Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

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pengyou
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Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by pengyou »

Even the model with the gas engine I saw gets 25 mpg or more. The diesel will get more than 30.

The stro and the sprinter do not seem very different aerodynamically, although the sprinter is taller - I think they are about the same width. They are about the same weight.

Has anyone put a 5 cylinder 2.7l diesel in a stro?
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ

lockdoc
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by lockdoc »

The Sprinter is MUCH bigger than an Astro. The 08 deisel version runs a Mercedes 3.0 V6 turbo. It does NOT get 30mpg. I average 18-19 mpg in the one I drive. Not bad for such a large truck. I would assume the good milage comes from the fact that it IS a deisel and the computer control is much more advanced than an Astro. The front end on mine seems pretty aerodynamic for what it is. You can't see it but it is dwarfing an 89 Astro a couple spots up on the other side.

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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by ihatemybike »

I want that MB 3.0 L diesel in an AWD Astro. I want it bad.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by Cobra »

the wheels look so small......
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by Someone »

pengyou wrote:
Has anyone put a 5 cylinder 2.7l diesel in a stro?
I have one hanging on an engine hoist right next to my astro... does that count? It would be a great motor for a swap, the sprinter is made to be serviceable so everything would be easy to pull out to install in the astro... less than 10 bolts, a couple fuel lines and a wiring harness and the motor is out.
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by ihatemybike »

Someone wrote:I have one hanging on an engine hoist right next to my astro... does that count? It would be a great motor for a swap, the sprinter is made to be serviceable so everything would be easy to pull out to install in the astro... less than 10 bolts, a couple fuel lines and a wiring harness and the motor is out.
Pics, engine dimensions....
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

Topic author
pengyou
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by pengyou »

Thanks! I am starting to drool....please post the dimensions! I think the higher mpgs for the diesel was for the 5 banger 2.7 I found mid 20's on all of the pages I checked. Of course, there was no comment on the performance. Also, no indication of whether it was a raised roof, etc.
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ

ihatemybike
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by ihatemybike »

The 3.0 L according to Motive Magazine.

0-60 just under 18 seconds

Almost 20 mpg
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

Topic author
pengyou
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by pengyou »

http://osdir.com/ml/culture.cars.volksw ... 00043.html

This link talks about 26 mpg in city driving....now...dimensions! dimensions! We want dimensions! Hmmmmmm I bet a used sprinter would make a nice mini-motor home......trouble is, when I am traveling long distance I often pop into a friendly wal-mart parking lot for the night, set up my cot in the back and take a snooze...the stro really blends in with other vehicles but the sprinter looks like a commercial vehicle to me.
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ

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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

That link talks about a sprinter in Ontario, Canada. I bet the 26 mpg us not US gallons. We went through this with a member here talking about imperial gallons and having a higher than expected mpg reading for his van. Once we got the conversion done, he was getting around 18-20 mpg and not 25+.
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by astrozam »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:That link talks about a sprinter in Ontario, Canada. I bet the 26 mpg us not US gallons. We went through this with a member here talking about imperial gallons and having a higher than expected mpg reading for his van. Once we got the conversion done, he was getting around 18-20 mpg and not 25+.
I remember that ... I believe he was calculating using the Matrixx factor,LOL
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by potskie »

astrozam wrote:
LiftedAWDAstro wrote:That link talks about a sprinter in Ontario, Canada. I bet the 26 mpg us not US gallons. We went through this with a member here talking about imperial gallons and having a higher than expected mpg reading for his van. Once we got the conversion done, he was getting around 18-20 mpg and not 25+.
I remember that ... I believe he was calculating using the Matrixx factor,LOL
So he took the blue pill?
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by Someone »

The 2.7 looks like it would fit in an astro with no problems. The engine went out to get the bottom end redone yesterday, but I will get some dimensions when it comes back... as cool as an astro with a sprinter motor would be, why not just buy a sprinter? they are designed to be very easy to work on and are reliable... but the shortys are hard to come by.
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'89 4Runner SAS'ed, 38.5SX's, Mercedes OM617 Turbo Diesel
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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by Spike99 »

Someone wrote:The 2.7 looks like it would fit in an astro with no problems. The engine went out to get the bottom end redone yesterday, but I will get some dimensions when it comes back... as cool as an astro with a sprinter motor would be, why not just buy a sprinter? they are designed to be very easy to work on and are reliable... but the shortys are hard to come by.
I would agree. A Sprinter with a shaved down roof (sorry, its high roof looks ugly to me), some wider tires and a cool paint job looks like a better option then trying to "fit a square peg into a round hole" (sort of speaking).

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Re: Why does the sprinter get better mpg?

Post by ihatemybike »

Someone wrote:as cool as an astro with a sprinter motor would be, why not just buy a sprinter?
Cause even the smallest ones are huge when compared to an Astro.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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