Sprinter vans are workhorses, so they’re simply not going to get the same fuel economy as a Honda Civic. Depending on the engine and year of your sprinter you could be seeing between 18 and 23 mpg on average. Some regular sprinter drivers have reported as much as 24-28 mpg with highway miles, turning off the A/C and careful maintenance.

That said there are some things you can do to see small increases in fuel economy.

1. Change Your Spark Plugs
   Over time and after many thousands of starts and stops, carbon can build up on the spark plug’s opening which requires more gas than usual to According to the The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, a bad set of spark plugs can decrease fuel efficency by up to 30%! They should be changed every 15,000 miles or 24,000km roughly.
2. Change Your Air Filter
   A dirty or clogged air filter can stop clean air from getting to your engine which will hurt your fuel economy. These also need to be changed every 15,000 miles or 24,000km.
3. Change Your Driving Habits
   If you’re the type that likes to ‘gun it’ and put the accelerator (gas pedal) to the floor when starting from a dead stop, having some patience and taking things a bit slower can help improve your fuel economy.
4. Keep Your Vehicle Light
   Try not to carry anything with you that you don’t use on a regular basis. If you find there are some things you’re just not using much OR you’re carrying full water or sewer tanks on your sprinter RV when you’re not planning on going far… be mindful of your extra gas usage with heavier loads.
5. Fill Your Tires to Proper Pressure
   This might seem straight forward, but a lot of people don’t keep an eye on tire inflation. The tire pressure levels are often found on the door sticker of your specific model.

There are also technical reasons your sprinter could be using more gas or diesel than it should be. Things like bad glow plugs (which can cause misfiring), a non-functioning oxygen sensor, computer issues or something more. If you’re at all concerned, why not call our team and have us do a checkup and see what might be causing your high fuel bills.

Stop by and see us  or give us a call at 604-530-9394 with any concerns you may have.