Freightliner Sprinter Van........

[CumminsPuller]

My boss at work just bought a Freightliner Sprinter van with an inline 5-cyl mercedes diesel and Allison Auto transmission. We were talking about it the other day and he stated that according to the owners manual that came with it that the transmission was sealed and needed no fluid change until 400,000 miles? Is that possible, if so, how?



Jason

 

[rbattelle]

Sure it's possible! They just mean "we'll change the fluid when we rebuild the transmission at 400,000 miles due to bad fluid".

 

[CumminsPuller]

True... ... ... Is that the idea... ... . at 400,000 miles the transmission will just be gone through, rebuilt?



J

 

[rbattelle]

Oh I don't know. I mean, it sounds to me like the pipe dream that is "100,000 mile spark plugs". Yeah, you can leave them in there that long but if you do you might never get them out!



Everything is going this way: "lubed for life" universal joints and ball joints, 100,000 mile engine coolant, auto transmissions that never need fluid, "lifetime" fuel filters. For your average Joe who buys a car, keeps it for 3 years/40000 miles, then buys another, all that's fine. But for those of us who want a vehicle for 10 years, it's best not to let things go long periods without preventative maintenance.



If it were my van, I'd change the transmission fluid just like I would in any other ordinary automatic transmission, no matter what Allison says.

 

[CumminsPuller]

rbattelle... ... . He said there was no plugs (sealed transmission) to drain the fluid or even access to drop a pan and change the filter..... I haven't checked it myself but that is what he told me.



Jason

 

[BarryG]

Here at work I purchased two of those sprinter vans early this year. They are 02 models. The manual states (at least ours does) 70k for trans service. I even talked to the service dept at the local freightliner dealer about that before I bought. He did verify that there is nothing for the consumer to do to it (the trans). If I recall it doesn't even have a dipstick to check the level. I was told that they decided that one of the biggest problems with auto trans was people putting in to much, too little fluid, and fluid contamination through the dipstick not being sealed very well and the consumer being sloppy about letting dirt etc in so they took it out. I also thought they were a Mercedes auto trans but could be that it is made by allison for them. I suspect that it is using synthetic fluid in the trans . The engine comes shipped with synthetic oil and can go up to 30k between filters and changes if you have the assyst option which monitors the oil quality somehow or other and illuminates an idiot light letting you know you need to change the oil within 2k. So far the delivery drivers are pleased as punch with them. The mileage is considerably better than the 3/4 ton extended ford and chevy gasser vans we were/are using. If they work out we will replace our fleet with them over the next few years. They also have a variable geometry turbo in them.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Barry thanks for the reply... ..... That sounds more like it 70K. I am going to take a look at his owner manual and see what it says. I would hate for him to make a mistake. The bought the van to replace and old chevy van they had for transporting their son who has cerebral palsy. Is a nice van, maroon, all decked out, windows down the side. Another vehicle to go along with his 2001 One ton Chevy Duramax and her Mercedes SUV. He bought it used with 9K on it I believe.



Jason

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

These little vans sure are spendy! I got to spec one out a few months ago. The driver liked it well and said it had decent power.



Two months ago when cruising through Boise I had one ahead of me on the freeway and anytime the driver was on the throttle it made a constant and considerable stream of smoke. Not sure if it was overloaded, underpowered, undermaintained or what but it wasn't exactly low emissions.



Vaughn

 

[E7mack96]

I have one too.



Our book says something to the effect of 80,000 miles for first transmission service.