Unusual DEF activity?

[Vndlfsn]

Yesterday I recd a message from my 2013 3.0 Sprinter that DEF was low. I topped it off this morning with almost the entire bottle of the Peak brand.

Ran some errands in the morning with no additional messages.

This afternoon we were driving around looking at the fall colors and suddenly recd the 10 Starts Left message. It reliably decreased to 9, then 8, on subsequent stops.

Then on our way home I get “You have 16 starts left”…..

Uh. What?

I’m going to see if it needs more tomorrow morning I guess but it seems a bit illogical.

[1der]

Oh man, my friend's 2011 just went through this three months ago - 125k miles. Add DEF, added - and it fails to recognize

He ended up at the dealer in Sprinter dealer in Fairfield, CA (he lives in Berkeley).

Part of the work was covered under warranty. I suggest finding the closest Sprinter focused dealer. The local independents had no clue other than throwing $$$ part$ at the problem, which they did not solve. Bunch of white crystal (urea) around the exhaust joint near the tranny.

A good dealer can diagnose and then you can decide if you want to buy and replace the parts yourself. Oh, he was at the $1,200 transmission/ diff fluid change point, too.

DEF level sensor, Dosing valve, NOX sensors i think were covered under warranty, and then:
CHARGE AIR MUFFLER
$900.51
LEFT METAL BOOST DOWN PIPE
$727.76
LEFT BOOST HOSE
$654.80
ADBLUE FEED LINE FROM PUMP TO METERING VALVE
$1383.84
WIPERS
$146.30
BOTH LICENSE BULBS
$117.50
TRANSMISSION SERVICE
$967.90
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE
$293.30
FUEL FILTER
$450.40
SMALL HOSE GOING TO FUEL FILTER
$299.78

[86Scotty]

I recommend selling this vehicle quickly, especially if you plan to take it more than about 50 miles from a Benz dealer.

[Fitz]

The single-most finicky system on a Sprinter is the DEF system. One of the experience-based "rules" that has been proven over time is to never let the level fall below 3/4 full, another is to not overfill the system. Both practices mess with the internal sensors and cause far more grief than they ever should.

Ray's list includes several non-DEF related items. Dealer prices are what they are, there is no need for me to comment on that.

We have driven our Sprinter 100k miles over the last 8 years, often venturing more than 50 miles from a dealer, something I plan to continue to do repeatedly in the future! I have documented every issue I have had with the Sprinter in my build thread, you all can draw your own conclusions regarding dependability. As for me, I plan to keep on maintaining and driving it.

Vndlfsn, once you get this straightened out I suggest you pick up a couple of the (relatively expensive) half gallon AdBlue DEF bottles. They are refillable and they have a shut-off design that prevents you from overfilling the system.

https://www.amazon.com/LR072258-Equi...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[Vndlfsn]

Now that is really helpful information, thank you!

I drove to the store this afternoon without any kind of warnings at all. I’ll take your advice on the half gallon bottles.

[Fitz]

I have found that it often takes a day or so for the DEF sensors to reset.

BTW, where are you located? It's really nice when there is a location in the signature line.

[Vndlfsn]

I took your advice, thank you. We recently paid 55K for this but I was so desperate to get rid of it I just sold it for $1000..

[Twoxentrix]

Originally Posted by Vndlfsn

I took your advice, thank you. We recently paid 55K for this but I was so desperate to get rid of it I just sold it for $1000..

Well based on the potential validity of the advise 86Scotty provided, and If you amortize your loss (say, over the next 5 years), then factor in suspected repair costs for the same period, I'd say you've made money. Congrats on the sale!

[Fitz]

Vndlfsn,

Thanks for adding your location. Cold is also the enemy of low DEF levels, it has to do with the location of the DEF heater in the tank. Keep 'er full!

I was in WI earlier this year after chasing the solar eclipse (one of those trips that took me more than 50 miles from a MB dealer!), I'll do my best to reach out the next time I'm out that way.

[Vndlfsn]

Sounds good!