 2500HD trucks. They idle for 8-10 hours a day. They are maintained by the hour meter instead of the milage, and there are never any problems. The trucks are 1998-2005 models, and to my knowledge there have not been any problems with the engines. They are still as powerful and smooth as when they were new.
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I really don't understand why you would 'mistrust' your conversion. If that's the case, I think I would hunt another.
No Problem! 
They are rated quite a bit higher for use over the pond. I suspect it may have a bit to do with the way the trailering/towing laws are written over there as well as the tort system limiting litigation. However, I have seen the Sprinters and sprinter type vehicles hauling some amazing loads in Europe.
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