Buying a Sprinter van is an excellent choice if you want a vehicle that can last well into the future. They’re great for road trips, van conversions, moving from house to house, businesses and more. But it’s important to know how long you can expect them to last and when you’ll need a new one after such a substantial investment.
How long do Sprinter vans last? The length of time a Sprinter van lasts depends on its age, overall mileage, and how well-maintained it is. For the most part, Sprinter vans can last well over a decade. You’ll also see many of them reaching towards 300,000 miles, sometimes even more. It all depends on how well you take care of it.
Knowing the key contributing factors of Sprinter van maintenance is the best way to determine how long yours will likely last. Let’s see the most important details below.
How Many Miles To Expect From A Sprinter Van
If you properly take care of your Sprinter van, you’ll probably get 150,000 miles before any major repairs are needed.
Most people accept the fact that 300,000 miles is the limit where maintenance gets tough. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep pushing on for many miles more. While this many miles isn’t too common, these numbers certainly eclipse most other vans.
How To Maintain Your Sprinter Van
There are many aspects to keeping your Sprinter van in tip-top shape. Here are the essential ones:
- Change the fluids as needed.
- Small problems can become big problems, so fix them when you first find them.
- Regularly rotate tires.
- Add proper fuel.
- Keep a book of records, this one works well, and it also has a list of common service items and has additional space for other services that you might have done.
One essential thing you can do to extend the life of your Sprinter is to change your oil on the schedule included in the owner’s manual of your van. Also, make sure to use the recommended oil type for your vehicle; this will likewise be in the owner’s manual.
The debate between using premium gas vs. regular gas to extend the life of your engine is somewhat debatable. One side says the use of premium gas can give a slight increase in performance while extending the gas mileage. They also assert that the use of regular gas may cause engine knocking and pinging.
The other side maintains that the use of premium gas is a waste of money. The best practice is to use the fuel type that’s recommended in the vehicle’s manual, whether it’s gas or diesel.
When you’re trying to extend the life of your Sprinter van, every little bit helps.
For example, you can extend the engine life by 10,000 to 20,000 miles with proper fuel. Also, changing the oil and transmission fluid can reduce friction and slipping to save you from expensive repairs in the future.
The best way to get the most mileage out of a Sprinter van is to keep a book of records. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, and you shouldn’t have anything too serious for several years. If you choose to ignore the schedule to cut costs, you could end up paying much more later on.
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What Are Some Costs To Maintain A Sprinter Van?
The cost of maintaining a Sprinter van depends on a variety of factors, including your van’s year, whether you DIY or hire a mechanic, the specific parts you use and more.
Here are some ballpark prices for common maintenance tasks:
- Changing your oil can cost anywhere between $30 – $80 every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
- Preventative measures like changing fluids only cost about $100 to $250 every 60,000 miles.
- Replacing the brakes will likely be $250 and up depending on whether it is a DIY project or if you are going to a repair shop. It will also depend on what particular parts are needed for the repair.
- Wiper blade replacement will cost you between $20 to $30.
Sprinter Van Tire Problems
There’s an incredible amount of weight being set on Sprinter van tires all day long. If you’re converting the interior for road trips or you’re running a small business, you’re likely adding 500+ pounds to the load.
It’s important to follow tire rotation schedules as well as regular checkups to ensure that you don’t put too much weight on any of them. You should rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or six months, whichever of the two comes first. Always maintain proper tire pressure to ensure the longest tire life.
Be sure that you’re buying the right type of tires. Going to a large chain department store may not give you proper details. Instead, check with the dealership where you purchased the vehicle or try to find a mechanic shop that works on commercial vehicles. Many Sprinter vans need heavy-duty tires.
Try not to purchase the cheaper tires to save money; you can quite literally run the van into the ground. The thin rubber of the tires can’t handle the weight and velocity of Sprinter vans. They’ll pop or wear down in six months. Spend the extra $20 to $30 per tire and get yourself the correct models.
As a final tip, consider buying a can of Fix-o-Flat. This solution allows you to fill up your tires if they lose air suddenly. The only issue with Fix-o-Flat is that it doesn’t work well on the sides of a tire. However, if the hole is on the tread, you’re good to go! Make sure you get the ‘big tire’ version as well.
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Should You Buy A Used Or A New Sprinter Van?
Sprinter vans last for a very long time, as you’ve read in the previous section. So is it a bad idea to buy a used van? Absolutely not! You just have to know how well it was taken care of by the previous owner. Let’s check out the reasons why you might consider a new or a used Sprinter van below.
Why You Should Buy A New Sprinter Van
- Zero previous owners. You don’t need to wonder about the maintenance and how recklessly someone else has driven it. It’s new.
- There are no previous issues with the van and there shouldn’t be any for the next year or more. Again, keeping up with simple repairs such as fluid changes and tire rotations will go a long way.
- All new vehicles these days come with warranties. Whether it’s a 3-year 30,000-mile warranty or a 10-year 100,000-mile warranty, you’ll save a lot of money on significant repairs that occur within those limitations.
- You won’t find any dings or scuff marks around the van.
- You can build out the interior however you’d like. Throw in some shelves for work, create a bed with dresser drawers underneath, or leave it open for storage purposes.
Why You Should Buy A Used Sprinter Van
- Used Sprinter vans are much cheaper than new ones. It’s no secret that brand-new vans cost quite a bit of money.
- Some owners have already outfitted the interior with shelves, beds, and so on. You won’t have to bother installing them yourself.
- In some cases, new Sprinter vans have a ‘break-in’ period. This period is when manufacturer errors come to light. Things can come loose, recalls happen, but you can avoid them all if you buy it used with a few years on it.
- Most new vehicle’s value drops as soon as you drive it off the lot. During the first year, the vehicle’s value falls between 20 and 30 percent. Experts suggest that when purchasing a used vehicle, look for one that is around three years old to avoid the initial depreciation.
- Driving around in a used van is a lot less worrisome since you don’t have to wait for the first scratch, bump, etc. There’s likely going to be dull paint and small blemishes that you knew about when you bought it.
In a previous post we discussed why Sprinters rust read it here.
Summing-Up
Buying a Sprinter van is a fantastic idea if you have the money for it. They’re versatile, and you can use them for just about any project or business. With proper maintenance and care, you can get thousands of miles before you need to replace it.
Here are several key takeaways from this post:
- Sprinter vans can last over a decade and up to 300,000 miles or more.
- Don’t skip over the idea of buying a used van – doing so can provide plenty of benefits.
- Regular maintenance and repairs cost a little bit now, but they save a lot down the road.
- Always buy the proper tires for your van.
