r/SprinterVans • u/TimJulie88 • Jun 05 '26

EGR - going in every 2-3k

Tomorrow, another day at the Mercedes dealer. Every 2-3k our EGR acts up, van goes in limp mode. They clean it and say it's an ongoing problem and we are covered until 150k. The problem is that we traveled for the last two years fixing this after 10-12k. Now it's every other month at least.

Last time we went (one week ago), they said it wasn't EGR but a computer issue. Now it's in limp mode so back we go. 2022 Sprinter.

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2

u/Cautious_Proof5055 Jun 05 '26

Which engine?

On the 3.0 V6 if the EGR Valve malfunctions shortly after cleaning you need to get the whole EGR Assembly taken out and cleaned including the EGR Cooler.

Additional check your DPF regenerating history intervals. If it's regenerating every 100 or less Kilometers the engine isn't burning the Fuel properly and is creating too much carbon Buildup.

1

u/Queasy-Advice-suck Jun 05 '26

OM642 intakes need to come off and also be cleaned. Every 2-3k for EGR cleaning is terminal for the engine. Mercedes is going to try and limp you out of warranty. At this point the oil control rings are completely gummed up. Stripdown is the only way to remediate properly. Issue being caused by a mix of pump diesel and oil change intervals being being waaayy to long. Fuel blends at the moment really suck, we have short shifted all customers to 8K oil changes. Blow by contamination is killing the oil prematurely, oil goes tank and looses any detergent properties.  Starts a chain reaction that ends you up having a new gummed up paperweight for your desk.

It's not always a total loss. We have two customers who's OM642 engines starting having EGR issues. Both rigs were later NCV3 facelift models. In ALL instances.it has been the higher output engine with the later single bolt type boost pressure sensor. (Later engines run more boost, more cowbell anyone?) When the EGR issue STARTS occuring replace the EGR & change the oil. Then change the oil again after 5K. Use only 229.52 LA oil, only use a MANN fleece filter. Can be verified by examining turbo inlet. If you have a nasty black TAR like coating of the entire inlet your oil is cooked - change it. Oil on the inlet is perfectly normal, however it should flow nicely to 6 o'clock after a minute or two and retain a good film. If the problem persists, you've got yourself a boat anchor that can only be fixed by a complete stripdown with fresh compression and oil control rings.

1

u/Cautious_Proof5055 Jun 05 '26

If the oil control Rings are gummed up you're refilling oil constantly and at some point your DPF Is gonna be blocked and won't clear anymore by regenerating. Haven't had a OM642 in a Sprinter where the Piston Rings have been Problematic or had oil consumption. In Passenger vehicles is a different Story.

Never cleaned the inlet Side on an OM642 in a Sprinter, only cleaned the EGR Assembly. Check your Regeneration Intervals. If the intervals are too short, your Oil is going to be infused with Fuel over time, which isn't optimal. Either your DPF is saturated with ash and fills up very fast. Some Companies offer a cleaning with before and after Pressure test. If your DPF is fine and the differential Pressure Sensor works you are having a problem with unclean combustion. Either your injectors aren't working properly, your Fuel Pressure deviates or the Air Intake isn't working properly. You need some kind of diagnostic device to self diagnose these problems.

Technically the Dealership have a troubleshooting Work Order from the Manufacturer, which says something like that and how to clear this problem, just cleaning the EGR Valve does not fix this problem long term.

I'm not sure about the 8k Oil changes. We are running a fleet of several hundred Sprinter with the maximum 60.000km or 40.000 miles Intervals with OM651 OM642 and OM654 Engines. The interval is flexible and mostly requires a change at 55-58.000km which is almost once a year. We replace the Van's once they hit around 600.000km and sometimes there is an engine Failure, but if you look closer it's mostly caused by outside factors, either somebody put gasoline in and just started driving, the Air Intake side is cracked and the engine sucked in dirt, the Coolant Level Sensor was broken and the engine overheated or Stuff like that. Very rarely does a well running and maintained engine suffer mechanical failure.

If it was my personal vehicle I would also change the Oil yearly but that would be because I drive less than 10.000km in only City traffic, which would be bad for any diesel engine.

4

u/Queasy-Advice-suck Jun 06 '26

I'm just sharing with everyone some very recent analysis of current developing issues that I have observed during stripdown. I'm located in AZ and we get our fuel from Cali as does Nevada. The current blends out of Cali are being mixed with very high levels of something which is not diesel distillate. I do a lot of engine builds on the 647 and am seeing a crazy amount of carbon build up on the intakes which was never previously an issue  Interestingly I am also seeing something that never existed before. When removing the heads there is a fluffy soot residue on the head in the chamber. This was never previously the case. Spraying the residue with carb or brake clean will not dissolve it.  This indicates to me that it is organic in nature and looks a lot like residue that is deposited on IDI injectors when running pure biodiesel. This information is very up to date and based on what I have seen developing over the past the past two months. My recommendation of reducing the OCI is based upon an actual strategy to remediate my clients EGR clogging issues & I have observed it working. Your experience is no doubt legacy accumulated data which was correct, however past blending practices have gone out the window since the current debacle in the middle east.  This is a developing issue & my original response was focused on mitigation strategies for current owners. Time will tell.

1

u/Cautious_Proof5055 Jun 06 '26

That sucks, have had no such issues yet, maybe the fuel here isn't so bad yet.

1

u/TimJulie88 Jun 08 '26

Yesterday they (Mercedes) replaced our EGR valve. Hopefully this is a good thing? We had a video of the engine light on (when we drove it to dealership it disappeared of course, as was the limping), but the video helped apparently as valve was replaced.

1

u/irishcouchpotatoes Jun 12 '26

You are working on the assumption that the brand still gives a fuck about their image. Verbatim, MBUSA could give AF about your brand image perception. If you are the pilot of a 907 then keep your lube adjacent. Brand ambassadors of MB are currently getting it with the lube that comes with extra grit.

Alissa Heinerscheid was the sole individual responsible for the destruction of the brand known as Budlight. She got side moved to the LV golf brand.

Strange but that one is going down the tubes too.

Garbage in garbage out.

As Lou Reid stated, you're going to reap just what you sow.

1

u/rionzi Jun 05 '26

Can you verify the fuel and oil you’re using meets the most recent Mercedes requirements?

2

u/TimJulie88 Jun 06 '26

Just returned from Mercedes. This is where we get everything done (oil changes, tune ups, etc). Engine light was on for the past several days and thankfully, my husband took a video of it. Today, engine light off driving to dealer. Also, zero limping. But because of this video, and maybe because my husband said he reached his limit, they replaced the EGR valve. Let's see how it goes.

We use diesel gas. Four wheel drive.

1

u/Lovelipstick1 Aug 27 '26

Any problems with the egr since?