Acceptable Sprinter Fuel

by Kent Gardam
April 30, 2022

All diesel fuel legally available for “on road” use has to be ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel). That label should be on the pump.

You may occasionally encounter cheaper diesel fuel labeled “For Off Road Use Only”. That fuel does not have the highway taxes included and is illegal to use for “on road” driving. Don’t use it.

If you also see a “Diesel #2” label that’s great, use it.

If you see a “B5” label that is perfectly acceptable too.

If you see a “B20” label then Mercedes recommends that you minimize its use (an occasional tankful is fine) but if that’s all you have available as a regular diet then you need to do oil changes, oil filter changes, and fuel filter changes twice as often as your Sprinter manual recommends.

If you see an orange “Biomass” sticker on the pump DO NOT USE THAT FUEL. Mercedes does not approve use of that fuel at this time. Perhaps in the future they will but not now.

If you see a “Renewable Diesel” sticker on the pump DO NOT USE THAT FUEL. Mercedes does not approve use of that fuel at this time. Perhaps in the future they will but not now.