Without air your engine cannot perform correctly and you will get lower mileage. The maintenance schedule calls for replacing the air filter at 60k. For me that is about twice too long.

If you live in the southwest area of the US where dust storms are or you put a lot of miles on, check your filter more often. Some say you can just shake the dust out or blow it out with compressed air but the best way is to replace it. Blowing it out with compressed air can actually introduce holes in the filter and shaking it out you don’t get the stuff embedded into the filter.

This mess is the result of running through a sand storm and giant tumble weed in Arizona. I had cleaned the mess out of the grill but neglected to look at the air filter

Last week we (the dog and I) travelled to Hereford, Arizona. We went to visit my son, four grand kids, two dogs, two horses and a cat. Debbie was working her way down the coast taking our nephew to visit potential colleges.

We spent one night in a rest area, three nights in my son’s drive way and one night in an AM/PM parking lot (with permission).

Covering over 2,000 miles, the 20k service is due in the next few weeks. Here are the numbers . . .

MPG	Cost
21.6	price not recorded
20.1	$2.30
19.0	$2.10
17.4	$2.40
17.5	$2.40
17.4	$2.40

On the way down, I cruised at 62 mph (gps). Coming back, I was at 70-74 mph and you can certainly see the difference. I can’t do the numbers exactly as I don’t have the first price but even assuming the same cost of $2.40 per gallon, at the best mileage I was moving a mile for $0.11 and at the worst for $0.138. On a 2k trip running slow could save me $56.00 (did I do the math right?). Time wise though running slow takes 32.3 hours versus 27.8 – how much is that 2 hours each way worth?

There was a lot of traffic. Never were there less than 10-15 cars or trucks in sight there and back. There were lots of rest areas (none with dumping facilities except the ones closest to home on the 5. The Walmart in Sierra Vista (Ft. Huachuca) does not allow overnight stays but we found a good place to relax under a shade tree in their lot that was within range of a wireless connection from a near by Burger King.

I also visited Tombstone (don’t) and Bisbee (do) and drove to the top of the Coronado National Memorial. You can get a permit to spend the night on top which would be pretty cool I think.

The new window.

Wednesday I will head to Sportsmobile in Fresno to have the window replaced. Instead of the n0rmal Sprinter glass I am having a CR Lawrence window put in that opens on the bottom. We have that type of window all around so it should be a good match.

I use the trip to Fresno as a mileage check also. Filling at the same station and pump before leaving, and coming back. I will be interested to see if the H44 recall made any difference.

Information on the window is here, http://www.crlaurence.com/ProductPages/F/FW625R_67771.html?Origin=

Oh yeah! Diesel getting closer to regular.

Seeing diesel prices drop closer to regular gets me warm and fuzzy! Wow! Maybe someday they will be below regular gasoline again.

Now I just have to try to stay in the 60-65mpg range to maximize mileage. I should be able to squeeze 20 mpg.

As many are interested in the V6 diesel mileage for the Sprinter I have some additional mileage to report. I will post all the numbers for your review.

17.1; 16.7; 18.8; 18.8; 17.4; 14.3; 17.0; 15.6; 17.9; 16.5; 17.2; 17.6; 19.5*; 17.8**

The Sprinter is 90% loaded with gear, all water, propane, tools, etc. It now has 5K miles on it. All but two of the fill-ups have been at the same pump and nozzle.

The 19.5 was a 164.2 mile run to Fresno (early morning). The 17.8 was 159.6 miles return on the same course but later (and much hotter) in the day.

I would like to test 55mph later but one thing shows up to me as I know the speeds driven – as soon as you jump into the 70′s for sustained periods, your mileage will suffer. There should be no real surprise there.

After hitting the 19.5 I am confident that 20 point something is possible. Above that, I don’t know.

What really hurts is that diesel has gone up by $3 per gallon since I ordered the Sprinter . . . By the way I paid $5.099 this AM starting, $4.959 in Fresno and $4.979 back here, at the same station where 14 hours before it had been $.12 higher – love it!

Note: This is a Sportsmobile Sprinter 2500, high roof and 144″ wheelbase with a 3.0L diesel.

Most of the fuel involved comes from the same pump and nozzle. This is with all gear, most food and all water.

17.1; 16.7; 18.8; 18.7; 17.4; 14.3; 16.8; 15.6; 17.9 for an average of 17.03.

Most numbers are a combination of city/California freeway with freeway speeds from 65 to 70 mostly 65. The last 3 were with a Scangauge installed posting MAP and MPG. I only look at the MPG as the MAP numbers seem useless.

The high numbers were 95% freeway miles.