Why do the gaskets fail? Head gaskets are designed and manufactured to perform at 100% reliability. So why would they fail?
Here are a few reasons. Head gasket failures seem to be more prevalent after the first time the head has been removed. This is especially true since the introduction of substitute materials to replace asbestos. As a result, materials and assembly procedures have changed to assure optimal performance of head gaskets. Following is a list of possible causes for failures:
WHY DO GASKETS FAIL?
LINER STAND-OUT
Cylinder liner height above block must be to specification. Also, no more than 0.002 in. (0.05mm) variation between adjacent cylinders.
IMPROPER PREPARATION
Clean, dry, oil free deck surface without adhesives is essential. It is a good idea to restore the threads and pre-lube capscrews before installing.
Mercedes Sprinter Van – Photo by Zain Saleem on Unsplash
Mercedes Sprinter American History
IN 1995 Mercedes released the first-gen Sprinter van in Europe. The Sprinter was voted international van of the year and sold very well in the European market. Based on this success, Mercedes decided in 2001 to sell the Sprinter in the U.S. But, when the automaker tried to introduce its trucks into the US, it ran into a “chicken tax†problem.
The chicken tax.
After World War II, both, the United States and European countries increased taxes on imports. It began with the export of cheap chickens to Europe by the United States. Firstly, European nations impose heavy taxes on imported chicken to protect their local farmers. In return, the United States also increased taxes on brandy, dextrin, potato starch, and light trucks. Since everything happened because of the chickens, it was called the chicken tax.
The tariffs on imported pickup trucks were 25% in the 90s. Consequently, this made it incredibly difficult for Mercedes to sell its Sprinter trucks at competitive prices.
Mercedes Sprinter’s American History – Sprinter Van 1995
Are Freightliner, Dodge and Mercedes Sprinter Vans the same?
The answer is yes. To avoid the tax, Mercedes started importing their Sprinter vans in pieces called CKD kits. Firstly, Mercedes would manufacture their trucks in Germany. After that, they would disassemble each van into a complete knockdown kit. And then, import each unit into the U.S. Once in the USA, the body is re-mated with the drivetrain before the vehicles are sent on for delivery. Certainly, this costs Mercedes money, but the cost is still less than the tax would set them back.
As a result, there are several different types of vans called “Sprinters†in the USA. Some have badges that say Dodge, some say Freightliner, and some say Mercedes, but they were all made in the same German factory.
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Sprinter Van Photo by Jordan Irving on Unsplash
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1977 – Mercedes Benz launch the TN or T1 Van (Transporter Neu).
1995 – The first-generation Sprinter Van launches in Europe and wins “International Van of the Year.” These are the “T1N†Sprinters, which stands for Transporter 1 Neu (replacing a previous TN/T1).
Mercedes Sprinters American History_Sprinter Van 1st Generation
2001 – The renewed T1N were the first Sprinters imported into the USA to be sold under the Freightliner brand. It’s worth noting that Freightliner is owned by Daimler Trucks North America, part of the global Mercedes empire.
2003 – Daimler (who own the Mercedes brand) merged with Chrysler (who own the Dodge brand). Now, the Sprinter was also available in the USA as a Dodge badged vehicle. It replaced the old Dodge Ram van.
Sprinter-Van-Photo-by-Norbert-Kundrak-on-Unsplash
2007 – The NCV3 Sprinter stands for “New Concept Van 3†was available in North America. Both, Dodge and Freightliner brands sold the new generation of Sprinter in the US.
2010 – This is the year that Mercedes “took back†the brand from Dodge. From 2010 onward, Sprinters were badged as Mercedes vehicles, although Freightliner still sold identical Sprinters under their brand too.
2014 – In 2014, Mercedes did a body refresh. Probably the most noticeable styling difference is that the area under the headlights changed from being metal to plastic, the same color as the bumper.
Sprinter Van Photo by Zane Priedite on Unsplash
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2018 – Mercedes-Benz Vans revealed the first Sprinter van made from start to finish in the United States at its newly expanded manufacturing site in Ladson.
2020 – Mercedes announced that Freighliner-branded Sprinters would be dropped at the end of 2021, with the van being solely a Mercedes product moving forward.
Mercedes Sprinter Van Amazon Float
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (MBV)
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC (“MBVâ€)is a plant in Ladson, South Carolina that assembles Sprinter vans for the U.S. and Canadian market.
More than 200,000 Sprinter and Metris vans have been assembled in North Charleston and delivered to destinations across the U.S. since 2006. Therefore, MBV celebrates a 15-year legacy of SKD production in 2021. The U.S. is the second largest market for Sprinter vans, after Germany.
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