S&B 45 Gallon Replacement Fuel Tank For 2023 Mercedes Sprinter 144' And 170' Wheelbase Installation

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S&B Part # 10-1031

[MarcMarchioli]

So, yesterday 6/1/23 I decided I had time and all the parts here to install my new S&B 10-1031 tank. I had also purchased the VS30 standard opening filler tube to replace the restricted opening stock tube.

I did this by myself so one person CAN do the exchange!

How I drained the tank. There is a bleed valve under the hood. I connected a ⅜" 4-5 foot line (slip fit on the rubber tube exiting the bleed valve). Open the bleed valve and start the engine. On my model (2021/2022), the engine has to be running for the fuel pump to operate. The bleed will pump fuel out and I placed it in several 5 gallon containers. It took about 20-30 minutes or so as it pumps slowly. I ran it until the engine automatically shuts off with low fuel (below the 50 miles or so range - the fuel pump icon on the dash changes from yellow to red indicating a severe fuel shortage).

Once the tank was relative empty (had about a gallon in it), I jacked up the front left and right with jack stands under each axle assembly and a 4x4 under each tire (just for saftey in case one of the jack stands fails). With it jacked up, I could go through the video steps of removing the fuel lines and the electrical sensor cable. One thing is mine had the auxillary fuel connection which was different than the stock MB connectors shown in the video. This auxillary connector had a red retaining assembly. You have to press on the red tab to open it outward and then the whole red tab will slide to allow you to disconnect the assembly.

One big challenge was after I removed the old tank, trying to get the new tank up and in the correct position. It is very slippery so it won't stay on a jack unless you have some sort of rubber pad or something to keep it from sliding around. The new tank is big and cumbersome so tough. After multiple attempts, I decided to shim up the tank to almost the right position. I used 4x4 stacked up. This was the perfect solution. I could slide the tank around to get it into the correct position. Then I put on the small rear bracket first as this will set the front-to-rear position of the tank. then I went to the front and connected up the fuel lines and electrical sensor.


One gotcha note, check, recheck and recheck the connections of the fuel lines. They are deceiving. They have a distinctive 'click' when they go together correctly and then lock and they won't pull apart. I thought mine were connected but found the white connection wasn't locked. It caused me a ton of problems on trying to checkout and start the MB.

Once the new tank is all installed, I put my saved fuel back into the tank. I then bled the fuel (just link in the beginning) out to get all the air out of the line from the tank exchange.

All done and took about 6 hours total time. One of the hardest pieces is the flex nut install on the rear bracket holes. It wasn't very easy to find which hole to put them in on my sprinter as it has multiple holes. Also, holding with one hand and tightening down with the other isn't easy with one person. The guy in the video gets his helper. I anchored my holding wrench on the frame so I could tighten the nuts into place.

Glad it's done and second time to do it would be in about half the time with the lessons learned.

[PNWDan]

Any way to extend the aux fuel drain so that it drains a bit more of the tank down? Given the almost doubling of fuel, would be good to keep the ESPAR running longer. (PS: I have one ready to install on my soon-to-arrive 2023 AWD)

[grahamhiggins]

Espérate issue, I want to screw a floor down in my van how much space is there do you know between the body and the tank on a 2017 Sprinter 144”. Thanks!

[RichardFermion]

Hey guys. Was doing some last minute checks before I took the plunge. Curious where are your customers relocating their diesel heater pumps. Popular spot (mine included) is right adjacent to the fuel filter housing on the frame rail.

[job.herrera]

Would the spare tire underneath be on the way for the tank?

[RichardandLarry]

I put one on my 2022 Sprinter and the fuel gauge only works 1/2 of the time and distance until empty is never right. Is there a fix for this? thanks in advance

[MatthewPiatkowski]

Any solutions your team is woking on for us Sprinter van operators that have to get California Bio Diesel when our Engines should have more than 20% bio mass in the Diesel. I'd like to go camping in California finding regular Diesel in that state is getting harder.

[nicholaswead]

I did one on a sprinter that was a few years older and you guys never put a locking tab to hold the pump from spinning so it was a pain in the butt keeping the pump aligned while tightening it down .